Brito-Munoz v. Walmart, Inc.

CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedJune 10, 2022
Docket1:21-cv-00903
StatusUnknown

This text of Brito-Munoz v. Walmart, Inc. (Brito-Munoz v. Walmart, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Brito-Munoz v. Walmart, Inc., (M.D. Pa. 2022).

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA FERNANDA BRITO-MUNOZ and : Civil No. 1:21-CV-00903 TAMIKA WILLIAMS, on behalf of : themselves and all others similarly : situated, : : Plaintiffs, : : v. : : WALMART, INC., : : Defendant. : Judge Jennifer P. Wilson MEMORANDUM Before the court is a motion to dismiss the amended complaint in this putative class action case filed by Defendant Walmart, Inc. (“Walmart”). (Doc. 36.) For the reasons that follow, the court will grant the motion. FACTUAL BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY The named Plaintiffs in this case are Fernanda Brito-Munoz and Tamika Williams (collectively, “Plaintiffs”).1 (Doc. 32, pp. 7, 9.)2 Plaintiff Brito-Munoz is a Pennsylvania resident who has a daughter who “has suffered skin irritation, dermatitis, and/or allergic skin reaction in the past.” (Id. ¶ 24.) To care for her daughter, Brito-Munoz alleges that she regularly purchased Parent’s Choice Baby

1 Plaintiffs seek to bring a nationwide class action “on behalf of themselves and all other similarly situated United States residents who purchased [select products labeled as hypoallergenic and/or tear-free] from Walmart’s retail or online stores.” (Doc. 32, pp. 37−38.)

2 For ease of reference, the court utilizes the page numbers from the CM/ECF header. Wipes and Parent’s Choice diapers from Walmart.3 (Id. ¶ 22.) Brito-Munoz claims that these products were labeled as “hypoallergenic,” which was “a

significant reason for her purchase[]” due to her daughter’s history of skin issues. (Id. ¶ 23.) Similarly, Plaintiff Williams is a resident of California who “has suffered skin irritation, eye irritation, dermatitis, and/or an allergic skin reaction in

the past.” (Id. ¶ 36.) As such, Williams claims that she purchased Parent’s Choice Baby Lotion, Parent’s Choice Baby Laundry Detergent, Parent’s Choice Shea Butter Baby Wipes, Parent’s Choice Maximum Strength Diaper Rash Ointment, Parent’s Choice Wash & Shampoo, and Equate Personal Wipes from Walmart, all

of which were labeled as “hypoallergenic.” (Id. ¶ 34.) She alleges that this label was “a significant reason for her purchase[].” (Id. ¶ 35.) Both Plaintiffs assert that they purchased these products regularly. (Id. ¶¶ 22, 34.)

Plaintiffs claim that contrary to the “hypoallergenic” labels on its products, Walmart’s products contain “a significant array and substantial amount of known skin sensitizers (allergens), agents that cause serious skin damage, chemicals that cause serious eye damage lasting longer than 21 days, skin irritants, and eye

irritants.” (Id. ¶ 8.) Thus, Plaintiffs allege that “Walmart’s body care products . . . were falsely and misleadingly marketed as ‘hypoallergenic’ (some of which were

3 The amended complaint indicates that the “Parent’s Choice” brand is one of Walmart’s private label brands. (Doc. 32, ¶ 45.) Walmart also “makes, markets, and sells Walmart, Equate, Equate Beauty, [and] Great Value” brands as other private label brands. (Id.) also falsely and misleadingly marketed as ‘tear-free’)” since “all of these products contain skin allergens in an amount known to cause an allergic reaction.” (Id.

¶¶ 12, 59.) Specifically, Plaintiffs claim that Walmart improperly labels the following products as hypoallergenic and/or “tear-free”: 2-in-1 Baby Wash & Shampoo; 2-in-1 Cleanser; Antibacterial Hand Wipes; Anti-Wrinkle Cream; Baby

Bath; Baby Laundry Detergent; Baby Lotion; Baby Oil Cream; Baby Powder; Baby Shampoo; Baby Sunscreen Lotion; Baby Wash & Shampoo; Baby Wipes; Bath for Nighttime/Nighttime Bath; Body Wash; Cleansing Towelettes; Daily Moisturizer; Day Cream; Diaper Rash Ointment; Diaper Rash Paste; Diaper Rash

Relief; Facial Moisturizer; Facial Scrub; Facial Wipes; Feminine Wash; Feminine Wipes; Kids Sunscreen Lotion; Kids Sunscreen Stick; Lotion; Makeup Remover Towelettes; Moisturizing Lotion; Personal Wipes; Wash & Shampoo; and Wipes.4

(Id. at 15−16.) Plaintiffs assert that if they knew the products they were purchasing “were not hypoallergenic as promised, [they] would not have purchased these products[,]” although Brito-Munoz states that she would purchase the products if

4 The amended complaint does not indicate that Plaintiffs purchased all of these products. Rather, it is only alleged that Plaintiffs purchased Parent’s Choice Baby Wipes, Parent’s Choice diapers, Parent’s Choice Baby Lotion, Parent’s Choice Baby Laundry Detergent, Parent’s Choice Shea Butter Baby Wipes, Parent’s Choice Maximum Strength Diaper Rash Ointment, Parent’s Choice Wash & Shampoo, and Equate Personal Wipes. (Doc. 32, ¶¶ 22, 34.) “she had no other available options due to stock.”5 (Id. ¶¶ 27, 39.) Plaintiffs also claim that they “purchased, purchased more of, or paid more for, these products

than [they] would have had [they] known that the products were not hypoallergenic, as promised.” (Id. ¶¶ 30, 42.) Plaintiffs assert that “[b]y deceiving consumers about the nature, quality, and/or ingredients of its products, Walmart is

able to command a premium price, increasing consumers’ willingness to pay and take away market share from competing products, thereby increasing its own sales and profits.” (Id. ¶ 13.) On the basis of these facts, Plaintiffs filed a seven-count complaint on May

18, 2021, alleging claims for breach of express warranty; unjust enrichment; unfair and deceptive acts and practices under California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act; California’s False Advertising Law; California’s Unfair Competition Law;

Pennsylvania’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law; and breach of contract. (Doc. 1.) Following a motion to dismiss, Doc. 24, Plaintiffs amended their complaint on September 10, 2021, setting forth the same claims. (Doc. 32.) On September 24, 2021, Walmart filed the instant motion to dismiss the complaint,

accompanied by a supporting brief. (Docs. 36, 37.) Plaintiffs filed a brief in

5 Brito-Munoz also claims that she would repurchase these products in the future “if there are no other available options due to store stock.” (Doc. 32, ¶ 32.) opposition on October 15, 2021. (Doc. 40.) Walmart timely filed a reply brief. (Doc. 43.) Accordingly, the motion is ripe for disposition.

STANDARDS OF REVIEW A. 12(b)(1) Motion to Dismiss In determining whether it has subject-matter jurisdiction, the court must

decide “whether the allegations on the face of the complaint, taken as true, allege facts sufficient to invoke the jurisdiction of the district court.” Taliaferro v. Darby Twp. Zoning Bd., 458 F.3d 181, 188 (3d Cir. 2006) (quoting Licata v. U.S. Postal Serv., 33 F.3d 259, 260 (3d Cir. 1994)). Rule 12(b)(1) challenges may be “facial”

or “factual.” See Mortensen v. First Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass’n, 549 F.2d 884, 891 (3d Cir. 1977). A facial attack challenges whether jurisdiction has been properly pled and requires the court to “only consider the allegations of the complaint and

documents referenced therein and attached thereto, in the light most favorable to the plaintiff.” Gould Elecs., Inc. v. United States, 220 F.3d 169, 176 (3d Cir. 2000) (citing Mortensen, 549 F.2d at 891). Conversely, when a defendant sets forth a factual attack on subject-matter jurisdiction, “the Court is free to weigh the

evidence and satisfy itself whether it has power to hear the case. . . . ‘no presumptive truthfulness attaches to plaintiff’s allegations, and the existence of disputed material facts will not preclude the trial court from evaluating for itself the merits of jurisdictional claims.’” Carpet Group Int’l v.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

O'Shea v. Littleton
414 U.S. 488 (Supreme Court, 1974)
Warth v. Seldin
422 U.S. 490 (Supreme Court, 1975)
Green v. Mansour
474 U.S. 64 (Supreme Court, 1986)
Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife
504 U.S. 555 (Supreme Court, 1992)
Raines v. Byrd
521 U.S. 811 (Supreme Court, 1997)
Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly
550 U.S. 544 (Supreme Court, 2007)
Ashcroft v. Iqbal
556 U.S. 662 (Supreme Court, 2009)
Summers v. Earth Island Institute
555 U.S. 488 (Supreme Court, 2009)
Charles McNair v. Synapse Grp Inc
672 F.3d 213 (Third Circuit, 2012)
Stephen B. Licata v. United States Postal Service
33 F.3d 259 (Third Circuit, 1994)
Peter Bistrian v. Troy Levi
696 F.3d 352 (Third Circuit, 2012)
William Hayes v. WalMart Stores Inc
725 F.3d 349 (Third Circuit, 2013)
Danvers Motor Co. v. Ford Motor Co.
432 F.3d 286 (Third Circuit, 2005)
Josh Finkelman v. National Football League
810 F.3d 187 (Third Circuit, 2016)
Christopher Mielo v. Steak N Shake Operations Inc
897 F.3d 467 (Third Circuit, 2018)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
Brito-Munoz v. Walmart, Inc., Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/brito-munoz-v-walmart-inc-pamd-2022.