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

New California Law Redefines E-Bikes

ICPHSO 2025: Reese’s Law and Corded Blinds

So Long, CPSC?

FDA Seeks to Phase Out Synthetic Color Additives

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While it rarely rules on questions of preemption, the Ninth Circuit took an even rarer step on July 1, 2024 when it took up the question of whether private parties can seek to enforce the provisions of California’s Sherman Law that parallel federal law.Plaintiffs brought suit against Sprout Foods, Inc. (“Sprout”), a manufacturer of baby food, arguing that the labels on the baby food were deceptive and unlawful because they made statements regarding the nutritional content of the baby food, like “3g of Protein” and “5g of Fiber.” Plaintiffs alleged that Sprout’s baby food products were mislabeled under the “unlawful” prong of California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) because they were mislabeled under California’s Sherman Law.  Plaintiffs asserted that FDA regulations prohibit certain nutrient content claims on foods intended for children under the age of two and argued that Sprout’s products therefore violated those regulations and the identical provisions of California’s Sherman Law.  Sprout argued that Plaintiffs’ UCL “unlawful” prong claim was impliedly preempted because a violation of the Sherman Law requires a finding that the FDCA has been violated, and the FDCA, in turn, can be enforced only by the United States.  The lower court agreed with Sprout on the issue of preemption, holding that because a violation of the Sherman Law requires a finding that the FDCA has been violated, and the FDCA can be enforced only by the United States, Plaintiffs’ claims were preempted insofar as they originated from, were governed by, and terminated according to federal law.Prior to the Ninth Circuit’s decision, litigants frequently battled over whether lawsuits alleging a violation of the FDCA, but brought under state consumer protection laws, were impliedly preempted.  Federal law preempts state law when Congress has expressly stated or impliedly intended its purpose to do so.  Under the Supreme Court’s holding in Buckman Co. v. Plaintiffs’ Legal Committee, a state law can be preempted in two instances: (1) a plaintiff may not impose food label requirements under state law that are different from those imposed under the FDCA and its regulations, and (2) a plaintiff cannot privately enforce the FDCA.[1]  Accordingly, private claims that “exist solely by virtue of the FDCA,” or where the claim would not exist but for the alleged violation of the FDCA, are impliedly preempted.[2]  In recent years, Plaintiffs in consumer class actions targeting food labeling have argued that even though their claims are based on an underlying violation of the FDCA, their claims are not impliedly preempted.Ninth Circuit Clarifies PreemptionIn reversing the district court’s holding that enforcement of state standards is impliedly preempted by federal law, the Ninth Circuit, in an opinion written by Judge Schroeder, reasoned that federal law contemplated the ability of states, like California, to enact their own parallel laws permitting private rights of action.  The Ninth Circuit held that the critical distinction between Davidson and Buckman was that, in Buckman, Plaintiffs attempted to use state causes of action to obtain damages for violations owed under the FDCA, but in Davidson, Plaintiffs claimed violations of California’s Sherman Law (which runs parallel to the federal FDCA and whose standards are identical to the federal FDCA).[3]  In other words, because Plaintiffs’ UCL “unlawful” prong claim was premised on a violation of California’s Sherman Law, which was identical to the FDCA, Plaintiffs’ claims were not preempted.  The Ninth Circuit reasoned that Congress did not intend for state standards, like those under California’s Sherman Law, to be impliedly preempted and thus permitted states to adopt them: “there is no reason we can perceive why Congress would permit states to enact particular legislation and then deny enforcement by their citizens. . .  Federal law does not support such a strange result.”[4]Furthermore, the Ninth Circuit reasoned that even if it had doubts regarding the interaction between FDA regulations and California’s Sherman Law as applied through the UCL, it would still reverse the lower court’s holding because of the Ninth Circuit’s longstanding presumption against preemption. The Ninth Circuit reiterated that even if Sprout’s interpretation of preemption were equally plausible to that of Plaintiffs, the Court would be bound to ultimately hold that the FDCA does not impliedly preempt private enforcement of the Sherman Law and allow the case to proceed.Judge Collins DissentsJudge Collins dissented from the Ninth Circuit’s preemption holding, writing that a private claim based on state law that simply copies the FDCA’s requirements and has no independent substantive content is impliedly preempted.  Judge Collins distinguished between cases where plaintiffs sought to impose state-law standards with independent content, and state law standards that merely “parasitically cop[y]” the federal standard.[5]  State law standards with independent content were not impliedly preempted, but standards that merely copied the federal standard (as does the Sherman Law) were impliedly preempted.[6]Moreover, Judge Collins reasoned that the Sherman Law may have been intended to provide a right of action for state authorities to bring claims premised on federal regulations, not necessarily to grant private citizens a right of action.  The FDCA prohibits private enforcement of federal law, instead giving that authority to the federal government.[7]  By “permitting” states to enact statutes that mirror the FDCA, it would not be “strange” for the federal government to also limit the enforcement of state laws to state actors.[8]  Judge Collins further noted that enforcement by state authorities would allow for additional remedies provided by state courts that are not afforded by the FDCA, such as monetary damages.TakeawaysThe Ninth Circuit’s holding in Davidson clarifies the outer bounds of implied preemption in cases in which plaintiffs seek to leverage highly technical federal regulations in litigation through California’s Sherman Law and the “unlawful” prong of the UCL.  Notably, Davidson is the first case to reach the Ninth Circuit on implied preemption, California’s Sherman Law, and food labels.  Accordingly, the legal landscape is likely to continue to evolve as courts grapple with Davidson’s application.  Morrison Foerster will continue to monitor the impact of this ruling and is available to provide legal guidance to clients on the ramifications of this decision.<hr class="divider">[1] Buckman Co. v. Plaintiffs’ Legal Comm., 531 U.S. 341, 353 (2001); 21 U.S.C. §§ 343-1, 337(a).[2] Id.[3] Id.; Davidson v. Sprout Foods, Inc., 2024 WL 3213277, at *6 (9th Cir. June 28, 2024).[4] Davidson v. Sprout Foods, Inc., 2024 WL 3213277, at *6.[5] Id. at *12.[6] Id.[7] Id. at *17.[8] Id.

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

Lena is an associate in the Litigation Department in Morrison Foerster’s San Francisco office. Lena’s practice focuses on commercial and class actions litigation, with an emphasis on false advertising, unfair competition, and antitrust. Lena regularly counsels clients in the food and beverage, dietary supplement, cosmetics, retail, and technology sectors.











Lena Gankin

Mamie Tabet is an associate in the Litigation Department of Morrison Foerster’s San Francisco office.

Mamie Tabet

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Passing on Preemption: Ninth Circuit Holds That California’s Sherman Law Is Not Impliedly Preempted

High Court Orders Rethink Of $9.7M Award After TransUnion

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While it rarely rules on questions of preemption, the Ninth Circuit took an even rarer step on July 1, 2024 when it took up the question of whether private parties can seek to enforce the provisions of California’s Sherman Law that parallel federal law.

Passing on Preemption: Ninth Circuit Holds That California’s Sherman Law Is Not Impliedly Preempted

On May 16, 2024, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) took an unconventional action, unilaterally <a href="https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2024/CHZHVAN-Combination-Smoke-and-Carbon-Monoxide-Detectors-Recalled-Due-to-Failure-to-Alert-to-Fire-Sold-Exclusively-on-Amazon-com-by-Haikouhuidishangmaoyouxiangongsi" target="_blank">issuing a recall announcement</a> urging consumers to dispose of CHZHVAN Combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors after reports that the detectors failed to alarm in the presence of smoke. The recall press release notes that the seller of the detectors “has not responded to the CPSC or consumers and has been uncooperative in the implementation of the recall.”Traditionally, consumer product recalls are voluntarily conducted by the product manufacturer or retailer in conjunction with CPSC. If a company is unwilling to conduct a voluntary recall, CPSC can use various enforcement mechanisms to pressure the company to agree to recall the product.One common enforcement mechanism is CPSC’s authority under Section 6(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Act to issue a unilateral press release, warning consumers of a potential hazard and/or advising consumers to stop using a product. While unilateral press releases carry no direct penalties themselves, they can—and frequently do—result in various adverse consequences for the named company. Most evidently, unilateral press releases can trigger negative press attention and calls from industry groups and consumers for the company to recall the product, which often will lead to the company ultimately conducting a recall.But CPSC’s authority does not include the ability to unilaterally issue a mandatory recall. CPSC can file an administrative complaint in a U.S. District Court requesting the court find a product to be an “imminently hazardous consumer product” (one that “presents imminent and unreasonable risk of death, serious illness, or severe personal injury”) and seeking temporary or permanent relief to protect the public. This relief may come in the form of a public notice or product recall. 15 U.S.C. § 2061. CPSC has only turned to filing administrative complaints in extreme situations, as the entire process to obtain a court order can be lengthy. In the last 10 years, CPSC has only filed <a href="https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/Recall-Lawsuits-Adjudicative-Proceedings" target="_blank">four administrative complaints</a>.United States v. Zen Magnets, LLC, 104 F. Supp. 3d 1277, 1284 (D. Colo. 2015) illustrates both the appeal and drawbacks of this authority for CPSC. There, the court granted CPSC’s request for a preliminary injunction, enjoining future sales of a product it found to present a substantial product hazard, but denied CPSC’s request that the court order the company to recall the products it had already sold. Id. at n. 5. The court explained that no statutory provision cited by CPSC “confers authority to order an individual or entity to recall” products found to present a substantial product hazard that have already been distributed in commerce. Id. CPSC first filed its administrative complaint in August 2012 and did not receive an order until March of 2016.Here, CPSC went beyond issuing a Section 6(b) unilateral press release by issuing a warning and stop‑use notice for the combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in a product recall announcement. Importantly, CPSC did this without filing an administrative complaint.CPSC appears to have taken this approach once in the past. A similar <a href="https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2022/Mohnark-Pharmaceuticals-Recalls-Lidocaine-Topical-Anesthetic-Cream-Due-to-Failure-to-Meet-Child-Resistant-Packaging-Requirement-Risk-of-Poisoning-Recall-Alert" target="_blank">recall press release</a> issued on June 30, 2022, warning consumers to dispose of a Lidocaine 4% Topical Anesthetic Cream that failed to meet child-resistant packaging requirements, also notes that the seller “has been uncooperative in the implementation of the recall.”These two apparent unilateral recall press releases demonstrate CPSC’s continued aggressive enforcement efforts. If a manufacturer or retailer is resistant to CPSC, CPSC has sought to expand its traditional enforcement mechanisms in order to communicate what it believes are substantial product hazards to consumers.

CPSC Issues Unilateral Recall Press Release Involving “Uncooperative” Retailer of Smoke Detector

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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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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CPSC Issues Unilateral Recall Press Release Involving “Uncooperative” Retailer of Smoke Detector

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On May 16, 2024, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) took an unconventional action, unilaterally issuing a recall announcement urging consumers to dispose of CHZHVAN Combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors after reports that the detectors failed to alarm in the presence of smoke. 

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) launched a new <a href="https://www.cpsc.gov/Business-Product-Safety-Complaint" target="_blank">online Business Product Safety Complaint portal</a> through which a business can anonymously alert CPSC of competitor products in the marketplace that businesses believe do not comply with mandatory safety standards or are otherwise unsafe for consumers. While CPSC has always allowed consumers to report similar concerns regarding potential unsafe products online, the new Business Product Safety Complaint portal is directed specifically at the business community. CPSC hopes that businesses will embrace and make regular use of the portal, allowing CPSC staff to be alerted to potential product safety hazards more frequently and sooner.This portal was spearheaded by CPSC Commissioners Peter Feldman and Douglas Dziak, who released a <a href="https://www.cpsc.gov/About-CPSC/Commissioner/Peter-A-Feldman/Statement/Statement-of-Commissioners-Peter-A-Feldman-and-Douglas-Dziak-New-Business-Complaint-Portal-Will-Leverage-Private-Sector-Knowledge-to-Improve-Safety" target="_blank">statement in support of the portal</a>. Commissioners Feldman and Dziak noted that the portal is meant to harness “market forces and private sector knowledge to improve consumer safety. . . . This new portal will provide firms, importers, and other market participants an opportunity to alert the Commission to dangerous or violative products more easily.”According to Feldman and Dziak, the idea behind the portal originated in 2022, based largely on feedback from stakeholders. As the Commissioners explained, “we heard the frustration of firms that are forced to compete against unscrupulous market participants who seek unfair advantage by skirting mandatory safety requirements. Businesses often find out about unsafe products before the Commission, and they have every incentive to alert regulators about competitor products. Until now, they have not had a convenient mechanism to do so.”This may be a welcome tool for compliant companies that feel like they are competing on an unlevel playing field with competitors that are skirting mandatory safety standards. But some have also expressed skepticism, thinking some businesses may try to take advantage of the anonymity of the tool by harassing or badgering its competitors with false or misleading reports.No matter how businesses ultimately use the tool, this is yet another example of CPSC’s continued increase of its enforcement efforts.

CPSC Launches New Business Product Safety Complaint Portal

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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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CPSC Launches New Business Product Safety Complaint Portal