Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2022
FDA marketing denial order
The FDA ordered JUUL products off the U.S. market after identifying unresolved issues in the company’s regulatory submissions; enforcement was stayed during further review.
2021
Juul agrees to $40 million North Carolina settlement
Settlement
Juul Labs agreed to pay $40 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the state of North Carolina. The state alleged that the company's marketing practices led to widespread nicotine addiction among teenagers. The settlement resolved the lawsuit, which centered on claims about the effects of Juul's marketing on youth nicotine use.
Source excerpt
The e-cigarette maker Juul Labs has agreed to pay $40 million to settle a lawsuit brought by North Carolina, charging that its marketing practices led to widespread nicotine addiction among teenagers.
2020
Alleged youth-oriented advertising
Massachusetts litigation alleged that JUUL bought advertising on youth-focused websites and used imagery and channels attractive to adolescents during its early expansion.
2020
Juul Labs files ITC complaint seeking investigation
Investigation
Juul Labs filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission against the same companies, requesting an investigation into alleged Tariff Act violations and an order stopping infringing products from entering the United States.
Source excerpt
The ITC complaint requests an investigation into Tariff Act violations by the defendants and that the Commission issue a permanent general exclusion order stopping the infringing products from entering the United States.
Juul Labs also filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission (ITC) against the same companies on Friday
filing 49 patent complaints in various courts petitioning against vaping businesses involved with JUUL compatible pods and other products.
2019
Unauthorized modified-risk marketing allegations
The FDA warned JUUL that it had marketed unauthorized modified-risk tobacco products and raised concerns about outreach practices, including activities involving youth.
2019
King County files lawsuit against JUUL Labs
Lawsuit filed
King County officials filed a class-action lawsuit against JUUL Labs, accusing the company of marketing its products to young people. The lawsuit sought a ruling on liability for the county's teen vaping epidemic and requested funding for prevention education and addiction treatment. These are allegations, not a court determination.
Company response
Denial — JUUL Labs
“We never designed our marketing to appeal to youth and do not want any non-nicotine users to try our products
Denial — Juul
Juul disputes allegations that it marketed to teens.
Denial — Juul Labs
A Juul spokesman said the company’s intended customers are adult smokers, adding “we do not intend to attract underage users.”
Denial — Juul
In a statement released after the lawsuit was filed, the company denied its marketing was designed to appeal to underage users or any non-nicotine users.
Source excerpt
The lawsuit claimed the e-cigarette company used deceptive tactics to target youth in its marketing campaigns.
Officials in King County have filed a class-action lawsuit against e-cigarette giant JUUL Labs. In the lawsuit, county officials accused the company of marketing its products to young people.
Last Friday, Juul Labs, Inc. filed a complaint in the District of Connecticut against Din Sipra LLC for allegedly selling counterfeit versions of JUUL products at their stores.
2019
Former Juul executive sues over alleged retaliation and contaminated pods
Lawsuit filed
A former Juul executive, Siddharth Breja, filed a lawsuit alleging that Juul retaliated against him after he raised concerns about allegedly contaminated mint-flavored nicotine pods and that the company refused to recall them or issue a safety warning. Juul described the claims as baseless, stated that it would defend the lawsuit, and said its investigation found that the product met applicable specifications.
Former Juul executive Siddharth Breja filed suit alleging that Juul retaliated against him for raising concerns about allegedly contaminated mint-flavored nicotine pods and refused to recall them or issue a safety warning. Juul called the claims baseless, said it would defend the lawsuit, and said its investigation found the product met applicable specifications.
Company response
Denial — Juul
Breja's claims are baseless
Investigation — Juul
we already investigated the underlying manufacturing issue and determined the product met all applicable specifications.
Source excerpt
The allegations concerning safety issues with Juul products are equally meritless," the spokesperson said, "and we already investigated the underlying manufacturing issue and determined the product met all applicable specifications."
Breja claims in the complaint that he was fired "in retaliation for whistleblowing and objecting to the contaminated pod shipment and other illegal and unsafe conduct."
The complaint alleges that Juul sent to market at least "one million mint-flavored e-cigarette nicotine pods that it admits were contaminated, and against Mr. Breja's insistence and protests, refused to recall those contaminated pods or even issue a product health and safety warning."