COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Coldwater Community Schools Board of Education voted on Monday night to accept a proposed settlement of over $14,000 from Altria Group, Incorporated as part of a mass action lawsuit against the manufacturer of vaping products.
The district was notified in November 2020 by Thrun Law Firm of Lansing of the possibility of joining the lawsuit against Juul Labs, Incorportaed, Altria and other vaping product manufacturers.
A total of 120 school districts in the State of Michigan joined the lawsuit. It was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California and alleged vaping was harming students.
The Board voted in May of 2021 to join the Juul Lawsuit. They accepted a nearly $47,000 settlement this past March. They also authorized former Superintendent Terry Ann Whelan to sign all settlement documents, with the understanding that signing the settlement agreement with Juul Labs, Inc. did not settle the district’s continuing lawsuit with Altria.
Administration was recently notified by Thrun Law Firm of the proposed settlement from Altria Group, Inc. The board voted unanimously to accept the proposed settlement and authorized Superintendent Paul Flynn to sign the settlement documentation on behalf of the district.
A U.S. District Judge approved a $225 million settlement in January which alleges Juul deceptively marketed the vaping product and that they marketed their products to children.
School districts that accept the settlement agreement in turn release claims against Juul and Juul-related products, thus settling the lawsuit.
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