E‑Cigarette Lawsuit Overview

Over the past decade, e-cigarettes have been aggressively marketed as a safer alternative to smoking, with sleek designs, fruity flavors, and social media campaigns that appealed heavily to teens and young adults.

JUUL Labs, in particular, quickly dominated the vaping market by promoting its products as “the alternative for adult smokers,” while simultaneously cultivating a brand presence on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube that glamorized vaping as trendy, safe, and socially acceptable.

However, public health officials and medical researchers now warn that these devices may cause severe and sometimes fatal health effects, especially in users who were never traditional smokers.

Studies show that JUUL pods deliver far higher concentrations of nicotine than cigarettes, and use a nicotine salt formulation that is absorbed faster, leading to rapid addiction. At the same time, both nicotine and THC-based vape pens have been linked to a surge in emergency room visits, including cases of:

• EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury)
• Severe pneumonia and respiratory failure
• Cardiac events such as heart attacks and arrhythmias
• Seizures, strokes, and brain injuries
• Chronic bronchial inflammation and asthma
• Nicotine poisoning, especially in minors
• Wrongful death linked to vape-related injuries

As evidence continues to mount, lawsuits are being filed nationwide against JUUL Labs and other vape manufacturers, alleging that these companies prioritized profits over public safety by failing to disclose known health risks, downplaying the potency of their products, and intentionally targeting underage users through social media influencers, flavored pods, and discreet, school-friendly designs.

EVALI Health Risks Linked to Vaping

While e-cigarettes were initially marketed as a harm-reduction tool for smokers, a growing body of research has revealed serious health consequences, particularly among youth and non-smokers.

In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified a nationwide outbreak of EVALI (E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury), which resulted in more than 2,800 hospitalizations and over 60 deaths, many involving young adults with no prior history of smoking.

Additional findings from JAMA Network Open showed a significant increase in respiratory symptoms among otherwise healthy individuals who used e-cigarettes regularly, reinforcing concerns about long-term lung damage.

Specific health complications associated with vaping have included:

• Acute lung injury and severe pneumonia
• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis and eosinophilic lung disease
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Worsening asthma symptoms
• Myocardial infarction (heart attack) risk
• Lasting lung damage or scarring
• Death in severe cases

Public health experts warn that the inhalation of chemical solvents, flavoring agents, and ultrafine particles found in vape aerosols may contribute to both respiratory and cardiovascular complications.

Despite these dangers, lawsuits allege that vape manufacturers aggressively promoted their products to young consumers, downplayed long-term risks, and failed to issue adequate warnings.

THC Vape Pen Lawsuits Over Lung Damage

In addition to nicotine-based e-cigarettes, lawsuits are now being filed against manufacturers of As marijuana laws have relaxed across the United States, THC vape pens and cannabis cartridges have surged in popularity, especially among young adults seeking a discreet and convenient way to use cannabis.

According to a 2022 Pew Research Center survey, nearly 90% of U.S. adults now support some form of marijuana legalization, fueling a booming cannabis market that includes pre-filled vape cartridges sold in both licensed dispensaries and illicit markets.

However, serious safety concerns have emerged. A nationwide outbreak of EVALI (E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury) in 2019 was traced largely to THC-containing vape products, many of which were contaminated with vitamin E acetate, a chemical used to dilute or thicken cannabis oils.

A 2020 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine analyzed lung fluid samples from 51 EVALI patients and found vitamin E acetate present in 94% of cases, directly implicating the additive as a likely cause of injury.

Medical complications linked to contaminated or poorly regulated THC vape pens have included:

• Acute lung injury and EVALI
• Pulmonary hemorrhage and fluid buildup
• Coma and death in severe cases
• Chronic respiratory illness, including bronchitis and COPD
• Hypoxia and long-term oxygen dependence

In some cases, users required mechanical ventilation or months of follow-up care to recover from the damage.

Lawsuits are now being filed against both licensed cannabis producers and black-market sellers, alleging that products were sold with undisclosed additives, improper safety testing, or misleading marketing.

Plaintiffs include young adults who developed lasting lung damage, as well as parents of teens who died after using vape products they believed to be safe. Claims focus on:

• Failure to warn about harmful chemicals or contamination
• Negligent manufacturing or sourcing of vape ingredients
• Distribution of counterfeit, untested, or mislabeled products

While THC vaping has become mainstream in many legalized states, the lack of federal oversight and consistent safety standards has left consumers vulnerable to serious harm. Public health experts continue to warn that even legally sold vape cartridges may contain residual solvents, pesticides, or additives not intended for inhalation.

JUUL Addiction Lawsuits

One of the most prominent companies facing litigation is JUUL Labs, Inc., which became the market leader by marketing flavored nicotine pods in youth-friendly designs.

JUUL devices resemble USB drives and deliver high doses of nicotine through salt formulations, often twice the concentration found in traditional cigarettes.

Key events in the JUUL litigation:

• Teens addicted: Social media fueled a rapid rise in JUUL use among students, many of whom became addicted before age 18.
• Whistleblower claims: A former JUUL executive alleged in court that the company knowingly sold over 1 million contaminated pods.
• State settlements: JUUL agreed to a $440 million settlement in 2022 over deceptive marketing practices, followed by a broader global settlement resolving thousands of individual lawsuits tied to teen addiction.
• FDA ban and litigation: In 2022, the FDA banned JUUL products from the U.S. market, citing insufficient evidence of safety. JUUL temporarily blocked the order through a federal appeal.

Despite JUUL’s claims that it never intended to target minors, lawsuits have presented internal documents, marketing campaigns, and social media tactics suggesting otherwise.

Contact an E-Cigarette Injury Lawyer

If you or a loved one suffered lung damage, heart problems, or developed a nicotine addiction after using e-cigarettes or THC vape pens, you may be eligible for a settlement through an e-cigarette lawsuit.