Can I (Still) Sue "Big Tobacco" or a Nicotine Product Company?

Yes, you can still sue tobacco companies in certain cases. You may be able to bring an action as an individual or, in some cases, as a representative of a class in a class action. In fact, tobacco litigation has gotten so big that it is now considered what lawyers call a "mass tort." An attorney can listen to your situation and help you understand whether a lawsuit is right for you and what to expect in the process.

Suing Tobacco Companies Today

Tobacco litigation can be complex and time-consuming because these companies are prepared to put up a fight, but people still win or settle tobacco cases even today. Because of past cases, tobacco companies have taken more precautions, such as:

• Adding warnings to products
• Being clear about the dangers of smoking and smoking-related illnesses
• Stopping misleading advertisements
• Not targeting minors or first-time smokers
• Lowering risks to public health

In November of 1998, most states and the four major US tobacco companies entered into a Master Settlement Agreement (MSA). The MSA changed how manufacturers could target consumers and advertise products.

Despite these changes, smokers and non-smokers can still pursue a case against tobacco companies. Lawsuits may be more limited than in the past in terms of the claims made, but there are new products and forms of nicotine available, such as e-cigarettes, that may give rise to lawsuits.

Recent changes by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allow the marketing of e-cigarette products, and the laws around pricing, taxing, and selling of tobacco products change often. There will likely always be health care, product liability, consumer protection, and tobacco control concerns to bring against major tobacco companies.

Reasons to Sue "Big Tobacco"

There are many reasons to bring a lawsuit against an American tobacco company. Keep in mind that there are federal regulations on tobacco as well as state-specific laws. You also don't automatically get to bring a case because you are a tobacco user. You need to have suffered some harm from the product.

You might consider suing for:

• Illness and injuries related to smoking such as lung cancer, heart disease, etc.
• Wrongful death of a loved one or serious health effects
• Consumer protection claims or fraud
• Not following Surgeon General warnings or guidelines
• Medicaid costs (this was more common in the 1980s)
• How a company advertises cigarette smoking or vaping
• Health care costs as a result of tobacco use
• Concerns or health risks from secondhand smoke
• Unsafe conditions if you work for a cigarette manufacturer

You can sue for compensation and, in some cases, punitive damages (these are damages intended to punish a wrongdoer). Most tobacco court cases are resolved by settlement, however.

Keep in mind that some products might contain just nicotine, just tobacco (such as herbal cigarettes), or both. An attorney can help you understand which tobacco manufacturer or other cigarette companies to sue.

Understand the Changing Tobacco and Nicotine Product Landscape: Vaping Litigation

Nicotine and tobacco products are evolving. It's not just cigarettes and tobacco anymore. New vaping, e-cigarettes, chews, pills, patches, inhalers, cigarettes, gums, nasal sprays, and lozenge products are being released every year, bringing about new lawsuits. Although some of these involve products intended to help you quit smoking, the majority of lawsuits involve e-cigarettes and vaping.

Most have been against JUUL, and some involve Altria Group Inc. (an investor in JUUL and owner of the tobacco company Philip Morris). Common allegations include:

• Targeting vaping products to youth through advertising and flavors
• Failing to warn of dangerous levels of nicotine in vaping products
• Failing to warn about the risk of lung illness and injuries related to vaping

States themselves have been getting into the act. Various states attorneys general have brought their own vaping lawsuits against tobacco and nicotine companies, mainly for targeting minors.

Learn More about Tobacco, Nicotine, and Vaping

Vaping, E-Cigs, and Nicotine

• Is Synthetic Vape Nicotine Legal?
• FDA Can Regulate E-Cigarettes as a "Modified Risk"
• Top Laws and Regulations to Know If You Vape
• Arrested for Vaping?
• Is the Government Coming for Your E-Cigarettes?
• Vaping And E-Cigarette Laws By State: Sellers
• Vaping And E-Cigarette Laws By State: Manufacturers
• Vaping And E-Cigarette Laws By State

Tobacco and Chewing Tobacco

• Chewing Tobacco And Smokeless Tobacco Injuries
• Tobacco Smoking Injury Dangers
• Benzene (a product found in tobacco smoke)
• Cigar Smoking Injuries And Dangers
• Cigarette Box Warnings Finally Finalized
• Light Cigarettes FAQ
• Smoker Protection Laws
• Tobacco Products Fast Facts
• Tobacco Tax Laws By State

Employees and Workplace Smoking

• Smoking In The Workplace And Workers' Compensation
• Your Rights: Smoking at Work
• Can I Refuse to Hire a Smoker?

Tobacco and Nicotine for Minors

• Is It Illegal to Smoke in a Car With a Child in the U.S.?
• Children and Tobacco: A Guide to the New Federal Regulations

If these topics or an experience you've had with tobacco or nicotine seem like a reason to sue, a law firm that works with tobacco lawsuits should be your first step.

You can contact a litigation attorney to discuss a lawsuit, or you may need one that focuses on personal injury, product liability, or another specific legal issue.