On June 20, the most anticipated lawsuit challenging the FDA’s deeming ban was filed. The Right to be Smoke-Free Coalition sued in the US District Court for the District of Columbia on behalf of 11 plaintiffs, and with the support of every major advocacy group in the country.
The suit challenges parts of the deeming regulations and the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act on several grounds, including violations of the Administrative Procedures Act and the First Amendment to the Constitution. The suit alleges eight violations in all.
The Right to be Smoke-Free Coalition was formed to fight unconstitutional state and federal e-cig and vaping laws. Its original focus was challenging the recently passed HEA 1432 in Indiana, which the coalition’s lawyers have challenged in both state and federal courts. Those efforts are still in progress. R2B retained the services of Washington, D.C. legal firm Keller and Heckman, LLC. Keller partner Azim Chowdhury is recognized as an expert in vapor products law, and he has handled the vaping cases.
The DC District Court: site of vaping’s greatest legal victory
Every vaper is a stakeholder and we can all help
The plaintiffs in the new lawsuit are:
The R2B suit has also been endorsed by all major American vaping advocacy organizations who weren’t named in the suit, including CASAA, Not Blowing Smoke, SEVIA USA, and SFATA.
Jim McDonald
Vaping for: 13 years
Favorite products:
Favorite flavors: RY4-style tobaccos, fruits
Expertise in: Political and legal challenges, tobacco control haters, moral panics
Jim McDonald
Smokers created vaping without help from the tobacco industry or anti-smoking crusaders, and I believe vapers have the right to continue innovating to help themselves. My goal is to provide clear, honest information about the challenges vaping faces from lawmakers, regulators, and brokers of disinformation. I’m a member of the CASAA board, but my opinions aren’t necessarily CASAA’s, and vice versa. You can find me on Twitter @whycherrywhy
