`
`
`
`
`
`CUSTODIO & DUBEY, LLP
`Robert Abiri (SBN 238681)
`445 S. Figueroa Street, Suite 2520
`Los Angeles, CA 90071
`Telephone: (213) 593-9095
`Facsimile: (213) 785-2899
`E-mail: abiri@cd-lawyers.com
`
`Attorneys for Plaintiff and the Putative Classes
`
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
`
`
`Elena Nacarino, on behalf of herself and all
`others similarly situated,
`
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`
`
`v.
`
`
`RB Health (US) LLC,
`
`
`Defendant.
`
`
`
`
` CASE NO.: 3:22-cv-04721
`
`
`
`CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`
`
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
` CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04721-TSH Document 1 Filed 08/17/22 Page 2 of 19
`
`
`
`1
`
`Plaintiff Elena Nacarino (“Plaintiff”), on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated,
`
`2
`
`by and through her attorneys, brings this Class Action Complaint against RB Health (US) LLC
`
`3
`
`(“Defendant”), based upon personal knowledge as to herself, and upon information, investigation
`
`4
`
`and belief of her counsel.
`
`5
`
`6
`
`1.
`
`This case action seeks to challenge Defendant’s false and deceptive practices in the
`
`INTRODUCTION
`
`7
`
`marketing and sale of its Cepacol Extra Strength Sore Throat Honey Lemon Lozenges (the
`
`8
`
`“Product”).
`
`9
`
`2.
`
`The front label of the Product – which is a cough drop meant to soothe the throat –
`
`10
`
`leads reasonable consumers to believe the Product contains honey and lemon. Specifically, the
`
`11
`
`words “Honey Lemon” appear on the Product’s front label without any qualification, as well as an
`
`12
`
`image of a honey dipper with honey oozing down from the dipper, alongside a cut lemon wedge.
`
`13
`
`14
`
`3.
`
`4.
`
`Unbeknownst to consumers however, the Product does not contain honey or lemon.
`
`Plaintiff and other consumers purchased the Product and paid a premium price
`
`15
`
`based upon their reliance on Defendant’s front label representations about honey and lemon. Had
`
`16
`
`Plaintiff and other consumers been aware that the Product does not contain honey or lemon, they
`
`17
`
`would not have purchased the Product or would have paid significantly less for it. Accordingly,
`
`18
`
`Plaintiff and Class members have been injured by Defendant’s deceptive business practices.
`
`19
`
`20
`
` JURISDICTION AND VENUE
`
`5.
`
`This Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to the Class Action Fairness Act
`
`21
`
`of 2005, 28 U.S.C. § 1332(d)(2), because this is a class action filed under Rule 23 of the Federal
`
`22
`
`Rules of Civil Procedure, there are thousands of proposed Class members, the aggregate amount
`
`23
`
`in controversy exceeds $5,000,000 exclusive of interest and costs, and Defendant is a citizen of a
`
`24
`
`state different from at least some members of the proposed Classes, including Plaintiff.
`
`25
`
`6.
`
`This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendant because Defendant has
`
`26
`
`sufficient minimum contacts in California, or otherwise intentionally avails itself of the markets
`
`27
`
`within California, through its sale of the goods and products in California and to California
`
`28
`
`consumers.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`-1-
`
`
` CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04721-TSH Document 1 Filed 08/17/22 Page 3 of 19
`
`
`
`1
`
`7.
`
`Venue is proper in this judicial District pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(2) because
`
`2
`
`a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to Plaintiff’s claims occurred in this
`
`3
`
`District. Plaintiff resides in this District and she purchased the Product in this District during the
`
`4
`
`statute of limitations period.
`
`5
`
`6
`
` PLAINTIFF
`
`8.
`
`Plaintiff is a citizen of California and currently resides in San Francisco, California.
`
`7
`
`Between December 2021 and January 2022, Plaintiff purchased the Product from a Target in Daly
`
`8
`
`City, California. Based on the below depicted representations about honey and lemon on the front
`
`9
`
`label of the Product (see paragraph 15), Plaintiff reasonably believed that the Product contained
`
`10
`
`honey and lemon. Moreover, she did not see any statement or other information on the label
`
`11
`
`indicating that the Product did not contain honey and lemon. Had she known that the Product did
`
`12
`
`not contain honey and lemon, she would not have purchased it, or would have paid significantly
`
`13
`
`less for it.
`
`14
`
`9.
`
`Despite Defendant’s misrepresentations, Plaintiff would purchase the Product, as
`
`15
`
`advertised, if it actually contained honey and lemon. Although Plaintiff regularly shops at stores
`
`16
`
`that carry the Product, absent an injunction of Defendant’s deceptive advertising, she will be
`
`17
`
`unable to rely with confidence on Defendant’s advertising of the Product in the future.
`
`18
`
`Furthermore, while Plaintiff currently believes the Product’s labeling is inaccurate, she lacks
`
`19
`
`personal knowledge as to Defendant’s specific business practices, and thus, she will not be able
`
`20
`
`determine whether the Product truly contains lemon and honey. This leaves doubt in her mind as
`
`21
`
`to the possibility that at some point in the future the Product could be made in accordance with the
`
`22
`
`representations on the Product’s front label. This uncertainty, coupled with her desire to purchase
`
`23
`
`the Product, is an ongoing injury that can and would be rectified by an injunction enjoining
`
`24
`
`Defendant from making the alleged misleading representations. In addition, other Class members
`
`25
`
`will continue to purchase the Product, reasonably but incorrectly, believing that it contains lemon
`
`26
`
`and honey.
`
`
`
`27
`
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`-2-
`
`
` CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04721-TSH Document 1 Filed 08/17/22 Page 4 of 19
`
`
`
`1
`
`2
`
`10.
`
`Defendant is a New Jersey corporation with its principal place of business in
`
`DEFENDANT
`
`3
`
`Parsippany, New Jersey. Defendant is a multinational corporation, and one of the largest producers
`
`4
`
`of nutritional and medicinal products, like the Product challenged in this Complaint.
`
`5
`
`6
`
`FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS
`
`11.
`
`Defendant is responsible for the manufacturing, marketing, labeling, advertising,
`
`7
`
`and sale of personal care, nutritional, and medicinal products, including the Product at issue here.
`
`8
`
`12.
`
`The Product is part of Defendant’s Cepacol line of lozenges, marketed as a remedy
`
`9
`
`for sore throats and as the #1 Doctor Recommended brand of lozenges.
`
`10
`
`13.
`
`Unfortunately for consumers, Defendant engages false and misleading advertising
`
`11
`
`about the Product to gain a competitive edge in the market, all at the expense of unsuspecting
`
`12
`
`consumers.
`
`13
`
`14.
`
`Specifically, the principal display panel of the Product features representations that
`
`14
`
`lead reasonable consumers to believe that the Product contains honey and lemon, when in fact, it
`
`15
`
`contains neither.
`
`16
`
`15.
`
`First, the words “Honey Lemon” appear in large, bold font on the front label of the
`
`17
`
`Product. Immediately above that phrase, Defendant has placed an image of a honey dipper with honey
`
`18
`
`oozing down from the dipper, alongside a cut lemon wedge. Lastly, the lozenges are intentionally
`
`19
`
`colored a golden honey brown color to make them appear as if they contain honey. See below.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`-3-
`
`
` CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04721-TSH Document 1 Filed 08/17/22 Page 5 of 19
`
`
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`
`
`16.
`
`Based on the foregoing representations, reasonable consumers purchase the Product
`
`with the expectation that the Product contains both honey and lemon.
`
`17.
`
`However, unbeknownst to consumers, the Product does not contain any honey or
`
`19
`
`lemon.
`
`18.
`
`Instead, the Product appears to be, at most, honey and lemon flavored. However,
`
`unlike competitor products, nowhere on the front of the label does Defendant inform consumers
`
`that the Product is only flavored to taste like honey and lemon. As such, consumers cannot
`
`reasonably know or expect that the Product does not contain honey or lemon.
`
`19. Moreover, consumers reasonably expect honey and lemon in the lozenges in part
`
`because other lemon/honey lozenges actually contain both ingredients. For example, Zand
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`-4-
`
`
` CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04721-TSH Document 1 Filed 08/17/22 Page 6 of 19
`
`
`
`1
`
`Immunity’s Lemon Honey lozenges contain both honey and lemon.1 Another example is Luden’s
`
`2
`
`Honey Lemon throat drops, which contain both honey and lemon.2 Ricola Honey Lemon
`
`3
`
`Echinacea lozenges contain both honey and lemon.3 Lastly, Trader Joe’s Honey Lemon cough
`
`4
`
`drops also contain both honey and lemon.4
`
`5
`
`20.
`
`The reasonable belief that the Product contains honey and lemon was a significant
`
`6
`
`factor in Plaintiff and other class members’ decisions to purchase the Product. It is well known
`
`7
`
`that consumers value honey as a natural therapeutic ingredient, especially for its ability to help
`
`8
`
`soothe and coat a sore throat.5 This is because honey has significant amounts of nutrients such as
`
`9
`
`vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and antioxidants. Lemon is also a natural ingredient helpful for sore
`
`10
`
`throats. As the University of Pennsylvania’s medical school explains, “[s]imilar to [] honey,
`
`11
`
`lemons are great for sore throats because they can help break mucus and provide pain relief.”6
`
`12
`
`Lemons also contain a significant amount of Vitamin C, which can help boost immunity and fight
`
`13
`
`infection.7 For these reasons, consumers would rightfully expect the Product to contain both
`
`14
`
`ingredients, not highly processed flavors.
`
`15
`
`21.
`
`Because the Product does not contain honey and lemon, it is falsely and deceptively
`
`16
`
`advertised, in violation of the laws set forth below.
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`
`1 https://www.zandimmunity.com/products/herbalozenge-lemon-
`honey?variant=34074485424266¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=go
`ogle&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=Cj0KCQjwuO6WBhDLAR
`IsAIdeyDIG1EZayKEChVR9MtLftciJaopQ1q71B_DqUCd6D38-
`cxZVmVGXTo4aAnB2EALw wcB
`
`2 https://www.ludens.com/sore-throat-remedies/honey-lemon#ingredients
`
`3 https://www.ricola.com/en-us/products/assortment/all-products/honey-lemon-with-echinacea
`
`4 https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=647dadae-f37a-8399-e053-
`2991aa0aedb3
`
`5 https://health.clevelandclinic.org/sore-throat-remedies-that-actually-work/ (“Honey coats your
`throat and soothes it by reducing irritation.”); https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/got-
`a-cold-try-some-honey
`
`6 https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2018/february/sore-
`throat#:~:text=Similar%20to%20salt%20water%20and,to%20fight%20off%20your%20infection
`
`7 https://www.medicinenet.com/home remedies for sore throat/article.htm
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`-5-
`
`
` CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04721-TSH Document 1 Filed 08/17/22 Page 7 of 19
`
`
`
`1
`
`22. Moreover, although Plaintiff does not assert a cause of action under federal
`
`2
`
`regulations promulgated by the FDA, Defendant’s conduct is in direct violation of federal
`
`3
`
`regulations, which in turn serves as a predicate violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law
`
`4
`
`(see Paragraph 56). Specifically, 21 C.F.R. § 201.10(c)(4), which governs the labeling of
`
`5
`
`ingredients here, states that “the labeling of a drug may be misleading by reason (among other
`
`6
`
`reasons) of: . . . [t]he featuring in the labeling of inert or inactive ingredients in a manner that
`
`7
`
`creates an impression of value greater than their true functional role in the formulation.” Here, the
`
`8
`
`labeling of the Product features numerous references to honey and lemon in a manner which
`
`9
`
`makes consumers believe the two ingredients are present in the Product and have a therapeutic and
`
`10
`
`functional role in the throat soothing lozenges. In reality, the Product does not contain honey or
`
`11
`
`lemon, let alone an amount which would aid in the therapeutic nature of the Product. As such, the
`
`12
`
`Product is mislabeled under the federal regulation.
`
`13
`
`23.
`
`As the entity responsible for the development, manufacturing, packaging,
`
`14
`
`advertising, distribution and sale of the Product, Defendant knew or should have known that the
`
`15
`
`Product falsely and deceptively represents that it contains lemon and honey.
`
`16
`
`24.
`
`Defendant also knew or should have known that Plaintiff and other consumers, in
`
`17
`
`purchasing the Product, would rely on Defendant’s front label representations about honey and
`
`18
`
`lemon. Nonetheless, Defendant deceptively advertises the Product in order to deceive consumers
`
`19
`
`and gain an unfair advantage in the market.
`
`20
`
`25.
`
`Consumers are willing to pay more for the Product based on the belief that the
`
`21
`
`Product contains honey and lemon, as promised on the front label. Plaintiff and other consumers
`
`22
`
`would have paid significantly less for the Product, or would not have purchased it at all, had they
`
`23
`
`known that the truth about it. Thus, through the use of misleading representations, Defendant
`
`24
`
`commands a price that Plaintiff and the Class would not have paid had they been fully informed.
`
`25
`
`26.
`
`Therefore, Plaintiff and other consumers purchasing the Product have suffered
`
`26
`
`injury in fact and lost money as a result of Defendant’s false and deceptive practices, as described
`
`
`
`27
`
`herein.
`
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`-6-
`
`
` CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04721-TSH Document 1 Filed 08/17/22 Page 8 of 19
`
`
`
`1
`
`2
`
`CLASS ACTION ALLEGATIONS
`
`27.
`
`Plaintiff brings this class action pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P 23 and all other
`
`3
`
`applicable laws and rules, individually, and on behalf of all members of the following Classes:
`
`California Class
`
`All residents of California who purchased the Product within the applicable statute of
`limitation (“California Class”).
`
`California Consumer Subclass
`
`All residents of California who purchased the Product for personal, family, or household
`purposes, within the applicable statute of limitations period (“California Consumer
`Subclass”) (together with the California Class, the “Classes”).
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`28.
`
`Excluded from the Classes are the following individuals and/or entities: Defendant
`
`and its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers and directors, current or former employees, and any
`
`entity in which Defendant has a controlling interest; all individuals who make a timely election to
`
`be excluded from this proceeding using the correct protocol for opting out; and all judges assigned
`
`to hear any aspect of this litigation, as well as their immediate family members.
`
`29.
`
`Plaintiff reserves the right to modify or amend the definition of the proposed
`
`Classes and/or add subclasses before the Court determines whether class certification is
`
`appropriate.
`
`30.
`
`31.
`
`Plaintiff is a member of all the Classes.
`
`Numerosity: Members of each Class are so numerous and geographically
`
`dispersed that individual joinder of all Class members is impracticable. The precise number of
`
`Class members is unknown to Plaintiff but is likely to be ascertained by the Defendant’s records.
`
`At a minimum, there likely are at least thousands of Class members.
`
`32.
`
`Commonality: There are questions of law and fact common to the proposed
`
`class(es). Common questions of law and fact include, without limitations:
`
`a. whether Defendant’s course of conduct alleged herein violates the statutes and
`
`other laws that are pled in this Complaint;
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`-7-
`
`
` CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04721-TSH Document 1 Filed 08/17/22 Page 9 of 19
`
`
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`b. whether reasonable consumers would rely upon Defendant’s representations
`
`about the Product and reasonably believe the Product contains honey and
`
`lemon;
`
`c. whether Defendant knew or should have known its representations were false or
`
`misleading;
`
`d. whether Defendant was unjustly enriched by retaining monies from the sale of
`
`the Product;
`
`e. whether certification of each Class is appropriate under Rule 23;
`
`f. whether Plaintiff and the members of each Class are entitled to declaratory,
`
`equitable, or injunctive relief, and/or other relief, and the scope of such relief;
`
`and
`
`g. the amount and nature of the relief to be awarded to the Plaintiff and the Class,
`
`including whether Plaintiff and the Class are entitled to punitive damages.
`
`33.
`
`Typicality: Plaintiff’s claims are typical of the other Class members because
`
`15
`
`Plaintiff, as well as Class members, purchased the Product. Plaintiff and members of the Classes
`
`16
`
`relied on the representations made by the Defendant about the Product prior to purchasing the
`
`17
`
`Product. Plaintiff and the members of each Class paid for Defendant’s Product and would not have
`
`18
`
`purchased them (or would have paid substantially less for them) had they known that the
`
`19
`
`Defendant’s representations were untrue.
`
`20
`
`34.
`
`Adequacy: Plaintiff will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the proposed
`
`21
`
`Classes as her interests do not conflict with the interests of the members of the proposed Classes
`
`22
`
`she seeks to represent, and she has retained counsel competent and experienced in class action
`
`23
`
`litigation. Thus, the interests of the members of the Classes will be fairly and adequately protected
`
`24
`
`by Plaintiff and her counsel.
`
`25
`
`35.
`
`Predominance: Pursuant to Rule 23(b)(3), the common issues of law and fact
`
`26
`
`identified in this Complaint predominate over any other questions affecting only individual
`
`27
`
`members of the Classes. Class issues fully predominate over any individual issue because no
`
`
`
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`-8-
`
`
` CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04721-TSH Document 1 Filed 08/17/22 Page 10 of 19
`
`
`
`1
`
`inquiry into individual conduct is necessary; all that is required is a narrow focus on Defendant’s
`
`2
`
`misconduct detailed at length in this Complaint.
`
`3
`
`36.
`
`Superiority: A class action is superior to all other available methods for the fair
`
`4
`
`and efficient adjudication of this litigation because individual litigation of each claim is
`
`5
`
`impractical. It would be unduly burdensome to have individual litigation of hundreds of thousands
`
`6
`
`of individual claims in separate lawsuits, every one of which would present the issues presented in
`
`7
`
`the Complaint/lawsuit. Further, because of the damages suffered by any individual Class member
`
`8
`
`may be relatively modest in relation to the cost of litigation, the expense and burden of individual
`
`9
`
`litigation make it difficult, if not impossible. Furthermore, many of the Class members may be
`
`10
`
`unaware that claims exist against the Defendant.
`
`11
`
`37.
`
`Declaratory and Injunctive Relief: Pursuant to Rule 23(b)(2), declaratory and
`
`12
`
`injunctive relief is appropriate in this matter. Defendant has acted or refused to act on grounds
`
`13
`
`generally applicable to Plaintiff and the other Class members, thereby making appropriate final
`
`14
`
`injunctive relief and declaratory relief, as described below, with respect to the Class members as a
`
`15
`
`whole. Unless a class-wide injunction is issued, Defendant will continue to advertise, market,
`
`16
`
`promote, and sell the Product in an unlawful and misleading manner, as described throughout this
`
`17
`
`Complaint, and members of the Classes will continue to be misled, harmed, and denied their rights
`
`18
`
`under the law.
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF
`Violation of California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act
`California Civil Code § 1750, et seq.
`(For the California Consumer Subclass)
`
`38.
`
`Plaintiff repeats the allegations contained in paragraphs 1-37 above as if fully set
`
`23
`
`forth herein.
`
`24
`
`39.
`
`Plaintiff brings this claim individually and on behalf of the members of the
`
`25
`
`proposed California Consumer Subclass against Defendant pursuant to California’s Consumers
`
`26
`
`Legal Remedies Act (“CLRA”), Cal. Civ. Code § 1750, et seq.
`
`
`
`27
`
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`-9-
`
`
` CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04721-TSH Document 1 Filed 08/17/22 Page 11 of 19
`
`
`
`1
`
`40.
`
`The Product is a “good” within the meaning of Cal. Civ. Code § 1761(a), and the
`
`2
`
`purchases of the Product by Plaintiff and members of the California Consumer Subclass constitute
`
`3
`
`“transactions” within the meaning of Cal. Civ. Code § 1761(e).
`
`4
`
`41.
`
`Cal. Civ. Code § 1770(a)(5) prohibits “[r]epresenting that goods or services have
`
`5
`
`sponsorship, approval, characteristics, ingredients, uses, benefits, or quantities which they do not
`
`6
`
`have…” By using representations about honey and lemon on the front label of the Product,
`
`7
`
`Defendant has represented and continues to represent that the Product has characteristics and
`
`8
`
`ingredients (i.e., contains lemon and honey) that it does not have. Therefore, Defendant has
`
`9
`
`violated section 1770(a)(5) of the CLRA.
`
`10
`
`42.
`
`Cal. Civ. Code § 1770(a)(7) prohibits “[r]espresenting that goods or services are of
`
`11
`
`a particular standard, quality, or grade, or that goods are of a particular style or model, if they are
`
`12
`
`of another.” By using representations about honey and lemon on the front label of the Product,
`
`13
`
`Defendant has represented and continues to represent that the Product is of a particular standard
`
`14
`
`(i.e., contains lemon and honey) that it does not meet. Therefore, Defendant has violated section
`
`15
`
`1770(a)(7) of the CLRA.
`
`16
`
`43.
`
`Cal. Civ. Code § 1770(a)(9) prohibits “[a]dvertising goods or services with intent
`
`17
`
`not to sell them as advertised.” By using representations about honey and lemon on the front label
`
`18
`
`of the Product and not delivering a Product with honey and lemon, Defendant has advertised the
`
`19
`
`Product with characteristics it intended not to provide to consumers. As such, Defendant has
`
`20
`
`violated section 1770(a)(9) of the CLRA.
`
`21
`
`44.
`
`At all relevant times, Defendant has known or reasonably should have known that
`
`22
`
`the representations about honey and lemon on the front label of the Product are false and
`
`23
`
`deceptive, and that Plaintiff and other members of the California Consumer Subclass would
`
`24
`
`reasonably and justifiably rely on the Product’s representations about honey and lemon when
`
`25
`
`purchasing the Product. Nonetheless, Defendant deceptively advertises the Product as such in
`
`26
`
`order to deceive consumers into believing they are receiving honey and lemon.
`
`27
`
`45.
`
`Plaintiff and members of the California Consumer Subclass have justifiably relied
`
`28
`
`on Defendant’s misleading representations when purchasing the Product. Moreover, based on the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`-10-
`
`
` CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04721-TSH Document 1 Filed 08/17/22 Page 12 of 19
`
`
`
`1
`
`materiality of Defendant’s misleading and deceptive conduct, reliance may be presumed or
`
`2
`
`inferred for Plaintiff and members of California Consumer Subclass.
`
`3
`
`46.
`
`Plaintiff and members of the California Consumer Subclass have suffered and
`
`4
`
`continue to suffer injuries caused by Defendant because they would have paid significantly less for
`
`5
`
`the Product, or would not have purchased it at all, had they known that the Product does not
`
`6
`
`contain honey and lemon.
`
`7
`
`47.
`
`Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1780(a), Plaintiff and Class members currently seek
`
`8
`
`injunctive relief only for Defendant’s violations of the CLRA. On August 15, 2022, Plaintiff sent a
`
`9
`
`notice letter by certified mail to Defendant, notifying Defendant of her intent to pursue a claim for
`
`10
`
`damages under the CLRA on behalf of all others similarly situated, and gave Defendant an
`
`11
`
`opportunity to cure, consistent with Cal. Civ. Code § 1782. If Defendant does not cure the
`
`12
`
`violations within 30 days of receipt, Plaintiff will amend the Complaint to seek damages under the
`
`13
`
`CLRA as well.
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF
`Violation of California’s False Advertising Law
`California Business & Professions Code § 17500, et seq
`(For the California Class)
`
`
`48.
`
`Plaintiff repeats the allegations contained in paragraphs 1-37 above as if fully set
`
`forth herein.
`
`49.
`
`Plaintiff brings this claim individually and on behalf of the members of the
`
`proposed California Class against Defendant pursuant to California’s False Adverting Law
`
`(“FAL”), Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17500, et seq.
`
`50.
`
`The FAL makes it “unlawful for any person to make or disseminate or cause to be
`
`made or disseminated before the public . . . in any advertising device . . . or in any other manner or
`
`means whatever, including over the Internet, any statement, concerning . . . personal property or
`
`services professional or otherwise, or performance or disposition thereof, which is untrue or
`
`misleading and which is known, or which by the exercise of reasonable care should be known, to
`
`be untrue or misleading.” Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17500.
`
`51.
`
`Defendant has represented and continues to represent to the public, including
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`-11-
`
`
` CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04721-TSH Document 1 Filed 08/17/22 Page 13 of 19
`
`
`
`1
`
`Plaintiff and members of the proposed California Class, through its deceptive labeling, that the
`
`2
`
`Product contains honey and lemon. Because Defendant has disseminated misleading information
`
`3
`
`regarding the Product, and Defendant knows, knew, or should have known through the exercise of
`
`4
`
`reasonable care that the representations were and continue to be misleading, Defendant has
`
`5
`
`violated the FAL.
`
`6
`
`52.
`
`As a result of Defendant’s false advertising, Defendant has and continues to
`
`7
`
`unlawfully obtain money from Plaintiff and members of the California Class. Plaintiff therefore
`
`8
`
`requests that the Court cause Defendant to restore this fraudulently obtained money to her and
`
`9
`
`members of the proposed California Class, to disgorge the profits Defendant made on these
`
`10
`
`transactions, and to enjoin Defendant from violating the FAL or violating it in the same fashion in
`
`11
`
`the future as discussed herein. Otherwise, Plaintiff and members of the proposed California Class
`
`12
`
`may be irreparably harmed and/or denied an effective and complete remedy.
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`
`
`THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF
`Violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law (“UCL”),
`California Business & Professions Code § 17200, et seq.
`(For the California Class)
`
`53.
`
`Plaintiff repeats the allegations contained in paragraphs 1-37 above as if fully set
`
`forth herein.
`
`54.
`
`Plaintiff brings this claim individually and on behalf of the members of the
`
`proposed California Class against Defendant.
`
`55.
`
`The UCL, Cal. Bus. & Prof Code § 17200, provides, in pertinent part, that “unfair
`
`competition shall mean and include unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business practices and unfair,
`
`deceptive, untrue or misleading advertising . . . .”
`
`56.
`
`Under the UCL, a business act or practice is “unlawful” if it violates any
`
`established state or federal law. Defendant’s false and misleading advertising of the Product was
`
`and continues to be “unlawful” because it violates the CLRA, the FAL, 21 C.F.R. § 201.10(c)(4),
`
`and other applicable laws as described herein. As a result of Defendant’s unlawful business acts
`
`and practices, Defendant has unlawfully obtained money from Plaintiff and members of the
`
`proposed California Class.
`
`
`
`-12-
`
`
` CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04721-TSH Document 1 Filed 08/17/22 Page 14 of 19
`
`
`
`1
`
`57.
`
`Under the UCL, a business act or practice is “unfair” if its conduct is substantially
`
`2
`
`injurious to consumers, offends public policy, and is immoral, unethical, oppressive, and
`
`3
`
`unscrupulous, as the benefits for committing such acts or practices are outweighed by the gravity
`
`4
`
`of the harm to the alleged victims. Defendant’s conduct was and continues to be of no benefit to
`
`5
`
`purchasers of the Product, as it is misleading, unfair, unlawful, and is injurious to consumers who
`
`6
`
`rely on the labeling. Deceiving consumers into believing they will receive a cough drop containing
`
`7
`
`honey and lemon, particularly when those are ingredients known to be therapeutic for a sore
`
`8
`
`throat, is of no benefit to consumers. Therefore, Defendant’s conduct was and continues to be
`
`9
`
`“unfair.” As a result of Defendant’s unfair business acts and practices, Defendant has and
`
`10
`
`continues to unfairly obtain money from Plaintiff and members of the proposed California Class.
`
`11
`
`58.
`
`Under the UCL, a business act or practice is “fraudulent” if it actually deceives or
`
`12
`
`is likely to deceive members of the consuming public. Defendant’s conduct here was and
`
`13
`
`continues to be fraudulent because it has the effect of deceiving consumers into believing the
`
`14
`
`Product contains honey and lemon when it does not. Because Defendant misled Plaintiff and
`
`15
`
`members of the California Class, Defendant’s conduct was “fraudulent.” As a result of
`
`16
`
`Defendant’s fraudulent business acts and practices, Defendant has and continues to fraudulently
`
`17
`
`obtain money from Plaintiff and members of the California Class.
`
`18
`
`59.
`
`Plaintiff requests that the Court cause Defendant to restore this unlawfully,
`
`19
`
`unfairly, and fraudulently obtained money to her, and members of the proposed California Class,
`
`20
`
`to disgorge the profits Defendant made on these transactions, and to enjoin Defendant from
`
`21
`
`violating the UCL or violating it in the same fashion in the future as discussed herein. Otherwise,
`
`22
`
`Plaintiff and members of the proposed California Class may be irreparably harmed and/or denied
`
`23
`
`an effective and complete remedy.
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`60.
`
`forth herein.
`
`FOURTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF
`Breach of Express Warranty
`Cal. Com. Code § 2313
`(For the California Class)
`
`Plaintiff repeats the allegations contained in paragraphs 1-37 above as if fully set
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`-13-
`
`
` CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:22-cv-04721-TSH Document 1 Filed 08/17/22 Page 15 of 19
`
`
`
`1
`
`61.
`
`Plaintiff brings this claim individually and on behalf of the members of the
`
`2
`
`California Class against Defendant.
`
`3
`
`62.
`
`California’s express warranty statutes provide that “(a) Any affirmation of fact or
`
`4
`
`promise made by the seller to the buyer which relates to the goods and becomes part of the basis
`
`5
`
`of the bargain creates an express warranty that the goods shall conform to the affirmation or
`
`6
`
`promise,” and “(b) Any description of the goods which is made part of the basis of the bargain
`
`7
`
`creates an express warranty t