Frenzel v. Aliphcom

76 F. Supp. 3d 999, 85 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 482, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 177880, 2014 WL 7387150
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. California
DecidedDecember 29, 2014
DocketCase No. 14-cv-03587-WHO
StatusPublished
Cited by51 cases

This text of 76 F. Supp. 3d 999 (Frenzel v. Aliphcom) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Frenzel v. Aliphcom, 76 F. Supp. 3d 999, 85 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 482, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 177880, 2014 WL 7387150 (N.D. Cal. 2014).

Opinion

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO DISMISS

Re: Dkt. No. 13

WILLIAM H. ORRICK, United States District Judge

INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff Robert Frenzel brings this putative class action against defendant Aliph-Com dba Jawbone (“Jawbone”), alleging that he was fraudulently induced to purchase a Jawbone UP fitness-tracker wristband by misrepresentations regarding the product’s battery life and general functionality. ' Jawbone moves to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), arguing that Frenzel’s claims are precluded by California’s choice-of-law rules and, in addition, are not adequately alleged. I agree on both counts and will GRANT the motion.

BACKGROUND

I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

The following facts are alleged in Fren-zel’s complaint and are presumed true for the purposes of this motion. Jawbone is a California corporation headquartered in San Francisco, California. Compl. ¶ 8 (Dkt. No. 1). It markets and sells Jawbone UP, a fitness-tracker wristband that contains an accelerometer designed to track the user’s daily movements and sleep patterns. Users can connect, or “sync,” their Jawbone UP device to a mobile application that helps them set personal exercise and diet goals, monitor their progress, and collaborate with other Jawbone UP users. Compl. ¶2. Jawbone advertises the device as a “wristband [plus] mobile application] that tracks how you sleep, move and eat so you can know yourself better, make smarter choices and feel your best.” Compl. ¶ 2. The Jawbone UP box states: “KNOW YOURSELF; LIVE BETTER,” ‘WEAR, SYNC, ACT,” and “[understand your sleep and wake up refreshed; [m]easure daily activity and calories burned; [l]earn which foods help you feel your best.” Compl. ¶ 15-17. The box also states: “Battery life up to 10 days.” Id. Jawbone UP is available in major retail stores across the country and online. [1004]*1004Compl. ¶ 46. its retail price is approximately $80.00 to $150.00. Id. Jawbone has distributed three generations of the device: a first generation Jawbone UP released in 2011, a second generation Jawbone UP released in 2012, and a Jawbone UP24 released in 2013. Compl. ¶ 14.

Frenzel alleges that each generation of Jawbone UP has been “plagued with ... power problems,” including “significant delay in charging, syncing problems, flashing lights indicating low charge ..., extremely short battery life ..., failure to charge at all, and other similar problems.” Compl. ¶24. These problems render the device “effectively useless.” Compl. ¶ 25.

In December 2011, Jawbone’s CEO issued a letter acknowledging the power problems. The letter stated in relevant part:

[W]e know that some of you have experienced issues with your [Jawbone] UP band. Given our commitment to delivering the highest quality products, this is unacceptable and you have our deepest apologies. We’ve been working around the clock to identify the root causes and we’d like to thank everyone who has provided us with information and returned their bands for troubleshooting. With your help, we’ve found an issue with two specific capacitors in the power system that affects the ability to hold a charge in some of our bands.

Compl. ¶ 31. From December 9, 2011. through December 31, 2011, Jawbone offered a refund to purchasers of the first generation Jawbone UP. Compl. ¶ 32. Alternatively, purchasers could opt for a replacement device in the form of a second generation Jawbone UP. Compl. ¶ 32.

Frenzel alleges that when the second generation Jawbone UP was released in 2012, Jawbone represented that the power problems identified in the first generation had been fixed. Compl. ¶ 33. However, consumers continued to complain about the device’s performance, and multiple articles appeared online describing the ongoing power problems. Compl. ¶ 34. Jawbone UP24’s performance has also been lackluster. Like its predecessors, Jawbone UP24 suffers from “power problems that disrupt syncing, result in charging issues, and end-in downright failure.” Compl: ¶ 38.

Frenzel resides in Kansas City, Missouri and is a Missouri citizen. Compl. ¶ 7. In November 2012, Frenzel purchased a second generation Jawbone UP from an Apple store.1 Compl. ¶ 41. Before purchasing the device, Frenzel “reviewed [Jawbone’s] marketing materials and representations.” Id. “The representations included that Jawbone UP is a fitness and lifestyle tracker that monitors the purchaser’s physical activity, sleep patterns, and eating habits, and the battery is expected to last for 10 days when fully charged.” Id. Frenzel purchased the device based on these representations.2 Id.

Within a few months, Frenzel’s Jawbone UP stopped maintaining its charge. Compl. ¶41. Frenzel contacted Jawbone and was issued a replacement second generation Jawbone UP.3 Id. The replace[1005]*1005ment also experienced power problems and ultimately “died” when it failed to turn on. Compl. ¶ 42. Frenzel again contacted Jawbone but was told that his only recourse was to purchase a new device. Id.

On the basis of these allegations, Fren-zel seeks to represent a national class defined as all persons who purchased any of the three generation's of Jawbone UP for personal use, excluding those who purchased the product for resale. Compl. ¶ 44.

II. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Frenzel asserts six causes of action in the complaint: (i) violations of California’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act (“CLRA”), Cal. Civ. Code § 1750, et seq.-, (ii) violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law (“UCL”), Cal. Bus. & Prof.Code § 17200, et seq.-, (in) violations of California’s False Advertising Law (“FAL”), Cal. Bus. & Prof.Code § 17500, et seq.-, (iv) breach of express warranty; (v) breach of the implied warranty of merchantability; and (vi) breach of the implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose. Compl. ¶¶ 50-99. Frenzel seeks an order certifying a national class, compensatory and punitive damages, and injunctive relief. Compl. at 34. Jawbone filed this motion on September 29, 2014, Dkt. No. 13, and I heard argument from the parties on December 17, 2014.

LEGAL STANDARDS

I. RULE 12(b)(6): MOTION TO DISMISS FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM

A motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) tests the legal sufficiency of a complaint. Navarro v. Block, 250 F.3d 729, 732 (9th Cir.2001). A complaint “must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, 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) (internal quotation marks omitted). A claim is facially plausible when it “allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Id.

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76 F. Supp. 3d 999, 85 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 482, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 177880, 2014 WL 7387150, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/frenzel-v-aliphcom-cand-2014.