The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday to uphold a lawsuit against Medical Marijuana Inc. (MJNA), allowing a commercial truck driver’s claim to proceed. Douglas Horn alleges he was wrongfully fired after failing a drug test for CBD products that he claims were falsely marketed as THC-free.
In a 5-4 decision, authored by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the Court sided with Horn, allowing his civil suit under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). The ruling comes after a lower court decided Horn could pursue the case.
The case revolves around Horn’s firing from his trucking job in 2012 after a random drug test showed THC in his system, following the use of a CBD tincture, Dixie X. The product, marketed as THC-free, led to his dismissal after the test result, despite Horn’s claims of not using marijuana.
Horn and his wife, Cindy, sued Medical Marijuana Inc. in 2015, asserting the company’s violation of the RICO Act, including racketeering activities such as mail and wire fraud. Independent lab tests confirmed the product contained THC, which Horn claims caused his job loss.
The Supreme Court ruling rejected the company’s defense, with Barrett writing that the “natural interpretation” of the law clearly applies to Horn’s injury. The decision allows the case to move forward, seeking damages for the alleged harm caused by the company’s actions.
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