Vaping, climate change, and opioids might seem disconnected, but they have more in common than one might think. They’re each significant public challenges that state and local governments are attempting to solve through civil lawsuits in state after state across the nation.

National and global problems cannot be solved through litigation in local courts, but that hasn’t stopped cities, counties, and state governments from trying. It’s a growing problem for our nation and legal system, and judges and legislators must rein this in.