Fighting for Our Children
John F. Kennedy said,
“Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.”
President Kennedy’s conviction guides Richard Schechter in his practice. In his professional life he lives his commitment to children's welfare by confronting threats to their mental health and well-being, including vaping, harmful social media algorithms, addictive video games, and educational institutions that mislead students.
Combating the Vaping Epidemic
In recent years, the rise of e-cigarettes, or vapes, among teenagers has become a significant public health concern, with companies like Juul Labs and Altria at the forefront. Initially seen as a safer alternative to smoking, Juul and Altria faced intense scrutiny and legal challenges for their role in this youth vaping epidemic.
Richard Schechter was active in the battle against Juul Labs and Altria, challenging these companies' targeting of children. The lawsuit highlighted Juul's deceptive marketing strategies designed to hook minors on their products with their attractive models, sleek products, and enticing flavors.
As a result of the efforts by Schechter and other like-minded attorneys around the United States, Juul Labs, Altria and a number of other defendants were held accountable for deceptive practices that promoted vaping to our youth. Schechter’s efforts were particularly instrumental in helping Harris County, Texas, obtain the second largest settlement against Juul Labs and Altria for a local government. The settlement funds are now being used to combat youth nicotine addiction within Harris County. These settlements not only provide funds to help reverse the harm caused by the companies’ marketing strategies, but also serve as a powerful deterrent against future corporate misconduct.
The impact of these lawsuits and the negative publicity surrounding Juul have already had a positive effect. According to a November 2023 CDC survey, only 10% of high school students reported vaping, compared to 14% the previous year. This decline signifies the tangible progress being made to protect our youth from the dangers of nicotine addiction.
Through these landmark cases, Richard Schechter demonstrates his dedication to protecting our country’s children from predatory marketing tactics and his determination to fight for greater corporate responsibility.
Addressing the Dangers of Social Media
The Surgeon General has described the child mental health crisis as the "Public health challenge of our time." Social media platforms, while revolutionizing how we communicate, also pose significant mental health risks to our children. Algorithms designed to maximize engagement often expose young users to harmful content, including:
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Cyberbullying;
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Unrealistic lifestyle portrayals; and
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Age-inappropriate material.
This prolonged exposure can lead to serious mental health issues such as:
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Depression;
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Anxiety; and
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Sleep disorders.
Richard Schechter is committed to holding social media companies accountable for harmful algorithms.
Representing families nationwide, Schechter and a team of lawyers are filing lawsuits against major social media companies such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, seeking justice for those affected and systemic change to protect children and teenagers.
Protecting Students from Deceptive Practices
Abraham Lincoln described education as the “Most important subject which we as a people can be engaged in.” Richard Schechter shares Abraham Lincoln’s belief in the transformative power of higher education, which is why he funds scholarships to educational institutions, such as community colleges, universities, and law schools, and served for several years as a trustee on the Board of Houston Community College.
When Schechter learned of a university misleading a group of nursing students about the accreditation status of the school’s nursing program, Schechter was honored to be retained by those students to represent them.
The students had, in many cases, spent years and borrowed tens of thousands of dollars to attend classes that, ultimately, did not count toward their nursing degree. Filing suit under the state deceptive trade practices act, Schechter secured a recovery for each of the students who retained him.
A Lifelong Pursuit of Justice
By focusing on significant consumer protection cases, especially those involving our youth, Richard Schechter, P.C. works to obtain justice for our clients and drive systemic change by holding corporations accountable.
For more information about Richard Schechter's work and to explore his other notable cases, please visit our Meet Richard and Our Work pages.