Oklahoma County to get additional funds from e-cigarette litigation against JUUL investor

Jack Money, The Oklahoman
·2 min read
In this file photo taken on June 23, 2022, JUUL Labs Inc. Virginia tobacco and menthol flavored vaping e-cigarette products are displayed in a convenience store in El Segundo, California.
In this file photo taken on June 23, 2022, JUUL Labs Inc. Virginia tobacco and menthol flavored vaping e-cigarette products are displayed in a convenience store in El Segundo, California.

Oklahoma County agreed this week to take $146,732 as its share of a proposed settlement agreement in a class-action lawsuit against a financial backer of an e-cigarette manufacturer who was accused of overpricing products it sold and marketing them to teens.

Members of the Board of County Commissioners agreed Wednesday to accept the money from Altria Group, Inc., parent company of Philip Morris USA Inc.

Altria was a 25% investor in JUUL Labs Inc., and was a defendant in a class action lawsuit where Oklahoma County was among thousands of plaintiffs who pressed the case.

What to know about the JUUL class-action lawsuit and settlement

JUUL agreed to a global settlement to end its involvement in the lawsuit late last year, prompting commissioners to agree in February to accept a settlement of $428,928.61 (before attorneys' fees, case costs and a common benefits expense deduction).

Altria, however, decided to take the issue to trial before agreeing to settle this year, commissioners were told by attorney William Shinoff, a member of the firm representing it and other case plaintiffs.

In total, 1,596 governmental bodies involved themselves in the Altria litigation and are being asked to settle. The attorney said 1,540 of those are schools, while the remaining plaintiffs include 46 counties, nine cities and one county health agency.

More: Oklahoma County reaches settlement with JUUL in marketing of vapes to teens

The school systems are set to receive about $132 million as their share of the settlement, while non-school governmental entities will receive about $36.2 million. Altria proposes making a single payment to the plaintiffs to settle the case.

Oklahoma County should get its share of funds within 60 days after a federal judge approves the agreement. Oklahoma County should see the funds before the end of May 2024.

"This will get the funds to the county the quickest way possible," Shinoff said.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma County to get nearly $150K as part of JUUL e-cig settlement