Weimer v. International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.

240 F.R.D. 431, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4539, 2007 WL 164355
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Iowa
DecidedJanuary 22, 2007
DocketNo. C05-4138-MWB
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 240 F.R.D. 431 (Weimer v. International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Weimer v. International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc., 240 F.R.D. 431, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4539, 2007 WL 164355 (N.D. Iowa 2007).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER REGARDING DEFENDANT INTERNATIONAL FLAVORS AND FRAGRANCES, INC.’S MOTION TO DISMISS COUNTS II AND III

BENNETT, District Judge.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND .....................................433

A. Procedural Background................................................433

B. Factual Background...................................................433

II. LEGAL ANALYSIS........................................................435

A. Rule 12(b)(6) Standards................................................435

B. Pleading Fraud With Particularitg.....................................436

1. Pleading fraud under Rule 9(b) .....................................436

2. Application of the Rule 9(b) pleading standards ......................437

3. Leave to amend the complaint......................................438

III. CONCLUSION............................................................438

[433]*433 I. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

A. Procedural Background

On March 2, 2006, plaintiffs John Weimer, Jr. and Marion Weimer (“the Weimers”) filed their First Amended Complaint against defendants International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. (“IFF”), the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association of the United States (“FEMA”), and the Roberts Group, L.L.C. (“TRG”) alleging four causes of action. The four causes of action asserted are for negligence, fraudulent concealment, civil conspiracy, and a combined claim for loss of consortium and medical expenses. The First Amended Complaint alleges that this court has subject matter jurisdiction by virtue of diversity of citizenship of the parties, 28 U.S.C. § 1332.

Defendant IFF filed a Motion to Dismiss Counts II and III of Plaintiffs’ First Amended Complaint (Doc. No. 40). Specifically, IFF asserts that Count II, the Weimers’ fraudulent concealment claim, should be dismissed for failure to plead fraud with particularity, and that Count III, the Weimers’ civil conspiracy claim, should be dismissed because it is based entirely on the fraudulent concealment claim. The Weimers filed a timely resistance to defendant IFF’s motion. Defendant IFF then filed a reply brief.

B. Factual Background

On a motion to dismiss, the court must assume all facts alleged in the Weimers’ amended complaint are true, and must liberally construe those allegations. Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46, 78 S.Ct. 99, 2 L.Ed.2d 80 (1957). Therefore, the following factual background, related to Counts II and III, is drawn from the Weimers’ amended complaint in such a manner.

Plaintiffs John P. Weimer, Jr. and Marion Weimer are husband and wife residing in Wall Lake, Iowa. John Weimer was employed by the Snappy Popcorn Company in Brieda, Iowa. Defendant IFF is a New York corporation with its principal place of business in New York, New York. Defendant IFF designs, manufactures, distributes and sells butter flavorings marketed to individuals, including Snappy.

The butter flavorings sold by defendant IFF contain diacetyl and/or other volatile organic compounds that can cause human disease and injury. In the course of his employment at Snappy, John Weimer was exposed to butter flavorings designed, manufactured, distributed and sold by defendant IFF. The Weimers allege that, as a result of this exposure, John Weimer has suffered severe and permanent injury to his person including bronchiolitis obliterans, severe and progressive damage to the respiratory system, and extreme shortness of breath. In addition, because of his exposure, John Weimer’s life expectancy has been significantly reduced.

With respect to their fraudulent concealment claim, the Weimers allege the following:

24. Defendants knew, or should have known, that butter flavorings and/or their constituents cause adverse health effects by at least 1991, including, but not limited to, the following:
a. Damage to human mucous membranes, and;
b. Respiratory disease.
25. Defendants knew or should have known certain information regarding the health hazards of butter flavorings and/or their constituents including, but not limited to, the following:
a. By at least 1991, Defendant IFF knew that diacetyl was a health hazard when inhaled;
b. By at least 1991, Defendant IFF knew that the level of diacetyl in areas where butter flavorings are used could and should be monitored through air sampling;
c. By at least 1991, Defendant IFF knew that diacetyl is a hazard to human mucous membranes;
d. By at least 1993, Defendant IFF knew that their butter flavoring workers were experiencing “breathing problems”;
e. By at least 1993, Defendant IFF knew that persons working around [434]*434butter flavorings must wear full-face respirators;
f. By at least 1993, Defendant IFF knew that diacetyl is a serve respiratory hazard, causing, inter alia: respiratory tract injury; focal hyperemia of the lungs; atelectasis; bloody edema of the lungs; bronchial edema, and, emphysema;
g. By at least 1993, Defendant IFF knew that diacetyl causes severe lung disease, including emphysema and death;
h. By at least 1993, Defendant IFF knew the LC50 for diacetyl;
i. By at least 1994, Defendant IFF knew that diacetyl is a “potential respiratory exposure” for persons working around butter flavorings;
j. By at least 1994, Defendant IFF knew that diacetyl volatilizes above 83F and that potential diacetyl volatilization must be minimized for worker safety;
k. By at least 1994, Defendant IFF recognized that butter flavorings should be mixed in a “closed system” to prevent volatilization of diacetyl or other butter flavoring constituents into the air;
l. By at least 1995, Defendant IFF knew that their customers were experiencing severe health problems associated with their butter flavorings;
m. By at least 1995, Defendant IFF were specifically requested by their customers to “advise all butter users of the danger of butters” and specifically recommend what type of Personal Protective Equipment should be worn;
n. By at least 1995, Defendant IFF knew that diacetyl is a “harmful organic vapor”;
o. By at least 1996, Defendant IFF was aware of all available research regarding diacetyl’s effects on the mucous membranes;
p.

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Bluebook (online)
240 F.R.D. 431, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4539, 2007 WL 164355, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/weimer-v-international-flavors-fragrances-inc-iand-2007.