An Illinois teenager who fell ill with a lung disease after vaping for over a year has sued a leading e-cigarette maker.
Attorneys filed the lawsuit Friday in Lake County Circuit Court on behalf of 18-year-old Adam Hergenreder.
The 85-page suit says Juul Labs deliberately marketed to young people to suggest vaping can boost their social status. It also says Juul doesn't fully disclose their products contain dangerous chemicals.
Attorney Antonio Romanucci, right, announces the filing of a civil lawsuit against e-cigarette maker Juul on behalf of his client Adam Hergenreder, left, during a news conference Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, in Chicago. The lawsuit filed Friday in Lake County, Illinois, Circuit Court alleges Juul Labs, Inc., deliberately targeted young people through Instagram and other sites to suggest vaping can boost their social status. It also says Juul doesn't fully disclose their products contain dangerous chemicals. (AP PhotoCharles Rex Arbogast)
Lawyer Antonio Romanucci says his client couldn't avoid "getting hooked" on what he called "toxic timebombs."
San Francisco-based Juul said in a Friday statement it's "never marketed to youth" and tries to combat underage use.
Hergenreder recently told the Chicago Tribune he started buying THC-filled devices off the street last year. Vaping companies say blame should be put on illegal devices for a spate of hospitalizations. Friday's suit doesn't directly raise that issue.
Polly Hergenreder, right, and her son Adam, center attend a news conference where their attorney Antonio Romanucci, announced the filing of a civil lawsuit against e-cigarette maker Juul on Hergenreder's behalf Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, in Chicago. The lawsuit filed Friday in Lake County, Illinois, Circuit Court alleges Juul Labs, Inc., deliberately targeted young people through Instagram and other sites to suggest vaping can boost their social status. It also says Juul doesn't fully disclose their products contain dangerous chemicals. (AP PhotoCharles Rex Arbogast)
Adam Hergenreder, attends a news conference where his attorney announced the filing of a civil lawsuit against e-cigarette maker Juul on his behalf Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, in Chicago. The lawsuit filed Friday in Lake County, Illinois, Circuit Court alleges Juul Labs, Inc., deliberately targeted young people through Instagram and other sites to suggest vaping can boost their social status. It also says Juul doesn't fully disclose their products contain dangerous chemicals. (AP PhotoCharles Rex Arbogast)
Adam Hergenreder, right, responds to a question as Attorney Antonio Romanucci, listens after Romanucci announced the filing of a civil lawsuit against e-cigarette maker Juul, on behalf of Hergenreder, during a news conference Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, in Chicago. The lawsuit filed Friday in Lake County, Illinois, Circuit Court alleges Juul Labs, Inc., deliberately targeted young people through Instagram and other sites to suggest vaping can boost their social status. It also says Juul doesn't fully disclose their products contain dangerous chemicals. (AP PhotoCharles Rex Arbogast)