Marlboro parent Altria offers $235 million to settle 6,000 Juul-related lawsuits

Tobacco company Altria Group Inc. MO said Wednesday it reached a settlement with the majority of lawsuits from Juul users. The company said it reached terms to settle 6,000 state and federal Juul-related cases for $235 million, and will report it as a one-time charge in the second quarter. “While we continue to believe the claims against us are meritless, we believe this settlement avoids the uncertainty and expense of a protracted legal process and is in the best interest of our shareholders,” said Murray Garnick, Altria’s general counsel, in a statement. “This settlement brings to a close the vast majority of our pending…