A proposed class action lawsuit against Juul Labs in the Canadian province of British Columbia has cleared a hurdle, with the provincial Supreme Court dismissing an application from one of Juul’s major shareholders to stay or dismiss the proceedings.
Justice Christopher Giaschi ruled that the BC court did have jurisdiction over Altria Group, even though it was a US corporation with no offices, employees or bank accounts in Canada. What counts in British Columbia, wrote Giaschi, is where the harm was suffered, regardless of where the “wrongful conduct” occurred.