MIAMI (Legal Newsline) - Menthol cigarettes should come with extra warnings, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
Lawyers took aim at Walgreens on May 5 in a case filed in Miami federal court. They include noted food lawyer Spencer Sheehan, who has filed hundreds of class actions over various products through the years.
Defendant represents the products as mere ordinary cigarettes, when in fact, they are not because menthol cigarettes are far more dangerous and addictive than any other type of cigarette available to consumers," the lawsuit says.
"Defendant provides NO WARNING that the products pose additional health risks far beyond those seen with nonmenthol cigarettes."
Studies have shown menthol increases the appeal of tobacco and "facilitates addiction" in youth and young adults, the lawsuit says. It seeks injunctive relief and damages for all U.S. residents who purchased menthol cigarettes from Walgreens in the past four years.
Joining Sheehan on the case are Joel Oster of the Law Offices of Howard W. Rubinstein in Kansas and Angela Arango-Chaffin of Miami Beach.