Birdsong v. Nurture, Inc.

275 F. Supp. 3d 384
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. New York
DecidedSeptember 28, 2017
Docket16-CV-4435 (RRM) (PK)
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 275 F. Supp. 3d 384 (Birdsong v. Nurture, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Birdsong v. Nurture, Inc., 275 F. Supp. 3d 384 (E.D.N.Y. 2017).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

ROSLYNN R. MAUSKOPF, United States District Judge.

Defendant Nurture, Inc. (“Nurture”) sells infant and baby food products that are marketed, labeled, and sold as “Organic.” Sarah Birdsong, on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated, brings this putative class action against Nurture, alleging that Nurture misled consumers about the ingredients of its Happy Family brand products (the “Products”). Specifically, Birdsong alleges that the packaging for these products contains the representation “Organic” when in fact the Products contain ingredients that the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) prohibits in organic products. Nurture moves to dismiss this entire action claiming that, inter alia, Birdsong’s claims are preempted by the Organic Foods Production Act of [386]*3861990, U.S.C. §§ 6501-6523 (the “OFPA”), and that Birdsong lacks standing to seek injunctive relief. In the alternative, Nurture argues that this case should be stayed under the doctrine of primary jurisdiction. Finding that Birdsong’s claims are preempted, the Court grants Nurture’s motion to dismiss the complaint in its entirety.

BACKGROUND1

Birdsong alleges that, ip 2015, she purchased a variety of Happy Family brand products through various channels, such as C Town, Met Foods, ¿nd Diapers.com, (Compl. (Doc, No. 1) at ¶ 19.) Birdsong claims that her purchases included at least the following products: HappyBaby Probi-otic Baby Cereal, HappyBaby Superfood Puffs, HappyTot Greek Yogurt, HappyS-queeze Greek Yogurt, and HappyTot Plus [Pouch], (Id.)2 In addition to containing the word “Organic,” the Products also display the following seal:3

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Birdsong asserts that she purchased the Products after seeing, and in reliance on, the “Organic” representation on the Products’ label, and because of this representation, was led to believe that'the Products were organic. (Id.) Birdsong contends that thé Products are not organic as defined under federal' law because they contain certain prohibited synthetic ingredients. (See id. at ¶¶ 42-45.)4 Birdsong further claims that had she known that the Products were not “organic,” she would not have purchased them. (Id. at-¶ 22.) However, she “would consider” purchasing the Products in the future if the Products were [387]*387reformulated so as- to make the “Organic” representation truthful.. (Id. at ¶ 24.)

Birdsong alleges that Nurture is liable under N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law §§ 349-350 and the common law of New York for breach of express warranty and unjust enrichment. (See-id. at' ¶¶ 89-126.) All of these claims are based on the alleged false labeling of the Products as • “Organic.” Birdsong concedes that the Products have been certified “Organic” by a USDA-accredited agent. (11/3/16 Tr. (Doc. No. 19-1) at 22:13.) Birdsong does not allege that Nurture fraudulently deceived the certifying agent or intentionally substituted prohibited ingredients subsequent to the certification. Rather, Birdsong alleges that, notwithstanding their certification, the Products mislead consumers because they contain synthetic ingredients that are allegedly prohibited under the OFPA. Nurture moves to dismiss Birdsong’s claims in their entirety.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

In order to withstand a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), a complaint must contain facts sufficient “‘to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’ ” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (citing Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007)); Hayden v. Paterson, 594 F.3d 150, 161 (2d Cir. 2010). A claim is plausible “when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Matson v. Bd. of Educ., 631 F.3d 57, 63 (2d Cir. 2011) (quoting Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937). The Court assumes the truth of the facts alleged, and draws all reasonable inferences in the nonmovant’s favor. See Harris v. Mills, 572 F.3d 66, 71 (2d Cir. 2009). A complaint need not contain “detailed factual allegations,” but it must contain factual allegations that “raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955. Where a party asserts a federal preemption defense, “[a] district court may grant a motion to dismiss based on federal preemption, if the defense can easily be determined from the pleadings.” Aaronson v. Am. Med. Sys., Inc., No. 09-CV-2487 (NGG), 2010 WL 3603618, at *1 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 7, 2010) (internal citation and quotation marks ’ omitted); see also Farash v. Cont'l Airlines, Inc., 574 F.Supp.2d 356, 362-63 (S.D.N.Y. 2008), aff'd, 337 Fed.Appx. 7 (2d Cir. 2009).

DISCUSSION

I. Federal Preemption of State Law Claims

a. Conflict Preemption

Nurture argues that Birdsong’s state law claims pose an obstacle to the achievement of the OFPA’s objectives and thus are preempted by federal law; Under the Supremacy Clause of the United States - Constitution, “state laws that conflict with federal law are without effect” and are preempted. Altria Grp., Inc. v. Good, 555 U.S. 70, 76, 129 S.Ct. 538, 172 L.Ed.2d 398 (2008). In interpreting the presence and scope of preemption, a court starts with the “assumption that the historic police powers of the States were not to be superseded by the Federal Act unless that was the clear and manifest purpose of Congress.” Wyeth v. Levine, 555 U.S. 555, 565, 129 S.Ct. 1187, 173 L.Ed.2d 51 (2009); see Gen. Motors Corp. v. Abrams, 897 F.2d 34, 41-42 (2d Cir. 1990) (“[Cjonsumer protection law is a field traditionally regulated by the states.”). That said, “[t]he key to the preemption inquiry is the intent of Congress.” New York SMSA Ltd. P’ship v. Town of Clarkstown, 612 F.3d 97, 104 (2d [388]*388Cir. 2010). Congress may indicate its intent to preempt state law explicitly, through a federal statute’s express language, or implicitly, through the scope, structure, and purpose of the federal law. Altria, 555 U.S. at 76, 129 S.Ct. 538 (internal citation omitted). Nurture limits its argument to conflict preemption—specifically, obstacle preemption—which applies where state law “conflicts with federal law such that ... the [state] law is an obstacle to the achievement of federal objectives.” Town of Clarkstown, 612 F.3d at 104 (internal citation omitted).

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