Attorney General Hector Balderas

AG News:

SANTA FE — Attorney General Hector Balderas announced Friday that his office has sued JUUL Labs Inc. for creating a youth vaping epidemic by intentionally marketing and selling its e-cigarettes to young people.

The lawsuit, filed in the First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe, alleges that the company illegally advertised and sold nicotine products to underage youth and created an epidemic of nicotine addiction among young people.

The lawsuit demands that JUUL pay for the costs associated with combating this public health crisis affecting young people across New Mexico.

“Vaping companies should not be targeting New Mexican children with an addictive product that could compromise their health and safety,” Balderas said. “My office will continue to fight large companies who harm our families and risk the lives of our future generation.”

According to the lawsuit, JUUL’s misconduct has created a public health crisis and an epidemic of nicotine addiction among underage consumers, which constitutes a public nuisance for which JUUL is liable to the State. The Office of the Attorney General seeks restitution, damages, and penalties for JUUL’s illegal conduct and an order requiring JUUL to abate the harm it has caused in New Mexico.