JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) — A Florida woman claims R.J. Reynolds' Vuse e-cigarettes are falsely marketed as having good quality.
Camellia Chastain, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed a complaint Jan. 11 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida against R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company alleging violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and other claims.
Chastain alleges in her class action complaint that R.J. Reynolds' Vuse brand e-cigarette pods are not "of uniform quality." Specifically, Chastain claims the Vuse e-cigarettes do no not function reliably because the fluid in the pods are made of different colors and taste which compromises the taste of the product.
She further claims the pods should be "light in color and smooth in taste" when the pods consumers purchase are a medium/dark brown and have a "burnt" and "acrid" taste. Chastain alleges R.J. Reynolds knowns of the issue with its Vuse e-cigarettes for at least a year and that consumers have made complaints to the company and on social media.
She claims R.J. Reynolds offered some consumers coupons while other consumers are told the color differences are normal. Chastain also claims that R.J. Reynolds is selling its Vuse e-cigarettes at a "premium price" with the false and deceptive representations and that customers rely on the R.J. Reynolds' reputation for having high quality e-cigarettes and pre-filled pods.
Chastain and the class seek monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by William Wright of The Wright Law Office PA in West Palm Beach, Florida and Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates PC in Great Neck, New York.