Morrison Foerster’s Class Dismissed blog provides insights, recommendations, and timely reports on the latest defense news, developments, and trends in the most current class actions lawsuits and product liability issues that affect consumer-facing companies. Through Class Dismissed, attorneys from our nationally recognized Consumer Class Action and Products Liability practices offer a real-time assessment of the developments in matters that are shaping the industry. This blog examines the full spectrum of consumer-related class action and product liability lawsuits ranging from false advertising, privacy, consumer product safety, ADA, food misbranding, TCPA, environment, retail, and government actions as well as nationwide and multidistrict litigation class actions.<h2>ABOUT MORRISON FOERSTER</h2>Morrison Foerster is a leading global law firm that transforms complexity into advantage for its clients. Our clients include some of the largest financial institutions, banks, consulting and accounting firms, and Fortune 100, technology, and life sciences companies. Highlighting the firm’s commitment to client service, leadership in market-changing deals and impact litigation, and values-based culture, Morrison Foerster has been repeatedly recognized as one of the top 10 firms on The American Lawyer’s A-List. Year after year, the firm receives significant recognition from Chambers and The Legal 500 across their various guides, including Global, USA, Asia‑Pacific, Europe, UK, Latin America, and FinTech Legal. Our lawyers passionately care about delivering legal excellence while living our values. Morrison Foerster has a long-standing commitment to creating a culture that respects and celebrates differences, while providing an inclusive environment. The firm has achieved Mansfield Certification Plus since 2018 as a result of successfully reaching at least 30 percent women, communities of color, and LGBTQ+ lawyer representation in a notable number of current leadership roles and committees. The firm also has a long history of commitment to the community and society through providing pro bono legal services, including litigating for civil rights and civil liberties, improving public education and fostering the wellbeing of children, advocating for veterans, promoting international human rights, enforcing the right to asylum, and safeguarding the environment.

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Partner

Adam Hunt is a partner in the Litigation Department of Morrison Foerster’s New York office. His practice focuses on complex litigation, with an emphasis on class action and commercial litigation.

Adam Hunt

Alexandra Barlow is a partner in the Litigation Department of Morrison Foerster’s San Diego office.Alexandra litigates product liability matters involving medical devices, pharmaceuticals, consumer products, automobiles, and AI. Alexandra's litigation expertise spans the entire case life cycle in both state and federal courts. She handles all phases of discovery, including fact investigation and expert discovery. Alexandra has taken over twenty-five depositions, including experts, plaintiffs, treating physicians, and third-party witnesses. She drafts and argues motions of all types, including motions for summary judgment, motions to quash, and motions for preliminary injunction.Alexandra has significant trial experience. She has first-chaired a one-week jury trial and second-chaired a five‑week jury trial, both involving multiple claims and witnesses. She also has extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution, representing clients at mediations, mandatory settlement conferences, and early neutral evaluations.Alexandra enjoys tracking developments and keeping her clients updated on product liability and personal injury claims, frequently writing or presenting on emerging areas such as autonomous vehicles and smart devices. Alexandra’s experience also extends to professional liability, warranty claims, eminent domain, and construction law.Alexandra earned her J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law. While in law school, the San Diego Law Review published her comment on the recovery of damages by plaintiffs in a persistent vegetative state, and she also served as a comment editor. She received her B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she majored in Political Science and minored in Spanish. A San Diego native, she attended a Spanish immersion school through the eighth grade. Alexandra is active in the San Diego community, advising students at a local college. She is also a member of several legal organizations in San Diego, including Lawyer’s Club, the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, and Wallace Inn of Court.

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Alexandra Barlow is a partner in the Litigation Department of Morrison Foerster’s San Diego office. Alexandra litigates product liability matters involving medical devices, pharmaceuticals, consumer products, automobiles, and AI. Alexandra’s litigation expertise spans the entire case life cycle in both state and federal courts. She handles all phases of discovery, including fact investigation and expert discovery. Alexandra has taken over twenty-five depositions, including experts, plaintiffs, treating physicians, and third-party witnesses. She drafts and argues motions of all types, including motions for summary judgment, motions to quash, and motions for preliminary injunction.

Alexandra Barlow is a partner in the Litigation Department of Morrison Foerster’s San Diego office. Alexandra litigates product liability matters involving medical devices, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, AI, and robotics. Alexandra's litigation expertise spans the entire case life cycle in both state and federal courts. She handles all phases of discovery, including fact investigation and expert discovery. Alexandra has taken over twenty-five depositions, including experts, plaintiffs, treating physicians, and third-party witnesses. She drafts and argues motions of all types, including motions for summary judgment, motions to quash, and motions for preliminary injunction.

Alexandra Barlow

<div class="videoWrapper"><iframe frameborder="0" class="sticky-video" allowfullscreen="1" title="Meet Penny Preovolos, Litigation Partner" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/hv7hYn-Bl7c?rel=0&showinfo=0;vq=hd1080" title="iframe"></iframe></div>Penelope has served as lead counsel in major consumer class actions and antitrust cases for more than 35 years, successfully representing high-profile defendants in antitrust, consumer fraud, and product defect matters. Her clients span a range of industries, including consumer electronics, technology, retail, publishing, food and beverage, cosmetics, and household products. According to Chambers USA, Penelope has a “great reputation for antitrust and product liability work” and is a “superb all-around antitrust lawyer.”Penelope was named the 2019 Antitrust Lawyer of the Year by the Antitrust, UCL, and Privacy Section of the California Lawyers Association. She was co-chair of MoFo’s antitrust practice for 14 years. She has served as chair of the Antitrust and Trade Regulation Section of the State Bar of California and as a member of the Ninth Circuit Advisory Committee on Local Rules and Operations. She is an editor of and frequent contributor to Morrison & Foerster’s <a href="https://classdismissed.mofo.com/">Class Dismissed blog</a>, as well as a frequent speaker about class action and antitrust issues.More About PenelopePenelope clerked for the Honorable Charles M. Merrill, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School, where she was executive editor of the Harvard Civil Rights – Civil Liberties Law Review. Penelope was a member of Phi Beta Kappa at the University of California, Berkeley. She was awarded the University Medal, the highest undergraduate honor at the university, as well as the English Departmental Citation (awarded to the outstanding graduate in that department).

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Senior Counsel

Penelope has served as lead counsel in major consumer class actions and antitrust cases for more than 35 years, successfully representing high-profile defendants in antitrust, consumer fraud, and product defect matters. Her clients span a range of industries, including consumer electronics, technology, retail, publishing, food and beverage, cosmetics, and household products.

Penelope A. Preovolos

Zak is an associate in the Litigation Department in Morrison Foerster’s New York office.Zak’s practice focuses on class actions, commercial litigation, white collar defense, government investigations, and antitrust litigation and counseling. He has represented clients before federal and state courts in complex commercial matters, as well as in arbitration tribunals.Zak received his J.D. from New York University School of Law in 2018, where he was inducted into the Order of the Barristers. During law school, Zak also served as the Marden executive editor for the NYU Law Moot Court Board. In 2013, Zak received his B.A. and M.A. in political science from Yale University, receiving honors in his major and the Ellsworth Prize for Best Senior Essay in the Social Sciences.

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Associate

Zak Newman

Mitchell A. Hokanson is an associate in the Litigation Department of Morrison Foerster’s San Diego office.Mitchell’s practice focuses on commercial litigation and consumer class actions. He has extensive experience with civil litigation, including managing day-to-day strategy, propounding and responding to discovery, taking and defending depositions, and engaging in motion practice. He also has experience providing regulatory advice to clients, including pro bono partners and multinational corporations. Mitchell maintains an active pro bono practice.After law school, Mitchell worked as a judicial clerk for Justice Susan M. Carney of the Alaska Supreme Court, where he drafted bench memoranda and opinions on a wide range of state and federal law topics. Prior to joining MoFo, Mitchell worked for another international law firm, where he was a member of the Complex Civil Litigation practice group, in Los Angeles, California.Mitchell received his J.D. from Columbia Law School, where he was honored as a James Kent Scholar and Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. While in law school he was the senior executive editor of the Columbia Journal of Environmental Law and worked as a judicial intern for Judge Sandra S. Ikuta of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and Judge George B. Daniels of the United States District Court, Southern District of New York. Prior to that, Mitchell earned his B.A. from Stanford University.

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Mitchell Hokanson

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The Future of Food: Exploring the World of Cell-Cultivated Cuisine

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The Ninth Circuit recently affirmed a district court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s unfair competition law and consumer legal remedies claims, finding that neither claim provided plaintiff with a private cause of action to enforce the substantiation provisions of California’s unfair competition and consumer protection law.  See Kwan v. SanMedica International, No. 15-15496.Background of the Case.  Plaintiff alleged that SanMedica International LLC made false representations regarding its product, SeroVital, including stating that the product provided a 682% mean increase in human growth hormone levels and that it was clinically tested.  SanMedica moved to dismiss.  The district court granted the motion, finding that plaintiff failed to specifically allege facts to support a finding that defendant’s claims regarding its product were actually false.  Instead, plaintiff merely alleged lack of substantiation—that the health benefits were not clinically proven—a claim unavailable to private plaintiffs.Private Right of Action for Substantiation Claims.  The Ninth Circuit confirmed that California law does not provide a cause of action for private citizens alleging that marketing claims lack proper scientific substantiation.  The Ninth Circuit cited National Council Against Health Fraud, Inc. v. King Bio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (“King Bio”), where the California Court of Appeal for the Second District found that only prosecuting authorities, and not private plaintiffs, had the power to request that advertisers substantiate advertising claims.  The Ninth Circuit also noted that several federal and state courts have cited to King Bio as requiring that private citizens who bring suit under the UCL or CLRA properly allege proof that plaintiffs sustained injury from relying on marketing statements that were actually false.  Under these cases, a plaintiff bears the burden of proving that the marketing claims are false or misleading.  Accordingly, the district court rightfully concluded that neither the UCL nor CLRA provided plaintiff with a private cause of action to enforce the substantiation provisions of California’s unfair competition or consumer protection laws.Failure to Allege Claims Were False.  The Ninth Circuit also confirmed that the district court properly concluded that the second amended complaint failed to allege facts that would support a finding that defendant’s marketing claims were actually false.  Plaintiff had argued that her second amended complaint sufficiently alleged false misrepresentations in at least two ways.  First, she claimed that she adequately pled falsity by alleging that the “clinically tested” representation falsely implied that the marketing claims of SeroVital’s health benefits were clinically proven by credible scientific proof.  Second, she argued that the claims that growth hormone levels are associated with health benefits falsely implied that defendant’s product claims were based on credible scientific proof.  The Ninth Circuit found that these allegations were conclusory and failed to support or prove the falsehood of the claims.  Thus, plaintiff failed to meet her burden of alleging specific facts pointing to actual falsehood.  This constituted a fatal flaw.TakeawaysKwan confirms that there is no private right of action for lack of substantiation claims.  Although it is unclear how far the ruling in Kwan will go when consumer deception claims are pled, it can be used to defend cases where a lack of substantiation claim is camouflaged as a false representation claim.  In these cases, Plaintiff bears the burden of alleging non-conclusory facts showing that the statements are false.

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Ninth Circuit Affirms No Private Right of Action to Enforce Lack of Substantiation Claims in SeroVital False Advertising Class Action Case

Ninth Circuit Affirms No Private Right of Action to Enforce Lack of Substantiation Claims in SeroVital False Advertising Class Action Case

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The Ninth Circuit recently affirmed a district court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s unfair competition law and consumer legal remedies claims, finding that neither 

On April 13, 2017, in Azoulai v. BMW of N. Am. LLC (Case No. 16-cv-00589), the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California dismissed a proposed consumer fraud class action against BMW of North America LLC (BMW) concerning the soft-closing automatic doors (SCA) in various BMW models. While many automotive defect claims are brought as pure product liability actions, the plaintiffs in Azoulai sought to “hybridize product liability and consumer fraud doctrines” in pursuit of a more lucrative fraud-based class action damages award. Encouragingly, the court rejected these efforts, finding that slamming doors are a known hazard (that was warned against) and that the consumer fraud doctrine was inapplicable.BackgroundIn 2002, BMW introduced SCA on certain automobile models. The SCA feature “auto-activates and pulls the door of the vehicle to the frame of the automobile and firmly closes it when the door is within 6mm of the closed position.” The Azoulai plaintiffs claimed that the “SCA crushed their fingers while drawing the doors of their vehicles to the closed position.” They contended that the SCA should have included a sensor that halted its operation if it detected small objects (like fingers) between the door and the frame of the vehicle. But rather than focus on their physical injuries, the plaintiffs alleged deception in their lawsuit against BMW. Specifically, they claimed that BMW “wrongfully induced Plaintiffs to purchase and/or lease their vehicles by concealing [the alleged defect], and that Plaintiffs would have paid less for their vehicles or would not have purchased or leased them at all had they known of the defect.”Plaintiffs sued for breaches of warranties, as well as violations of the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA) and the California Unfair Competition Act (UCL). Plaintiffs did not bring product liability claims.StandingThe court held that the plaintiffs lacked standing because they did not allege facts showing an injury derived from the legal theories alleged in their pleading. To allege standing for fraud-based claims, a plaintiff must plead facts that establish an economic, as opposed to purely physical, injury. The court found that plaintiffs failed that test. Although their physical injuries might have conferred standing under a traditional product liability theory, plaintiffs “expressly decline[d] to assert [a product liability] claim,” opting instead to pursue fraud-based claims. As the court stated, “[r]ather than seeking to recover for their injuries, Plaintiffs bring this suit grounded in consumer fraud[.]” In short, plaintiffs’ actual injuries and theories of liability didn’t match.The court also concluded that plaintiffs had no basis for their contention that their vehicles “declined in value because the SCA lacked a [safety] sensor.” The court noted that plaintiffs did not allege that an added safety sensor was bargained for or was built in to the purchase price of the vehicles. The court further stated that plaintiffs did not allege that the SCA design received negative attention from the media, thus decreasing the value of their vehicles. Accordingly, the court rejected plaintiffs’ hybridization attempt, holding that they suffered no injury in fact related to BMW’s alleged fraud, and therefore lacked standing.Plaintiffs’ Deficient Claims The court further rejected arguments that BMW overstated the safety of the SCA and concealed a design defect in the technology. Specifically, plaintiffs alleged that BMW misrepresented that the SCA “safely” closes the doors of the vehicles and that BMW actively concealed that the SCA lacked a safety sensor. The court rejected these claims.BMW argued that its marketing statement that the SCA operates “safely” was mere puffery and, therefore, not actionable under the CLRA or UCL, and did not create a warranty. In order to be actionable (and not considered puffery), a statement must be “specific and measureable”—it cannot be generalized, vague, or unspecified.<a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1">[1]</a> The court held that there is nothing “specific and measurable” about the word “safely.” This determination proved fatal to all of plaintiffs’ claims.To allege a concealment or “failure to disclose” claim under the CLRA or UCL, plaintiffs are required to allege that the undisclosed defect posed an unreasonable safety hazard. Plaintiffs’ claims failed for two reasons. First and foremost, they did not adequately allege existence of a defect in the design of the SCA. Second, the court noted that even if plaintiffs had established the existence of a defect, their claims would still fail because they were unable to allege an unreasonable safety risk posed by the SCA. “Humans have been slamming their fingers in doors since doors were invented,” noted the court, and “[s]lamming one’s finger in a car door, while plausibly hazardous, is an anticipated risk of using any door, and is a risk of which BMW expressly warns consumers.”ConclusionAzoulai illustrates the perils of overreaching. Had plaintiffs brought product (or strict) liability claims for the injuries allegedly caused by the SCA, and sought damages to compensate for their medical bills and reasonable related expenses, the outcome might have been different. However, electing to bring fraud-based class action claims with the hope of a larger payoff closed the door on any plaintiff recovery.<a href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1">[1]</a> Anunziato v. eMachines, Inc., 402 F. Supp. 2d 1139 (C.D. Cal. 2005).

Fertility Center Litigation

Fitbit

MicroPort

Leading Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, and Medical Device Company

Lethal Injection Matters – Major Pharmaceutical Company

Pain Pump Matters – Large Pharmaceutical Company

Major Technology Company

Leading Chemical Company

Security Device Company

In re Air Crash Near Peixoto de Azevedo, Brazil

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Co-Chair, Litigation Department

Erin Bosman is the global co-chair of Morrison Foerster’s litigation department. Erin is also the founder and co-head of the Artificial Intelligence group and former chair of the Complex Litigation + Advisement practice group. Clients value her business strategy, seeking her comprehensive counsel throughout the product life cycle, especially in high-stakes litigation and product recalls.

Erin M. Bosman

Erin Bosman is the Global Co-Chair of Morrison Foerster’s Litigation Department. Erin is also the founder and co-head of the Artificial Intelligence Group and former chair of the Complex Litigation + Advisement Practice Group. Clients value her business strategy, seeking her comprehensive counsel throughout the product life cycle, especially in high-stakes litigation and product recalls.

Erin Bosman

An orthopedic implant company

A children&rsquo;s monthly subscription service product

A fertility company

A major technology company

A smart fitness equipment company

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Julie Park provides analytic and strategic counsel for issues in product life cycle, product liability and defective products, consumer class actions, and more.

Julie Park

Julie Park | Product Liability Lawyer

Julie Park protects her clients’ products no matter what kind of product issue they face—whether it is planning for new product development, recalling an existing product, or defending clients against product liability or consumer class actions. Drawing on her deep technical and legal expertise, Julie counsels clients on consumer product safety regulation and pharmaceutical and medical device preemption while also managing complex and multijurisdictional litigation both in state and federal court.

Julie Y. Park

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Closing the Door on Hybrid Product Defect/Fraud Claims

Closing the Door on Hybrid Product Defect/Fraud Claims

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On April 13, 2017, in Azoulai v. BMW of N. Am. LLC (Case No. 16-cv-00589), the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California dismissed a proposed 

On April 13, 2017, United States District Judge Beverly Reid O’Connell for the Central District of California granted a motion to dismiss a class action complaint alleging that Hyundai sold cars with an alleged latent paint defect that caused the “self-healing” paint to bubble, peel, and flake.  Resnick et al. v. Hyundai Motor Am., Inc. et al., No. 8:16-cv-00593-BRO (PJWx), Dkt. No. 80.  The court dismissed plaintiffs’ warranty, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, and state consumer protection claims without prejudice, with the exception of a Massachusetts Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practice Act claim, which was dismissed with prejudice.Consumers Challenge Alleged Paint Defect Under State Consumer Protection Laws.In March 2016, 15 individuals from 10 different states sued defendants Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Hyundai Motor Co., Ltd.  Plaintiffs are current owners of 2006-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, Sonata, and Elantra automobiles manufactured in the United States that have an alleged paint defect that manifests itself over time and causes the paint to bubble, peel, and flake.  Plaintiffs claim that Hyundai fraudulently concealed the alleged paint defect when plaintiffs purchased their vehicles and refused to offer plaintiffs or the putative class any relief.In November 2016, the court granted defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ First Amended Complaint.  (Dkt. No. 57.)  Plaintiffs filed a Second Amended Complaint in November 2016, and stipulated to consolidate two cases against defendants in January 2017.  In February 2017, plaintiffs filed a Consolidated Class Action Complaint, alleging fourteen causes of action, including for breach of warranty, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, and violations of various state consumer protection laws.Court Dismisses Express and Implied Warranty Claims.For the majority of plaintiffs, the court dismissed without prejudice the breach of express warranty claims because the alleged defect occurred outside Hyundai’s warranty period.  The court rejected plaintiffs’ argument that an exception should apply to hold Hyundai liable for latent defects outside the warranty period.  The court also dismissed plaintiffs’ warranty claims based on representations on Hyundai’s corporate website and advertising campaigns regarding the quality of the paint as outside the warranty period, which the court limited to the express warranty period.  The court granted leave to amend for two plaintiffs who may have experienced the alleged defect during the warranty period, but did not clearly allege those facts.The court dismissed without prejudice claims for breach of implied warranty of merchantability under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act.  The court held that the implied warranty of merchantability requires “something beyond mere aesthetic concerns,” and that plaintiffs only allege that the paint defect affected their vehicles’ aesthetics.  The court rejected plaintiffs’ argument that a breach of implied warranty of merchantability arises whenever a vehicle’s behavior fails to comport with industry standards.Court Dismisses Negligent Misrepresentation Claims Under the Economic Loss Rule.The court dismissed without prejudice plaintiffs’ negligent misrepresentation claims as barred under the economic loss rule.  Plaintiffs alleged that the paint defect caused “out of pocket losses associated with the paint defect, corrosion repairs and diminished value of [their] vehicle[s].”  Under the economic loss rule, the court held that these alleged damages were insufficient to support a negligent misrepresentation claim because they arose from harm to the product itself (i.e., the body of the car).  The court rejected plaintiffs’ argument that the economic loss rule did not apply because of the “special relationship” exception, which does not apply to those who have a direct contractual relationship with the defendants (like plaintiffs).Court Dismisses State Consumer Protection and Fraudulent Concealment Claims. Plaintiffs also brought claims based on fraudulent concealment and violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law, False Advertising Law, and Consumers Legal Remedies Act based on the allegations that:  (1) defendants made affirmative misrepresentations of fact, and (2) defendants fraudulently concealed their knowledge of the alleged paint defect.  The court dismissed these claims without prejudice based on plaintiffs’ failure to allege facts indicating that defendants knew or should have known of the alleged defect at the time of sale.  Plaintiffs’ general allegations that there were “concerns” regarding the possibility of self-healing paints peeling were insufficient to establish presale knowledge.  Plaintiffs failed to allege “who had these concerns, the substance of the concerns, or whether the concerns were ever communicated to Hyundai.”  The court also found that allegations regarding anonymous online complaints were not sufficient to establish defendants’ knowledge of the alleged defect.  The court further emphasized that, even if plaintiffs’ sufficiently pleaded knowledge, plaintiffs did not adequately plead specific reliance on the alleged affirmative misrepresentations.  The court dismissed plaintiffs’ non-California state consumer protection law claims without prejudice on similar grounds.Hyundai Takeaway.The opinion is quite rigorous in holding plaintiffs to their pleading burden.  As was done here, courts typically allow plaintiffs an opportunity to amend.

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Court Dismisses Peeling Paint Class Action Against Hyundai, But Grants Third Opportunity to Amend

Court Dismisses Peeling Paint Class Action Against Hyundai, But Grants Third Opportunity to Amend

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On April 13, 2017, United States District Judge Beverly Reid O’Connell for the Central District of California granted a motion to dismiss a class action complai

California’s innovative Safer Consumer Products regulations, also known as the Green Chemistry Initiative, are ready for another step forward with the proposed inclusion of Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) Systems containing Unreacted Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanates (MDI) as a Priority Product. These SPF systems are used for insulation, roofing, or sealants and raise safety concerns because of their widespread use by both professional contractors and “do-it-yourself” users for home repairs. This is the second Priority Product proposed for listing, following the inclusion of children’s foam-padded sleeping products with fire retardants.

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California Adds New Priority Consumer Product for Green Chemistry Regulation

California Proposes Next Group of Priority Products Under Its Green Chemistry Initiative

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California’s innovative Safer Consumer Products regulations, also known as the Green Chemistry Initiative, are ready for another step forward with the proposed 

California Adds New Priority Consumer Product for Green Chemistry Regulation

We have entered the next chapter in the ongoing saga of the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (“CPSC”) regulation of high-powered, small, rare earth magnet sets (“SREMS”).<a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1">[1]</a>  On March 1, 2017, CPSC met and unanimously approved removing the Magnet Sets Safety Standard from the Code of Federal Regulations.<a href="#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2">[2]</a>  On separate motion, the Commissioners split 3-2 along partisan lines in favor of revisiting rulemaking for magnet sets.  This decision follows the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit’s November 2016 decision to vacate and remand to the Commission its earlier standard that effectively banned SREMS from sale in the U.S.<a href="#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3">[3]</a>Fight Over Safety Standard for Magnet SetsAs defined by CPSC, magnet sets are “[a]ny aggregation of separable magnetic objects that is a consumer product intended, marketed or commonly used as a manipulative or construction item for entertainment, such as puzzle working, sculpture building, mental stimulation, or stress relief.”  16 C.F.R. § 1240.2.  In 2014, CPSC issued a Final Rule on Safety Standard for Magnet Sets restricting the size and strength of the individual magnets in these sets.  Id. §§ 1240.1-1240.5.  While not categorically banned under the 2014 Safety Standard, SREMS could not be sold due to the standard’s severe size and strength restrictions.<a href="#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4">[4]</a>  Last November, Zen Magnets, LLC (“Zen”)<a href="#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5">[5]</a> successfully challenged CPSC’s regulation in the Tenth Circuit.  Zen Magnets, LLC v. Consumer Prod. Safety Comm’n, 841 F.3d 1141, 1155 (10th Cir. 2016).  The Tenth Circuit vacated and remanded CPSC’s 2014 Safety Standard for further proceedings consistent with the court’s finding that CPSC failed to meet the Consumer Product Safety Act’s requirements.  The court based its ruling on CPSC’s incomplete and inadequately explained factual findings.  Id. at 1144.Removal of Standard Following Court’s Vacatur CPSC’s vote to remove the 2014 Safety Standard was a procedural formality needed to remove the vacated magnet set standard from the Federal Register.  82 Fed. Reg. 12716-01 (Mar. 7, 2017).Regardless of CPSC’s action or response, the Tenth Circuit’s decision vacating the standard had the force of law immediately after the court filed its order on November 22, 2016.  Id.Motion to Revisit Magnet Set Safety Standard RulemakingDuring the March 1st decisional meeting, Commissioner Elliot Kaye separately moved to direct staff to prepare a draft notice of proposed rulemaking addressing the issues raised in the Tenth Circuit’s holding.<a href="#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6">[6]</a>  Commissioner Kaye’s motion directed CPSC staff to utilize CPSC’s existing data, as opposed to conducting further fact-finding.<a href="#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7">[7]</a>  During questions on the motion, Commissioner Robert Adler identified the issues in the Tenth Circuit opinion that needed to be addressed in the draft notice:  (1) CPSC’s use of an incorrect time frame for the data set in its cost-benefit analysis, Zen Magnets, 841 F.3d at 1149; (2) CPSC’s reliance on injury reports that only “possibly” involved magnet sets, id. at 1152; and (3) CPSC’s failure to consider the utility of magnet sets, id. at 1152-53.<a href="#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8">[8]</a>  CPSC estimated that it will take 11 staff months to prepare the draft notice.<a href="#_ftn9" name="_ftnref9">[9]</a>The Future of SREMS Regulation in Light of Shifting Tides at CPSCThis reshaping of magnet set regulation comes during an interesting time at CPSC.  As <a href="http://classdismissed.mofo.com/consumer-products/same-enforcement-trend-new-cpsc-leadership/">previously reported</a>, CPSC’s political makeup has recently shifted following CPSC’s February 9, 2017 announcement of Republican Ann Marie Buerkle as Acting Chairman.  Although the partisan balance of CPSC is likely to shift to the Republicans later this year, Acting Chairman Buerkle currently heads a Commission with three Democrat Commissioners.  At the March 1st meeting, the two Republicans, Acting Chairman Buerkle and Commissioner Joseph Mohorovic, cast the two votes against revisiting rulemaking for magnet sets.  Commissioner Mohorovic strongly opposed new safety standards, stating:I think this has gotten so personal with this agency of having a rule being . . . thrown out that we are ready to hurl ourselves headlong back into rulemaking. . . . We’re doing this without taking the time to either learn the lessons about why we failed the first time or to figure out if there’s still any need for the rule. . . . I think this is a factor of pure ego and this agency has taken the thoughtful opinion of the Tenth Circuit personally and we just want to win for winning’s sake.<a href="#_ftn10" name="_ftnref10">[10]</a>When Democrat Commissioner Marietta Robinson’s term ends in October 2017, President Trump will appoint a new commissioner, and Acting Chairman Buerkle and Commissioner Mohorovic’s position on magnet sets likely will become the majority view at CPSC.We will continue to monitor CPSC’s actions with regard to magnet sets and provide updates on any new proposed standards in light of the Tenth Circuit opinion in Zen Magnets and the shifting roster at CPSC.<a href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1">[1]</a>  For background regarding CPSC’s prior enforcement activity regarding SREMS, see our prior post.<a href="#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2">[2]</a>See 82 Fed. Reg. 11347-02 (Feb. 22, 2017) (notice of meeting).<a href="#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3">[3]</a>  Reported in full in our prior post.<a href="#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4">[4]</a>  Under the safety standard, SREMS that fell within the size sold by companies like Zen had to have a flux index of 50 kG2mm2 or less.  See 16 C.F.R. § 1240.3.  The SREMS in Zen Magnets had a magnetic flux index of 400 to 500 kG2mm2.  Zen Magnets, 841 F.3d at 1144.<a href="#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5">[5]</a>  Zen was the last remaining importer and distributor of SREMS by the time CPSC issued its 2014 Safety Standard.  See id. at 1146.<a href="#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6">[6]</a>  Video, Commission Meeting: Decisional Matter: Magnet Sets Safety Standard – Removal from the Code of Federal Regulations, Consumer Product Safety Commission (posted Mar. 2, 2017), <a href="https://cpsc.gov/Newsroom/Video/commission-meeting-decisional-matter-magnet-sets-safety-standard-removal-from-the">https://cpsc.gov/Newsroom/Video/commission-meeting-decisional-matter-magnet-sets-safety-standard-removal-from-the</a>.<a href="#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7">[7]</a>  Commission Meeting Video (posted Mar. 2, 2017).<a href="#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8">[8]</a>Id.<a href="#_ftnref9" name="_ftn9">[9]</a>Id.<a href="#_ftnref10" name="_ftn10">[10]</a>Id.

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CPSC to Consider New Magnet Set Safety Standards Following 10th Circuit Decision in Zen Magnets

CPSC to Consider New Magnet Set Safety Standards Following 10th Circuit Decision in Zen Magnets

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We have entered the next chapter in the ongoing saga of the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (“CPSC”) regulation of high-powered, small, rare earth magnet s

The House of Representatives has passed legislation that will fundamentally change class actions as we know them.  The Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act of 2017 (the “Act” or “H.R. 985”) leaves no stage of class action litigation untouched.  For example, the provisions require stricter “typicality” requirements for class members, the disclosure of conflicts of interest between class counsel and named plaintiffs, an administratively feasible way to identify class members, capping distribution fees to class counsel, staying discovery pending motion practice, and automatic appeals of class certification rulings.  The bill also proposes changes to the multidistrict litigation (MDL) procedure, including that plaintiffs claiming personal injury must submit evidence of the harm and causation within 45 days of filing or transfer.H.R. 985 is not an isolated bill—it is part of a larger effort to pass litigation reform through Congress in the era of President Trump.  There are five other pending bills related to legal reform that address issues such as the fraudulent joinder of parties (H.R. 725), EPA Settlement of citizen suits (H.R. 469), Department of Justice settlement funds (H.R. 732), sanctions for frivolous litigation (H.R. 720), and reporting of payments to plaintiffs in asbestos cases (H.R. 906).  All six bills are expected to pass (or have passed) the House.  Given the sweeping nature of the bills, many of the issues are likely to be hotly contested as the bills head to the Senate.BackgroundOn February 9, 2017, Representative Robert Goodlatte (R-Va.) introduced H.R. 985, which, if enacted, would fundamentally alter class action litigation.  Rep. Goodlatte is no stranger to class action reform.  He was the author of the 2005 Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) and has introduced a variety of proposed class action reforms since that time.  The Act, however, is by far the most comprehensive reform proposed since CAFA.The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is also a leading supporter of the Act, and recently published a case study likely intended to demonstrate a need for legal form:  The Food Court, Trends in Food and Beverage Class Action Litigation.  (U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, February 2017.)  In addition to providing an overview of the surge in food class actions and theories, the publication discusses the need for legislative action to ensure class actions benefit consumers instead of lawyers.From Cradle to Grave:  Examples of the Act’s Broad Changes to Every Aspect of Class Action LitigationH.R. 985 proposes changes to every aspect of class action litigation, from inception to settlement.  Below is a summary of some of the key provisions of the bill.   Class Member Typicality.  Current law requires that class representatives have claims that are “typical” of the other class members.  Under the Act, class representatives are subject to a heightened typicality requirement:  they must demonstrate that each proposed class member suffered the same type and scope of injury they did.  This change would ensure that class actions are only available where the named plaintiffs can show that all class members incurred actual harm.  It would prohibit plaintiffs from including uninjured individuals in their class definition—a question the United States Supreme Court ducked in Tyson Foods, Inc. v. Bouaphakeo, 136 S. Ct. 1036 (2016), and that is the subject of a Circuit split.Plaintiffs’ firms have already lambasted the provision as limiting the availability of the class action device for individuals who are affected by alleged abuses in different ways.  On the other hand, the proposed change would ensure that class actions are addressing real consumer harms and not imaginary harms for the benefit of class action attorneys.Class Counsel Conflicts of Interest. The Act requires class counsel to disclose whether the proposed class representative is a relative, former or current employee, or former or current client (aside from the current action).  If the proposed representative falls into any of those categories, the court is prohibited from certifying the class.  This provision would send major shockwaves through the plaintiffs’ bar, as many class representatives are repeat players and have some relationship to class counsel.Ascertainability:  Administratively Feasible Method of Identifying Class Members.  The Act officially adds an “ascertainability” prong to the class certification inquiry.  Under the Act, a class representative must demonstrate that there is a reliable and administratively feasible means to identify class members and to distribute payment to the class.  This change would resolve a current Circuit split regarding the ascertainability requirement and would side with the Third Circuit’s decision in Carrea v. Bayer Corp., 727 F.3d 300 (3d Cir. 2013), and overrule the Ninth Circuit’s recent decision in Briseno v. ConAgra Foods, Inc., ___ F.3d ___ (Jan. 3, 2017), which held that Rule 23 does not require plaintiffs to establish an “administratively feasible” means of identifying putative class members.While the Act does not address whether affidavits attesting to class membership would be considered a feasible mechanism, this added provision would strengthen the case for affirmance (or even moot the appeal) of the Northern District of California’s decision in Jones v. ConAgra Foods, Inc., 3:12-cv-01633 (June 14, 2014), wherein the court found that such affidavits were insufficient when there were multiple label changes and the purchase price was small.[1] This provision could have broad implications, as it could effectively eliminate class actions against companies that sell small dollar items and do not track who obtains their products.Limitations on Class Counsel’s Recovery of Attorneys’ Fees.  The Act also aims to curb actions where the main beneficiaries of the actions are the class counsel.  The Act prohibits fee distribution until the distribution of monetary relief to the class has been completed, and the fee determination must be based on the money actually distributed to the class.  In no event can the attorney fee award exceed the amount of monetary relief received by the class; however, class counsel can still receive compensation for obtaining equitable relief.  This provision could also be costly for defendants, as plaintiffs are likely to insist on more expansive and expensive class notice to increase claims rate.No Issue-Only Classes.The Act prohibits courts from granting certification to a class as to a particular issue under Rule 23(c)(4) unless the entirety of the cause of action satisfies all the class certification requirements of Rules 23(a) and (b).  This provision is an attempt to limit the class action device where there is no classwide damage, and it is an effort to overrule the Sixth and Seventh Circuit Whirlpool cases, Glazer v. Whirlpool Corp., 722 F.3d 838 (6th Cir. 2013) and Butler v. Sears, Roebuck and Co., 727 F.3d 796 (7th Cir. 2013), in which the plaintiffs were able to avoid Comcast v. Behrend, 133 S.Ct. 1426 (2013), (only a small percentage of the class has a defect manifest) by certifying liability-only classes.  The Supreme Court in Comcast held that certification was improperly granted where plaintiffs had not shown that common issues predominated as to damages.Stay of Discovery Pending Motions.  The Act also stays discovery during the pendency of any motion to transfer, dismiss, or strike class allegations, unless the court finds that particularized discovery is necessary to preserve evidence or prevent undue prejudice.  This change would enable defendants to fight claims without being subject to costly discovery.  This change could be viewed as at odds with the recent amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which permit parties to serve discovery even prior to the initial case management conference.Right to Appeal Class Certification Decisions.  Grants or denials of class certification would be immediately appealable—eliminating the courts of appeals’ discretion in determining whether such decisions warrant review.  While this would give defendants an immediate appeal for an erroneous class certification decision, it would likely increase plaintiffs’ appeals as well.  This would also effectively eliminate the issue pending before the Supreme Court in Baker v. Microsoft, No. 15-457, which is whether a court of appeals has jurisdiction to hear an appeal of a denial of class certification where the plaintiffs voluntarily dismiss the action with prejudice, as plaintiffs would no longer need to dismiss the claim to obtain review.MDL Procedural Changes.  While the Act provides for several procedural changes, the most noteworthy change is that in any consolidated or coordinated MDL proceeding seeking recovery for personal injuries, the plaintiff must submit evidentiary support, including medical records, for the alleged injury, the exposure that allegedly caused the injury, and the alleged cause of the injury within 45 days of transfer or filing.  No extensions of this deadline are permitted.ConclusionThe Act would change the landscape of class action litigation.  We expect passage of the key provisions of the Act in the Senate to be contentious. We will continue to track the Act through the legislative process and will update this client alert with any developments.[1] Jones is currently stayed pending the Supreme Court’s decision in Baker v. Microsoft, No. 15-457.