U.S. District Judge Janis Sammartino dismissed a proposed class action against denim company Citizens of Humanity on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016, Reuters reported. The suit claimed the company misled shoppers by labeling its jeans as made in the USA when they contained foreign-made components.
The ruling
According to Reuters, Sammartino ruled that the customer who brought the case lacked standing to sue over Citizens of Humanity products she had not bought herself, because she had not shown those products were substantially similar to the ones she did buy.
Truth in Advertising, which tracks Made in USA class actions, said the court found the allegations conclusory and short of the heightened pleading standard that applies to fraud claims.
The wider trend
The case was part of a wave of Made in USA class actions filed in 2016. Several courts dismissed similar suits over the following months, including a vitamin C case against CVS in February 2017 and a dog food case against WellPet in April 2017.
FAQ
What did the suit claim?
That Citizens of Humanity labeled jeans as made in the USA even though they contained foreign-made components.
Why was it dismissed?
The judge found the plaintiff lacked standing over products she had not bought, and the claims were not pleaded with enough detail.
Where was the case filed?
In federal court in California.
Source & credit
Source: Reuters: “Jeans company defeats lawsuit over ‘Made in USA’ label”, Dec. 8, 2016.
Also: Truth in Advertising: “By the Numbers: Made in the USA Class-Action Lawsuits”.