The federal district court for the Northern District of California granted the sugar producer Florida Crystals Corporation’s motion to dismiss a greenwashing class action but granted the plaintiff leave to file a second amended complaint to clarify her theory of liability. The court found that the first amended complaint’s allegations of deception were related to the defendants’ representations regarding the environmental benefits of particular products but that in opposing the motion to dismiss, the plaintiff focused on her reliance on representations regarding company-wide practices related to the environment, including climate change. The court therefore dismissed the first amended complaint on the grounds that it did not “adequately articulate” the plaintiff’s theory as to how the defendant’s representations were deceptive. The court did not address the defendant’s other grounds for dismissal and denied the motion to dismiss on those grounds without prejudice to the company’s ability to raise them after the plaintiff filed a new complaint.

Greenwashing consumer class action alleging that defendants deceived and misled consumers into purchasing their sugar products.

Merrell v. Florida Crystals Corp.

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California Federal Court Allowed Plaintiff to File Amended Complaint to Clarify Greenwashing Case Against Sugar Producer

Filed

United States of America

California

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California Federal Court Allowed Plaintiff to File Amended Complaint to Clarify Greenwashing Case Against Sugar Producer

Risk

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