Cancer society applauds certification of class-action against e-cigarette maker JUUL
The Canadian Cancer Society welcomes a B.C. Supreme Court decision certifying a national class-action lawsuit against JUUL and Altria.Summary
The B.C. Supreme Court has certified a national class-action lawsuit against Juul Labs Canada, Ltd., Juul Labs Inc., and Altria Group Inc., marking a significant legal milestone. The lawsuit, originally filed in 2019, alleges that these companies engaged in misleading marketing by falsely presenting e-cigarettes as safe alternatives to smoking, while allegedly conspiring to addict young people to nicotine.
The Canadian Cancer Society has praised the decision, noting that it is the first national class-action lawsuit ever certified against a tobacco or vaping company in Canada. Rob Cunningham, a policy analyst for the society, emphasized that this certification is a crucial procedural step that allows the case to be tested on its merits, preventing the defendants from using their vast resources to exhaust plaintiffs through individual litigation.
As youth vaping rates continue to rise, the Canadian Cancer Society is calling for stronger government regulations, including taxation, marketing restrictions, and raising the minimum legal age to 21. This legal development follows similar settlements in several American states and coincides with a separate lawsuit filed by the B.C. government regarding healthcare costs associated with vaping.
(Source：CP24 Toronto)
