JUUL pays more compensation to U.S. school districts, total settlements now exceed $1 billion

E-cigarette brandJUUL and similar companies have been forced to pay more than $1 billion in settlements. The latest settlement shows that JUUL will compensate Oak Lawn Township High School No. 229 with $13,000, and High School No. 230 will receive $172,212. These amounts are part of a total $255 million national settlement fund.

According to a Chicago Tribune report on October 9, e-cigarette brand JUUL and similar companies have been forced to pay more than $1 billion in settlements. The latest settlement shows that JUUL will compensate Oak Lawn Township High School No. 229 with $13,000, and High School No. 230 will receive $172,212. These amounts are part of a total $255 million national settlement fund. 

Data shows that before 2022, JUUL dominated the U.S. e-cigarette industry, with an astonishing 75% market share in 2019. But in recent years, due to public settlements in billion-dollar lawsuits and the ban on many products, its market control has declined rapidly. Now, according to an industry news website, it is already the second-largest brand, with market share less than one-third of its peak. 

Although both the Oak Lawn and Orland Park school districts signed on as plaintiffs in the lawsuit agreement, the compensation they received differed greatly. There are three main reasons for this. According to Lavelle and Jennifer Waterman, a spokesperson for District 230, each plaintiff’s share of the $255 million settlement, including hundreds of school districts nationwide, depended on how early they signed on during the litigation, the number of students in the district, and the grade levels taught by each district. 

The school districts have not yet clarified how all the funds will be allocated. They plan to use the money to support efforts to reduce e-cigarette use and help students addicted to e-cigarettes.