A year after taking e-cigarette maker Juul Labs to court, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is adding another tobacco giant to the state's lawsuit alleging a conspiracy to violate consumer protection laws while promoting youth smoking.
Minnesota adds tobacco giant Altria to ongoing suit against Juul Labs
State says products were marketed to children.
December 11, 2020 at 2:25AM
Ellison's office said Thursday it is just the second state to add Altria as a defendant in its ongoing lawsuit against Juul, which his office first filed in Hennepin County District Court in December 2019. The litigation is a sequel of sorts to the state's $6.5 billion settlement with the tobacco industry two decades ago.
According to the new civil complaint filed Thursday, Altria, the world's third-largest tobacco company, exited the e-cigarette market in 2018 — acknowledging at the time its toll on youth tobacco use — but quickly went on to buy a 35% stake in Juul for nearly $13 billion.
Altria then helped market and distribute Juul's products and included Juul advertisements on Altria cigarette packs that Ellison's office says were known as the most popular among youth.
"When I see the harm like the one Juul and Altria are perpetrating on Minnesotans — especially on our youth — I won't sit back and let it happen," Ellison said in a statement Thursday. "We in Minnesota have a special responsibility to lead the way in fighting this harm to our children."
Representatives for Altria did not respond to a request for comment.
Minnesota's lawsuit against Juul has alleged multiple violations of state consumer laws, a breach of the company's duty of reasonable care and creating a public nuisance. The suit alleges that the company developed products that were more potent and with more addictive levels of nicotine than other e-cigarettes or conventional cigarettes, all while billing it as a safe alternative for smokers.
Thursday's amended complaint levies many of the same allegations against Altria, while adding a new count of civil conspiracy against both companies.
Stephen Montemayor • 612-673-1755
Twitter: @smontemayor
The special election Nov. 5 will determine whether the GOP flips control of the state Senate or the DFL stays in charge.
