An east Valley vaping product company is being sued by the Arkansas Attorney General.
The consumer protection lawsuit was filed Tuesday against The Vape Co., also known as Gladiator Distribution.
The lawsuit alleges the company allowed "minors to easily obtain e-cigarettes online without verifying their age." The State of Arkansas seeks an injunction against the company and civil penalties.
A 15-year-old was able to successfully make a purchase from TheVapeCo.com and have it delivered to a home in Arkansas, according to the lawsuit. Arkansas law prohibits all online sales of tobacco or vaping product and bars anyone from giving the products to minors.
ABC15 reached out to The Vape Co. on Thursday afternoon. A representative denied selling to minors and said he turned off the website until he can determine what happened and what actions need to be taken.
The Arkansas attorney general filed separate lawsuits against vaping companies in Utah and Minnesota.
“These out-of-state retailers are illegally selling vaping products online that are dangerous to Arkansas children, and it’s time to take a strong stance to stop this practice in our state,” said Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. “It is unacceptable for retailers to exploit our youth by selling vaping products to them illegally.”
