E-CIGARETTE users have been left stunned after receiving checks of up to $10,000 as part of a class action settlement.
Juul Labs and tobacco giant Altria Group started making direct payments to customers as part of a $300 million settlement this week.
Popular vaping brand Juul is paying out customers this week as part of a $300million settlement[/caption]
The class-action settlement, which was announced in 2022, was reached after claims the two companies misled customers about the addictiveness of their nicotine products.
It also followed criticism of their marketing to minors.
But because the application process, now closed, was several years ago, a number of recipients were caught off guard when compensation landed in their bank accounts.
“This Juul class action payout is crazy,” one person wrote on X.
“Damn did everyone get a payout from the JUUL lawsuit,” another said.
“Getting a $1500 payout from the Juul lawsuit settlement form I filled out years ago really made my day,” someone else wrote.
“Happy juul settlement payout day to all who celebrate,” another added.
One user shared a Venmo slip from Juul Labs, Inc. worth of $9,217.
Others said they received payments from $60 to $600.
“I signed up years ago, probably around the time I had quit or just after quitting,” Arizona resident Jessie Vendegna told MarketWatch.
“I didn’t know how much I would get, seeing as most settlements end in low amounts.
“I was really impressed to get $231, and while that doesn’t cover everything Juul I bought, it does feel like I got a reward for quitting smoking/vaping.”
More than 14 million people submitted claims to the court, of which only about 842,000 were officially validated, BBC News reports.
The lawsuit alleged that Juul customers paid more for the product than they would have had they been provided with accurate information about its addictiveness and safety.
It also alleged that the products were unlawfully marketed to minors.
Some repayments, however, are smaller than others, with many vapers kicking themselves for not filing a claim.
“I thought my lil $86 payout from the Juul thing was awesome until I got on here and saw people getting thousands,” one person said.
“Missed out on the Juul payout,” someone else wrote on X.
“When you missed the email from 2020 to get you that Juul payout today,” another said.
The court did not decide whether either firm violated any laws.
In a statement, Juul Labs said they are “pleased to have resolved the vast majority of the company’s past legal issues and are focused on advancing our mission.”
They said this included reducing the use of their products by underage users.
