Minnesota’s Attorney General, Keith Ellison, announced on Monday that the state has reached a settlement agreement with Juul Labs, a leading e-cigarette manufacturer, and its major shareholder Altria Group (MO). The settlement comes after allegations that Juul’s ads targeted minors, violating state laws. While the terms of the agreement have not been disclosed yet, Ellison stated in a press release that they will be announced soon. This settlement follows Juul’s recent multi-state agreement to resolve disputes over deceptive ads targeting children, which totaled $462 million and involved seven states and the District of Columbia.
Minnesota Takes a Stand Against Youth Marketing of Nicotine Products
Attorney General Keith Ellison emphasized that one of his goals in bringing the case against Juul was to send a clear message that Minnesota will not tolerate youth marketing of nicotine products. In a statement sent to Yahoo Finance, Ellison stated, “We will not tolerate youth marketing of nicotine products in Minnesota.” This settlement underscores the state’s commitment to protecting minors from the harmful effects of nicotine use and holding companies accountable for their marketing practices.
Lawsuit Against Juul and Altria
Keith Ellison filed a lawsuit against Juul in 2019, and later added Altria as a defendant. The lawsuit alleged that both companies disregarded consumer protection laws, breached their duty of reasonable care, and created a public nuisance. The settlement agreement reached with Juul and Altria is a significant step in resolving these legal disputes and addressing the alleged violations of state laws related to marketing practices.
Juul’s Multi-State Settlements and Resolution of Legal Challenges
Juul’s recent multi-state settlement with seven attorneys general, including California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, and the District of Columbia, amounted to $462 million. However, Juul did not admit any wrongdoing in entering the settlement. In a statement, Juul described the agreement as another critical part of its ongoing commitment to resolve issues from the company’s past and move towards near total resolution of its historical legal challenges.
According to Juul, the company’s multi-state settlements with states and territories have now totaled $1 billion, in addition to its efforts to resolve more than 5,000 private lawsuits involving approximately 10,000 plaintiffs in the United States.
FAQs:
What is the settlement agreement between Minnesota and Juul about?
The settlement agreement between Minnesota and Juul is related to alleged violations of state laws by Juul Labs, an e-cigarette manufacturer, and its major shareholder Altria Group, for targeting minors with their ads. Minnesota’s attorney general, Keith Ellison, filed a lawsuit against Juul in 2019, claiming that the company disregarded consumer protection laws, breached a duty of reasonable care, and created a public nuisance.What are the terms of the settlement agreement between Minnesota and Juul?
The terms of the settlement agreement between Minnesota and Juul have not been disclosed yet. Keith Ellison, the state’s attorney general, announced the settlement but stated that the details will be announced “soon.” As of now, the specific terms of the agreement have not been made public.Did Juul admit to any wrongdoing in the settlement agreement?
No, Juul did not admit to any wrongdoing in the settlement agreement. The company, in its statement concerning the settlement with seven attorneys general, stated that the agreement represents another step in its ongoing commitment to resolve issues from the company’s past, but it did not admit to any wrongdoing in entering the multi-state settlement.How much has Juul settled for in total with states and territories?
According to Juul, the company’s multi-state settlement brought its total settlements with states and territories to $1 billion. This is in addition to the company’s effort to resolve more than 5,000 private U.S. lawsuits involving approximately 10,000 plaintiffs.What is the significance of this settlement agreement for Minnesota?
The settlement agreement between Minnesota and Juul is significant as it sends a message that the state will not tolerate youth marketing of nicotine products. Minnesota’s attorney general, Keith Ellison, stated that one of his goals in bringing the case was to send this message. The settlement also comes within days of Juul’s largest multi-state agreement to date, indicating that the company is resolving legal challenges related to its alleged deceptive ads targeting children.