Lawsuit by Illinois teenager alleges Juul gave him ‘lungs like a 70-year-old’
An Illinois teenager has filed a lawsuit against Juul over allegations that the company’s e-cigarettes caused severe damage to his lungs. The lawsuit, filed by 18-year-old Adam Hergenreder, alleges that Juul deliberately marketed flavored e-cigarettes to teenagers, putting them at risk of serious and permanent injuries to their lungs.
The popularity of Juul e-cigarettes has exploded among teenagers in recent years. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one in four teenagers admits to having used Juul within the last 30 days.
Hergenreder says that he started vaping as a teenager “because everyone else was doing it.” He says that he was totally unaware that there were any health risks associated with using Juul.
According to Hergenreder’s lawsuit against Juul, the teen used Juul for 18 months before he developed symptoms that included nausea, shivering, vomiting, and shortness of breath. After vomiting for three consecutive days, Hergenreder went to the hospital.
X-rays taken at the hospital found that Hergenreder had suffered “significant damage” to his lungs, Hergenreder was admitted to the hospital for treatment. Doctors who treated Hergenreder said that if the teenager had not been admitted to the hospital within two or three days, he may have died from his lung illness.
Hergenreder’s doctors who treated Hergenreder say that the teenager’s lung damage was severe, especially for a young person. “My lungs are like a 70-year-old’s,” Hergenreder says. Doctors warned that because of the severity of his lung injuries, Hergenreder may suffer lasting damage to his lungs and breathing.
Hergenreder filed a lawsuit against Juul in Illinois, which alleges that the vaping company used advertisements and social media in order to encourage teens and young adults to use e-cigarettes. However, the lawsuit alleges that Juul never warned about the health risks posed by dangerous chemicals found in the company’s vape juice.
E-Cigarettes Linked to Myseterious Lung Illness
Juul and other e-cigarettes have been linked to a mysterious lung illness that has sickened more than 400 patients across at least 22 states. Although state and federal health officials are still investigating the cause of the outbreak, all of the patients who were treated for the lung illness reported using e-cigarettes such as Juul before they became sick.
The CDC says that at least six deaths linked to the lung illness have been confirmed so far. Health officials have warned Americans to avoid using e-cigarettes or other vaping products until the CDC and other health agencies are able to identify the source of the lung illness.
Free Legal Consultation for Consumers Harmed by Juul
If you or a loved one used Juul e-cigarettes and have been diagnosed with a stroke, seizures, or respiratory illnesses, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit and seek financial compensation. The first step in taking legal action is to speak with an attorney to find out if you qualify to file a case.
The lawyers at Hissey, Mulderig & Friend have represented thousands of individuals across the U.S. who have been injured by consumer products, dangerous drugs, or defective medical devices. At Hissey, Mulderig & Friend, our attorneys believe that all clients should have the right to outstanding legal representation and to ensure that their legal rights are fully protected in a court of law.
For more information about filing a lawsuit against Juul and to find out if you may be eligible to file a case, contact the lawyers at Hissey, Mulderig & Friend for a free legal consultation. You can reach us by calling toll-free at 1-866-806-8117, or by following this link to our free online case evaluation form.