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Oct. 13—More local school districts have determined how much money they will receive from a class-action lawsuit settlement against vape manufacturer Juul Inc. and tobacco producer and Juul investor Altria Group Inc. alleging the companies intentionally marketed addictive vape products to underage users.
Many districts in Spokane County joined the suit in 2022. The nationwide settlement involved more than 100 Washington districts, including many local schools, which are receiving varying awards from the settlement.
Spokane Public Schools, which voted to back the settlement in a board vote last week, received a $320,000 award it plans to spend on vaping prevention in schools.
Mead School District received $280,000. With no stipulations attached to the payout, the Mead school board in March discussed directing it toward vaping deterrence.
Cheney Public Schools is also receiving funding from the settlement that it plans to spend on student safety, but the district doesn't know how much it is getting.
West Valley is collecting $80,000 from the litigation, which will be used on vape sensors in school bathrooms, popular spots for students' vape use.
East Valley schools also received a payout in the settlement, almost $100,000 from the two defendants in the suit before paying legal fees. The district intends to use its award on vaping prevention and cessation education and behavioral health supports, while also replacing some existing vape detectors in school bathrooms.
The Central Valley School District did not join the suit.
Elena Perry's work is funded in part by members of the Spokane community via the Community Journalism and Civic Engagement Fund. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper's managing editor.