Hutton & Hutton Law Firm, LLC will investigate the impact of vaping on local students. The Wichita Schools Board of Education chose our legal team to look into e-cigarette use among young people in the area and pursue a lawsuit if appropriate.
The decision to begin the investigation was part of a resolution that was approved by the Wichita Schools Board of Education on Monday, January 13th. Our firm’s agreement with the Board will begin with an investigation to determine the full extent of damage caused by the use of e-cigarettes. School district officials cited the safety risks of e-cigarettes in their litigation resolution, as well as the professional and financial damages that vaping has contributed to. As reported by KWCH 12 news, the resolution stated that vaping “create[s] distractions for other students,” and “teachers and administrators must depart from their normal duties to monitor restroom[s].” If a student is caught using an e-cigarette, they are required to participate in disciplinary procedures and visit the school nurse, which “creates a drain on school district services, with additional demand on (board of education) Security officers and Wichita Police Department School Resource Officers."
If the investigation reveals significant damage and case viability, the Wichita Schools Board of Education will file a lawsuit against JUUL and other vape brands.
E-cigarettes are popular among young people, and the JUUL brand, in particular, has faced repeated criticisms about their marketing tactics that target underage smokers. The risks of vaping have become apparent in the last year — starting in mid-2019, a wave of hospitalizations was linked to the habit.
JUUL Labs, Inc. and other e-cigarette manufacturers have been the subject of legal action across the country. Several other school districts in Kansas, including Valley Center, Goddard, and Olathe, have already begun pursuing legal action against JUUL. If the Wichita Schools Board of Education does decide to file a lawsuit, they could potentially join the existing litigation. The Wichita district is the largest school district in the state of Kansas.
Recently, the attorneys of Hutton & Hutton Law Firm, LLC were also chosen to represent the city of Wichita in opioid crisis litigation. We provide legal assistance to individuals and groups who have been harmed by the use of e-cigarettes, as well as dangerous drugs and defective products. Contact us to discuss your case.
For a free consultation with our legal team, complete our contact form or call (316) 688-1166.