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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FDA Seeks to Phase Out Synthetic Color Additives

Client Alert: Jury Returns Verdict in “Manufactured in the USA” False Advertising Case

ICPHSO 2025: CPSC at ICPHSO

ICPHSO 2025: State Regulation in Response to Trump’s Push for Federal Deregulation

Everyone Please Stand: Supreme Court to Consider Standing Requirements for Class Actions, With the Potential to Resolve Long-standing Multi-circuit Split.

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Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable batteries, commonly found in devices used every day, including cell phones, e-cigarettes, and laptops. Lithium-ion batteries are also found in electric vehicles, e-scooters, and other micro-mobility vehicles.The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a nonprofit organization that seeks to eliminate injuries and deaths caused by fire hazards, heavily emphasized lithium-ion battery safety at its 2024 annual conference, featuring educational sessions and workshops focused on the fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries. <a href="https://www.nfpa.org/Education%20and%20Research/Home%20Fire%20Safety/Lithium-Ion%20Batteries" target="_blank">According to the NFPA</a>, while lithium-ion batteries “provide an effective and efficient source of power, the likelihood of them overheating, catching on fire, and even leading to explosions increases when they are damaged or improperly used, charged, or stored.”Specific emphasis was placed on lithium-ion batteries found in e-bikes and other micro-mobility devices at the NFPA conference. According to the NFPA, the New York Fire Department reported more than 130 fires started by e-bikes or e-scooters—up from just 13 in 2019—which led to five deaths.Lithium-ion batteries, including the ones found in most electric vehicles, are susceptible to a reaction called thermal runaway, a process in which the lithium-ion cell heats up uncontrollably in a matter of seconds, which can cause the battery to catch fire or explode. These potential issues presented by damaged or defective lithium-ion batteries create significant exposure to regulatory and litigation risk for manufacturers and retailers of consumer products containing lithium-ion batteries.The Consumer Product and Safety Commissions (CPSC) has also increased its focus on and scrutiny of lithium-ion battery safety in e-bikes and other micro-mobility devices. In its <a href="https://www.mofo.com/resources/insights/240319-cpsc-at-icphso-2024-enforcement-priorities" target="_self">2024 Operating Plan</a>, CPSC noted its plan to propose mandatory safety standards for lithium-ion batteries in micro-mobility products and enforce existing regulations.Lawmakers have also taken steps to regulate the possible risks posed by lithium-ion batteries in micro-mobility devices. For example, the Chicago City Council committee has <a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2024/06/05/electric-bikes-scooters-lithium-batteries-fire-hazard-city-council-regulations" target="_blank">called for an ordinance</a> that would permit fines for distributing devices with lithium-ion batteries that do not meet safety certifications. Rhode Island <a href="https://www.wpri.com/news/politics/new-legislation-would-allocate-funding-for-lithium-ion-battery-fire-response-training/#:~:text=COVENTRY%2C%20R.I.%20(WPRI)%20%E2%80%94,the%20Rhode%20Island%20Fire%20Academy.">introduced a bill</a> that would increase funding to the state’s fire academy for specialized lithium-ion battery response training. And New York <a href="https://www.nyc.gov/site/dca/news/044-23/city-reminds-retailers-consumers-only-purchase-certified-lithium-ion-batteries-mobility#:~:text=Following%20a%20brief%20period%20of%20education%2C%20businesses%20that,use%20unless%20those%20devices%20are%20resold%20or%20rented." target="_blank">recently passed a law</a> that bans the sale, rental, or distribution of e-mobility devices containing batteries that have not been certified by a nationally recognized testing lab.It seems inevitable that federal, state, and local regulations will continue to tighten around the use of lithium-ion batteries in consumer products. Manufacturers should prepare for stricter regulations in the near future by monitoring regulatory updates and ensuring compliance with applicable existing voluntary standards. We will continue to monitor new regulations and provide ongoing updates.

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

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Matt is an associate in the Litigation Department in MoFo’s San Diego office. Matt’s practice focuses on the product lifecycle, from early product development to litigation to end-of-life advisement. He counsels clients through complex consumer product safety regulatory landscapes and product recalls.











Matt Robinson

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Rachel Kaiser is an associate in the Litigation Department of Morrison Foerster’s San Diego office.

Rachel A. Kaiser

Rachel Kaiser

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Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Heavily Featured at 2024 NFPA Conference

Consumer Product Safety Enforcement To Heat Up Under Biden Administration

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Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable batteries, commonly found in devices used every day, including cell phones, e-cigarettes, and laptops. Lithium-ion batteries are also found in electric vehicles, e-scooters, and other micro-mobility vehicles.

Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Heavily Featured at 2024 NFPA Conference

Are Prebiotic Drinks Plaintiffs’ Bar’s Next Target?Late last month, San Francisco resident Kirstin Cobbs initiated a class action lawsuit against poppi after purchasing its product, poppi prebiotic soda, believing the product to be “gut healthy.” Poppi sodas are packaged in cans with label designs making noteworthy statements such as the product is “for a healthy gut.” Additionally, the front of the packaging depicted in the complaint displays the slogan “Be Gut Happy. Be Gut Healthy.”The suit was filed in the Northern District of California under California’s False Advertising Law (FAL), California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA), California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL), and unjust enrichment. The complaint alleges that the product is not “gut healthy” because consuming the soda in the amount normally ingested will not create meaningful prebiotic effects. Plaintiff concludes that if she had been aware of this, she would not have purchased the product. Cobbs alleges that by promoting poppi soda as a gut-friendly, prebiotic beverage, poppi is misleading consumers because “a consumer would need to drink more than four Poppi sodas in a day to realize any potential health benefits from its prebiotic fiber.” But poppi is likely targeted because it has “quickly climbed the ranks as one of the most popular beverages in the United States” since consumers are interested in alternatives to traditional sodas.Health Halo Litigation Continues with New TrendsPoppi prebiotic sodas are marketed as an alternative to traditional sodas, emphasizing the importance of gut health and prebiotic ingredients. Prebiotics support probiotics, which aid the immune system and digestion. A poppi soda contains two grams of dietary fiber, which appears to come from inulin. Sources suggest that inulin may stimulate the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut.There is an increasing uptick in lawsuits challenging claims that may imply health benefits to consumers. The complaint alleges that consumers search for healthier alternatives to soda, so it is not surprising that companies are trying to appeal to health-conscious consumers. It is similarly not surprising that the plaintiffs’ bar targets emerging trends, beginning with successful, popular products.These lawsuits have targeted products using terms such as “healthy,” “healthier,” “wholesome,” and “good for you.” The suits have faced mixed results, with some defeating false advertising challenges and others proceeding further into litigation. As we have written about <a href="/topics/241022-water-is-in-white-bread-is-out-healthy-gets-a-new-look-in-2023" target="_self">previously</a>, in 2023, FDA redefined its definition of “healthy.” Moreover, these recent lawsuits target terms which are not defined by FDA regulations. While FDA has regulated “healthy,” it does not regulate terms that may imply health benefits. Specifically, here, FDA has not defined “prebiotic,” nor does it regulate “good for your gut,” “gut healthy,” or “gut happy.”Key TakeawaysLike other food labeling false advertising cases, we expect early arguments over whether these terms are puffery and whether a reasonable consumer would be deceived by a term such as “gut healthy” to mean that they are receiving some nutritional benefit. If this case proceeds past the pleadings stage, we expect that the case may turn on whether the ingredients provide the gut health benefits that consumers expect to receive. Additionally, there may be a battle of the experts over whether two grams of inulin can provide health benefits.We will be tracking this litigation and we write this as an important reminder that companies should be sure to review all labeling on food and beverage products and consult with counsel as necessary to stay on top of current changes in litigation trends.Shannon Labuschagne, a Summer Associate in Morrison Foerster's San Francisco office, contributed to this blog post.

Nature's Path Foods

Suja Juices

Unilever USA Inc.

Nature’s Path Foods and Sprouts Farmers Market

Iovate Health Sciences, International

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Claudia focuses her practice on the defense of consumer class actions and on complex commercial litigation, including unfair business competition, false advertising, product liability, and privacy mat

Claudia Vetesi

Claudia focuses her practice on the defense of consumer class actions and on complex commercial litigation, including unfair business competition, false advertising, product liability, and privacy matters. She is currently representing numerous consumer goods manufacturers and retailers in false advertising and mislabeling class actions.

Claudia M. Vetesi

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Lauren N. Margolies is an associate in the Litigation Department of Morrison Foerster’s New York Office.

Lauren Margolies

Lauren N. Margolies

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High Court Orders Rethink Of $9.7M Award After TransUnion

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Are Prebiotic Drinks Plaintiffs’ Bar’s Next Target?
Late last month, San Francisco resident Kirstin Cobbs initiated a class action lawsuit against poppi after purchasing its product, poppi prebiotic soda, believing the product to be “gut healthy.” Poppi sodas are packaged in cans with label designs making noteworthy statements such as the product is “for a healthy gut.” Additionally, the front of the packaging depicted in the complaint displays the slogan “Be Gut Happy. Be Gut Healthy.”



Health Halo Trend Continues With poppi "Gut Healthy" Sodas

On April 15, 2024, in a big win for the continued validity of implied preemption, the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of the First Circuit’s preemption-based dismissal of a proposed misbranding class action. The plaintiff claimed that the label of a dietary supplement called “Lactaid” should be required to meet the heightened regulatory requirements for drug products. The defendant—and the district court and First Circuit—disagreed.Read the <a href="https://www.mofo.com/resources/insights/240430-implied-preemption-for-dietary-supplements" target="_blank">full client alert</a>.