Kirchenberg v. Ainsworth Pet Nutrition, Inc.

District Court, E.D. California·Decided January 19, 2022·No. 2:20-cv-00690·Unknown

Opinion

Erin Kirchenberg, on behalf of herself and all No. 2:20-cv-00690-KJM-DMC others similarly situated, B Plaintiff, Ainsworth, Pet Nutrition, Inc., and J.M. Smucker Co., Defendants. Plaintiff Erin Kirchenberg brings this putative class action against defendants claiming defendants misrepresented the ingredients in pet food she purchased in violation of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2301, breach of implied and express warranty, and violation of state consumer protection laws. See generally Compl., ECF No. 1. Defendants move to dismiss. For the reasons below, the motion is granted in part with leave to amend. I. BACKGROUND Plaintiff Erin Kirchenberg is a dog owner. /d. □□ 1-2. Defendant Ainsworth is the manufacturer and distributor of Just 6 dog food. Jd. 2,5. Defendant Smucker acquired Ainsworth in May 2018. Jd. § 6.

In 2018, Kirchenberg began purchasing Just 6 dog food after researching limited ingredient options to benefit her dogs’ health. Id. ¶¶ 10–11. She made purchases from local retailers and online. Id. ¶ 12. Kirchenberg claims she relied on defendants’ public representations on television commercials indicating that Just 6 contains only “six simple, natural ingredients . . . [and no] corn, wheat, soy or gluten.” Id. ¶¶ 12–13, 31–32. She also was influenced by the signed statement of “a well-known and respected celebrity chef,” making the same representations. Id. ¶ 32. The Just 6 nutrition label omits any mention of corn, wheat, soy or beef from its ingredient list. Id. ¶ 33. Defendants’ website nutrish.com also claims that Just 6 “may help dogs with food sensitivities,” id. ¶ 35, and that the brand “maintain[s] rigorous testing to ensure ingredient and product safety,” id. ¶ 38. Although the Just 6 products were more expensive than other options on the market, Kirchenberg chose to pay a “premium” for Just 6, relying on defendants’ “limited ingredient” representations. Id. ¶¶ 2, 12. In or about February 2020, Kirchenberg learned defendants mislabeled Just 6’s ingredients. Id. ¶¶ 10, 14. She stopped purchasing the product and conducted an independent DNA analysis1 of a sample of the Just 6 pet food product. Id. ¶ 14. The analysis detected various animal DNA and other ingredients: cattle (1.162%), deer (0.932%), pig (0.354%), soy (0.057%), corn (0.050%) and wheat (0.023%). Edwards Rep., Ex. A at 2–3, ECF No. 1-1. Kirchenberg then brought this class action alleging consumers like herself relied on defendants’ knowing misrepresentations of Just 6’s ingredients and paid higher prices than they would have otherwise. Compl. ¶¶ 26, 28–29, 39–40. Kirchenberg asserts seven claims: (1) violation of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (“MMWA”), 15 U.S.C. § 2301; (2) breach of express warranty; (3) breach of implied warranty of

1 In her motion, plaintiff cites to studies utilizing either the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method to test the DNA of pet food samples. See Mot. at 3, Ex. 1, ECF No. 18-2; id. at 2, Ex. 2, ECF No. 18-3; id. at 4, Ex. 3, ECF No. 18-4; id. at 2, Ex. 4, ECF No. 18-5; id. at 2, Ex. 5, ECF No. 18-6. Plaintiff does not include in her allegations information describing the method used for her independent DNA analysis. See Compl. at 2–3, Ex. A, ECF No. 1-1; id. ¶ 36. merchantability; (4) unjust enrichment; (5) violation of the California Consumers Legal Remedies Act (“CLRA”), Cal. Civ. Code section 1770(a)(5)(7)(9)(16); (6) violation of the California False Advertising Law (“FAL”), Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code section 17500; and (7) violation of the California Unfair Competition Law (“UCL”), Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code section 17200. Compl. ¶¶ 52–132. She seeks monetary damages and injunctive relief. See id. ¶¶ 26–27 (Relief Demanded). Defendants move to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Mot. to Dismiss, ECF No. 18. Plaintiff opposes the motion, Opp’n, ECF No. 24, and defendants have replied, Reply, ECF No. 26. The court submitted the matter without hearing. Min. Order, ECF No. 27. A. Rule 12(b)(6) Under Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a party may move to dismiss a complaint for “failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.” A motion to dismiss may be granted only if the complaint lacks a “cognizable legal theory” or if its factual allegations do not support a cognizable legal theory. Hartmann v. Cal. Dep’t of Corr. & Rehab., 707 F.3d 1114, 1122 (9th Cir. 2013). The court assumes all factual allegations are true and construes “them in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party.” Steinle v. City & Cnty. of San Francisco, 919 F.3d 1154, 1160 (9th Cir. 2019). If the complaint’s allegations do not “plausibly give rise to an entitlement to relief,” the motion must be granted. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 679 (2009). A complaint need contain only a “short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief,” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2), not “detailed factual allegations,” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007). But this rule demands more than unadorned accusations; “sufficient factual matter” must make the cause of action at least plausible. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. In the same vein, conclusory or formulaic recitations of the elements do not alone suffice. Id. (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555). This evaluation of plausibility is a context-specific task drawing on “judicial experience and common sense.” Id. at 679. A court’s consideration of documents attached to a complaint or incorporated by reference or matter of judicial notice will not convert a motion to dismiss into a motion for summary judgment. United States v. Ritchie, 342 F.3d 903, 907-08 (9th Cir. 2003); Parks Sch. of Bus. v. Symington, 51 F.3d 1480, 1484 (9th Cir. 1995); compare Van Buskirk v. Cable News Network, Inc., 284 F.3d 977, 980 (9th Cir. 2002) (noting that even though court may look beyond pleadings on motion to dismiss, generally court is limited to face of the complaint on 12(b)(6) motion). B. Rule 9(b) “In alleging fraud or mistake, a party must state with particularity the circumstances constituting fraud or mistake.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 9(b). Surviving a Rule 9(b) challenge requires plaintiffs to plead the “who,” “when,” “what,” “where,” and “how” of the fraudulent activity. Vess v. Ciba-Geigy Corp. USA, 317 F.3d 1097, 1106 (9th Cir. 2003). Rule 9(b)’s heightened pleading standard applies to claims under CLRA and the UCL. Kearns v. Ford Motor Co., 567 F.3d 1120, 1125 (9th Cir. 2009). A. Standing Defendants first argue plaintiff lacks standing because she has not stated a particularized injury: that is, trace levels of corn, wheat, soy and beef are not “significant amounts” h

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Kirchenberg v. Ainsworth Pet Nutrition, Inc., (E.D. Cal. 2022).

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