Category Archives: california

Apple loses 230 defense to app privacy claims but still wins dismissal

Opperman v. Path, Inc., 2014 WL 1973378,  No. 13-cv-00453 (N.D. Cal. May 14, 2014) This big class action against Apple and fourteen app developers has a lot of issues; I’ll try to focus on the consumer protection parts.  Plaintiffs alleged … Continue reading

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With a face like that: Maybelline defeats class certification

Algarin v. Maybelline, LLC, 2014 WL 1883772, No. 12cv3000 (S.D. Cal. May 12, 2014) This case shows the many hurdles now present for consumer class actions.  Once again, perhaps ironically, consumers have no remedy when the harm is probabalistic; only … Continue reading

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record-free consumer class action certified as ascertainable

McCrary v. Elations Co., LLC, 2014 WL 1779243, No. EDCV 13–00242 (C.D. Cal. Jan. 13, 2014) The court certified a class alleging the usual California statutory claims against a supplement called Elations, whose label claimed a “clinically-proven combination” and/or “clinically-proven … Continue reading

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7-year ad campaign triggers Tobacco II’s reliance rules

Dodson v. Tempur–Sealy International, Inc., No. 13–cv–04984, 2014 WL 1493676 (N.D. Apr. 16, 2014) Plaintiffs brought twenty-four claims under the laws of eleven states.  The alleged misrepresentations were that Tempur products are “formaldehyde free;” are “free of harmful VOCs [volatile … Continue reading

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court certifies nationwide damages class for homeopathic products

Forcellati v. Hyland’s, Inc., No. CV 12–1983, 2014 WL 1410264 (C.D. Cal. Apr. 9, 2014) Plaintiff sued for violation of New Jersey, California, and Missouri consumer protection laws (and breach of warranty), alleging that defendants misrepresented that their homeopathic products … Continue reading

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claim proceeds against allegedly scammy publishing company now owned by Penguin

James v. Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 2014 WL 1407697, No. 13 Civ. 2801 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 11, 2014) Plaintiffs sued Penguin and Author Solutions, a Penguin company, for breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and violation of California, NY, and Colorado consumer … Continue reading

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It’s an ex-competitor: plaintiff whose service shuffled off this mortal coil lacks standing

Think Computer Corp. v. Dwolla, Inc., No. 13–CV–02054, 2014 WL 1266213 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 24, 2014) Think is a money service business (MSB) and developer of a mobile payment system platform called FaceCash, launched in April 2010.  Defendants were money … Continue reading

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Knockout (fruit) punch: Pom class decertified

In re Pom Wonderful LLC Marketing and Sales Practices Litigation, No. ML 10–02199, 2014 WL 1225184 (C.D. Cal. Mar. 25, 2014) In what defendants doubtless hope is a winning trend, the court decertified a class on the ground that it’s … Continue reading

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tuna surprise: undisclosed slack fill was plausibly misleading

Hendricks v. StarKist Co., No. 13–cv–729, 2014 WL 1244770 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 25, 2014) Hendricks brought the usual California claims against Starkist alleging that its canned tuna products were underfilled (anywhere from 1.1% to 17.3% less tuna than there was … Continue reading

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"I wouldn’t have bought it if I’d known" is enough for standing, 9th Circuit says again

Galope v. Deutsche Bank National Trust Co., No. 12–56892, 2014 WL 1244279 (9th Cir. Mar. 27, 2014) The court of appeals reversed a grant of summary judgment in favor of Deutsche Bank and other defendants.  Galope adequately alleged that she … Continue reading

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