Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is slated to lead off opening statements expected for Tuesday in his state's lawsuit against Juul Labs - marking the first time any of the thousands of cases against the e-cigarette maker over its alleged...
, as a co-defendant in 2020. Altria completed its divestiture this month and says it effectively lost its $12.8 billion investment. A few days later, Altria announced a $2.75 billion investment in rival electronic cigarette startup NJOY.and Altria deceived and hooked a generation of Minnesota youth on their products, causing both great harm to the public and great expense to the State to remediate that harm,” Ellison said in a statement.
The jury trial, before Hennepin County District Judge Laurie Miller, is expected to last about three weeks. That contrasts with nearly four months for the landmark 1998 lawsuit by the state and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota against the big tobacco companies. That case forced the release of millions of pages of previously secret industry documents and ended in a $7.1 billion settlement just before the state was due to deliver its closing arguments. Part of the money went to fund anti-smoking programs, but bothand Altria have pointed out in court filings that lawmakers opted to spend much of the money simply to fund state government.
Ellison plans to deliver part of the state’s opening statement himself before handing it off to attorneys from two outside law firms that are handling the case for Minnesota. The lawsuit alleges consumer fraud, creating a public nuisance, unjust enrichment and conspiracy. A brief filed last week gave a preview of the state’s arguments.
“Effective interventions to address underage use of all tobacco products in Minnesota, including vapor, depends not on headline-driven trials, but on evidence-based policies, programs, and enforcement,” the statement continued. “This is the approach thatAltria Group - the maker of Marlboro cigarettes and other tobacco products formerly known as Phillip Morris Cos. - is minimizing its role.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Minnesota suit against e-cigarette maker Juul goes to trialMinnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is slated to lead off opening statements expected Tuesday in his state’s lawsuit against Juul Labs.
Read more »
Minnesota attorney warns about 'insidious' bill for 'trans refuge,' says parental rights will be strippedMinnesota attorney Robert Roby warned that the state's 'trans refuge' bill could allow juvenile courts to strip parents of custody for denying gender-affirming care to kids.
Read more »
Fmr. Attorney General Holder to Psaki: Jim Jordan’s attacks on Bragg are ‘height of hypocrisy’Former Attorney General Eric Holder joins Jen Psaki for an exclusive interview to discuss Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's investigation into former President Trump, the threats Bragg has faced, and Trump lawyer Evan Corcoran testifying before the grand jury in the documents probe. On Congressman Jim Jordan's letters to DA Bragg, Holder says 'The notion that Jim Jordan who ignored a subpoena to testify in the January 6th investigation, would now have the temerity to inject himself into a state/local prosecution is the height of hypocrisy.'
Read more »
WSJ News Exclusive | Drug Middlemen Accused of Price Fixing by Ohio Attorney GeneralThe state’s lawsuit alleges certain pharmacy-benefit managers shared drug pricing and other information to gain leverage during rebate negotiations with pharmaceutical companies
Read more »
Attorney General files lawsuit against Whiteland shop over 'deceptive' practices following WRTV InvestigationIndiana's Attorney General filed a lawsuit Monday in Johnson County against a Whiteland vehicle restoration shop following a WRTV Investigation into its questionable business practices.
Read more »
NJ attorney general takes over control of Paterson Police DepartmentThe New Jersey attorney general announced that his office is superseding the Paterson Police Department, and assuming control of all police functions, including internal affairs investigations, effective immediately.
Read more »