In a strategic move to secure funds for the health and future of its youth, the City of Baltimore has settled with JUUL Labs for millions, rejecting an earlier, smaller payout. According to the Mayor's office, Brandon M. Scott declared the victory following a lawsuit accusing JUUL of hazardous marketing toward young residents. Eschewing a collective resolution that would have netted the city a measly $1.9 million, the city stands to receive either a lump sum of $7.5 million or $8 million in staggered payments.
While announcing the settlement, Mayor Scott emphasized the city's commitment, borne from the lawsuit filed back in 2020: “Since taking office, my administration has done everything in our power to invest in Baltimore's young people to ensure they can reach their full potential,” he said, the Mayor's office reported. The deal's conditions offer JUUL the flexibility to pay over time or at once before 2024 ends, providing a financial injection directed towards the betterment of public health initiatives.
City Solicitor Ebony M. Thompson spoke to Baltimore's resilience in fighting for fair compensation, saying, "We have and will continue to refuse settlement offers that do not fairly compensate Baltimore City for the harms that the misconduct of these companies bring on us," City Solicitor Ebony Thompson said, per the city's press release. This firm stance likely played a crucial role in negotiating a settlement figure that exceeded initial offers.
Baltimore's legal representation included a team that, with a strong sense of justice, held the e-cigarette manufacturer accountable. The team consisted of Grant & Eisenhofer, Gordon, Wolf & Carney, and the City's own Sara Gross. Their efforts culminated in a decision to position the city on the higher ground of moral and financial compensation for JUUL's purported targeting of young individuals.
