http://www.lexisnexis.com/mealeys/news.aspx Headline California Section 17200 Legal News from LexisNexis® en-us http://www.lexisnexis.com/mealeys/images/lexismealeyslogo.gif 130 29 http://www.lexisnexis.com/mealeys/news.aspx Copyright 2012 http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-9%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%201%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - Congress' repeal of a section of the Truth In Savings Act (TISA) is irrelevant to an unfair competition law (UCL) action in state court seeking enforcement of policies consistent with the federal statute, consumers told the California Supreme Court May 15 (Harold Rose, et al. v. Bank of America, N.A., No. S199074, Calif. Sup.; See March 2012, Page 4). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-9%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%202%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank CHICAGO - An Illinois federal judge cannot enjoin a California unfair competition law (UCL) class action involving advertising of stainless steel drums in dryers under the All Writs Act, the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals held May 1 (Steven J. Thorogood, et al. v. Sears, Roebuck and Co., Nos. 10-2407, 11-2133, 7th Cir.; See April 2012, Page 10). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-9%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%203%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - A federal judge erred in concluding that a pomegranate juice maker must demonstrate injury sufficient for restitution under the California unfair competition law (UCL) in order to pursue injunctive relief, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held May 17 (Pom Wonderful LLC, v. The Coca-Cola Co., No. 10-55861, 9th Cir.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-9%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%204%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - Nothing in California's Tort Claims Act (CTCA) required a man seeking injunctive relief under the unfair competition law (UCL) claims for alleged discrimination to first present his claims to the defendants, a federal judge held April 30 (Walter Jefferson v. City of Fremont, et al., No. 12-0926, N.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 60141). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-9%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%205%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - A man's claim that he was enrolled in a privacy protection plan without his consent and that the resulting fees caused him to overdraft from his bank account give him standing to pursue his Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA), California Civil Code Section 1750, et seq., and California unfair competition law (UCL) claims, a federal judge held May 4 (Steven M. Chavez v. Bank of America Corp., et al., No. 10-0653, N.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 62935). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-9%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%206%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN JOSE, Calif. - An allegedly inaccurate signal meter bar on the iPhone creates sufficient injury for standing under the California unfair competition law (UCL), but a consumer fails to adequately plead either affirmative misrepresentation or omission on Apple Inc.'s part, a federal judge held May 10 (Daniel Donohue, et al. v. Apple Inc., No. 11-5337, N.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 65860). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-9%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%207%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - An California unfair competition law (UCL) action involving allegations of cramming would not interfere with the Public Utilities Commission's (PUC) regulation of the practice and may proceed, a California appeals court held April 25 (Rex Elder v. Pacific Bell Telephone Co., et al., No. A130718, Calif. App., 1st Dist., Div. 3). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-9%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%208%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - A judge properly dismissed a California unfair competition law (UCL) action in which the plaintiff complains that a juice product does not contain enough of an ingredient, even though it includes the proper amounts of the advertised ingredients, a food manufacturer told the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on April 9 (Mauricio Chavez, et al. v. Nestle USA Inc., No. 11-56066, U.S. App., 9th Cir.; See March 2012, Page 12). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-9%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%209%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - An executive officer's direct role in marketing the hair-regrowth product Avacor and the financial rewards he reaped from the company permit a judge's order that the officer pay $40 million in restitution under the California unfair competition law (UCL), a state appeals court held April 25. The court denied a petition for publication May 18, according to the docket (James Thomas v. Anthony Imbriolo, No. A130517, Calif. App., 1st Dist., Div. 5). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-9%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%2010%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN DIEGO - California false advertising law (FAL) claims seeking restitution from Apple Inc. for a software update that allegedly rendered past versions of iPhones unusable may continue, a federal judge held April 25 (Bianca Wofford and Suzann Lennox, et al. v. Apple Inc., and DOES 1 through 100, inclusive, No. 11-0034, S.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 58006; See November 2010, Page 24). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-9%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%2011%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank LOS ANGELES - A paper products company and the judge that sustained its demurrer improperly cited an unpublished case in concluding that the statute of limitations barred a public unfair competition law (UCL) action, a California appellate court held in reversing the ruling May 14 (The People v. E*Poly Star Inc., et al., No. B233008, Calif. App., 2nd Dist., Div. 7). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-9%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%2012%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN DIEGO - 7-Eleven Inc. provides payroll services to its franchisees and cannot be liable under the California unfair competition law (UCL), a state appeals court held May 8 in affirming judgment on a woman's claim involving conversion of partial hours worked into hundredths of an hour (Kimberly Aleksick v. 7-Eleven Inc., No. D059236, Calif. App., 4th Dist., Div. 1; 2012 Cal. App. LEXIS 539). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-9%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%2013%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN DIEGO - The manufacturer of a preworkout product promises "effective muscle building" but fails to warn consumers that it contains an illegal and dangerous synthetic form of dimethylamylamine (DMAA), a man claims in a May 8 class action filed in California federal court (Derick Barkum, et al. v. Isatori Technologies Inc., et al., No. 12-1058, S.D. Calif.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-9%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%2014%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - Apple Inc. double bills customers for purchases in its Apple Stores and then refuses to refund the excess charges, a man claims in an April 21 lawsuit alleging violation of the unfair competition law (UCL) (Robert Herskowitz, et al. v. Apple Inc., No. 12-2131, N.D. Calif.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-8%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%201%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - California's state unfair competition law (UCL) claims affect shipping prices, routes and services and are preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994 (FAAAA), a trucking company told the California Supreme Court March 26 (The People ex rel. Kamala D. Harris, etc. v. Pac Anchor Transportation Inc., et al., No. S194388, Calif. Sup., See February 2012, Page 6). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-8%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%202%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank LOS ANGELES - A manufacturer's representation that ice cream products contain zero trans fats complies with federal labeling law, preempting California unfair competition law (UCL) claims, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals held April 5 while also finding that the use of the terms "original" and "classic" were not deceptive (Mirko Carrea, et al. v. Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream Inc., No. 11-15263, 9th Cir.; 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 6851; See November 2011, Page 6). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-8%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%203%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - Health claims used in the marketing of nutrition bars constitute puffery, except to the extent that they allege the inclusion of more specific "healthy fats," a California federal judge held April 11 in partially denying a motion for summary judgment (Claire Delacruz, et al. v. Cytosport Inc., No. 11-3532, N.D. Calif.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-8%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%204%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank LOS ANGELES - The Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act's bar on private enforcement preempts California residents' unfair competition law (UCL) claims involving the addition of the allegedly unapproved drug hydrofluosilicic acid (HFSA) to the water supply, a federal judge held April 10 (Debra Foli, et al. v. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, et al., No. 11-1765, S.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 50272). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-8%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%205%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - A bank's debit card transaction process "flew in the face of any reasonable consumer's expectations" and should not be protected by finding preemption of unfair competition law (UCL) claims, consumer advocates told the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in a brief filed April 4 (Veronica Gutierrez, et al. v. Wells Fargo Bank N.A., No. 10-16959, 10-17468, 10-17689, 9th Cir.; See November 2011, Page 16). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-8%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%206%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank LOS ANGELES - A city attorney sufficiently demonstrated that a business sold marijuana in violation of drug, nuisance and unfair competition laws, warranting a permanent injunction, a California court held March 26. On April 18 the court granted a request from the League of California Cities to publish the opinion (The People ex rel. Carmen A. Trutanich as city attorney v. Jeffrey K. Joseph, No. B232248, Calif. App., 2nd Dist.; 2012 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 2261). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-8%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%207%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank CHICAGO - The Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on April 3 heard oral arguments over whether the court could enjoin unfair competition law (UCL) claims filed in a California federal court under the All Writs Act (Steven J. Thorogood, et al. v. Sears, Roebuck and Co., Nos. 10-2407, 11-2133, 7th Cir.; See December 2010, Page 6). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-8%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%208%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank MADISON, Wis. - A computer flash memory company has not shown that a patent holder's licensing and royalty programs affect competition in the market or that the California unfair competition law (UCL) would apply in such situations, a Wisconsin federal judge held March 27 (SanDisk Corp. v. Kingston Technologies Co. Inc., and Kingston Technologies Corp., No. 10-00243, W.D. Wis.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42032). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-8%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%209%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank OAKLAND, Calif. - Finding that the plaintiffs in unfair competition law (UCL) action involving cost-per-click (CPC) advertising agreements with Facebook Inc. failed to establish "that questions of law or fact common to the class members predominate over questions affecting only individual members," a California federal judge on April 13 denied their motion to certify the class complaint for breach of contract and unfair business practices (In re Facebook Inc. PPC Advertising Litigation, No. 09-3043, N.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 52512; See August 2009, Page 18). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-8%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%2010%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN JOSE, Calif. - Consumers successfully plead unfair competition law (UCL) claims that Apple Inc. represented games as "free" without notifying consumers that after logging into its service children could purchase in-game currency, a California federal judge held March 31 (In re Apple In-App Purchase Litigation, No. 11-1758, N.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 47234). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-8%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%2011%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank LOS ANGELES - A homeowners association alleges injury in fact in the form of costs associated with repairing and replacing damaged common areas that developers and Realtors failed to properly landscape, a California appeals court held Feb. 23 (Glen Oaks Estates Homeowners Association v. Re/Max Premier Properties Inc., et al., No. B229946, Calif. App., 2nd Dist., Div. 8). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-8%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%2012%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - A man's claim that a mortgage servicing company backdated trustee documents in an attempt to cover up the fact that they were filed prior to notice of default successfully alleges fraudulent conduct under the California unfair competition law (UCL), a federal judge held April 4 (Nick Makreas v. First National Bank of Northern California, et al., No. 11-2234, N.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 47847). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-8%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%2013%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank LOS ANGELES - A company advertises that its products will leave consumers with shiny, sleek and smooth hair but instead they severely damaged her hair and resulted in hair loss, a woman claims in an unfair competition law (UCL) action filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court (Heather Lacy, et al. v. L'Oreal USA S/D Inc., et al., NO. BC481815, Calif. Super., Los Angeles Co.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-7%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%201%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - The California Supreme Court on March 14 agreed to decide whether Congress' repeal of the private right of action in the Truth in Savings Act (TISA) provides a safe harbor from unfair competition law (UCL) actions, according to the docket (Harold Rose, et al. v. Bank of America, N.A., No. S199074, Calif. Sup.; See February 2012, Page 11). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-7%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%202%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank LOS ANGELES - The California Supreme Court on March 14 allowed consumers and automobile manufacturer Nissan North America Inc. to withdraw a petition for review involving whether a statutorily permitted 4-percent variance for odometers provided a safe harbor from unfair competition law claims involving a 2-percent variance (Michael Lopez, et al. v. Nissan North America Inc., et al., No. S199445, Calif. Sup.; See February 2012, Page 10). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-7%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%203%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - The Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Feb. 28 amended its opinion but denied a petition for rehearing after concluding that a consumer's claims against Apple Inc. would extend warranty protection based on "subjective consumer expectations" (Alan Vitt, et al. v. Apple Computer Co., No. 10-55941, 9th Cir.; See January 2012, Page 7). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-7%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%204%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank LOS ANGELES - A software services company fails to allege how a company's alleged breach of contract constituted unlawful or unfair conduct under the California unfair competition law (UCL), a state appeals court held Feb. 22 (Camden Technologies Inc. v. Oracle America Inc., et al., No. B217783, Calif. App., 2nd Dist., Div. 7; 2012 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 1286). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-7%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%205%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank LOS ANGELES - Hotel booking service Priceline.com Inc. properly disclosed the potential for mandatory hotel fees in addition to its quoted "total charges" in clearly written language under a link entitled "important information," a California appeals court held Feb. 22 (Sallie Frainier, et al. v. Priceline.com Inc., No. B225920, Calif. App., 2nd Dist., Div. 3; 2012 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 1305). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-7%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%206%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - A consumer on March 15 indicated that he would appeal the dismissal of his California unfair competition law (UCL) claims involving a ticket resale website's alleged failure to disclose the face value of the tickets available for purchase (Joseph Fabozzi v. Stubhub Inc., et al., No. 11-4385, N.D. Calif.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-7%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%207%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A woman may proceed with statutory claims alleging unfair debt collection, but neither the time she spent correcting allegedly false reports nor the reports themselves constitute an injury under the California unfair competition law (UCL), a federal judge held March 22 (Celina Knippling, et al. v. Saxon Mortgage Inc., et al., No. 11-3116, E.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 39510). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-7%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%208%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - A California federal judge on March 14 dismissed without prejudice an unfair competition law (UCL) class action claiming that Motorola Mobility Inc. induced consumers to buy or keep a phone they otherwise would not have by misrepresenting plans to upgrade the phones' Android operating system (Elyse Wood, et al. v. Motorola Mobility Inc., No. 11-4409-YGR, N.D. Calif.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-7%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%209%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - Consumers claiming that businesses used banking information obtained from payday loan applications to create unauthorized checks to pay for coupon services must amend their California unfair competition law (UCL) claims to allege where the conduct occurred, a federal judge held March 22. The consumers cannot, however, seek restitution from the banks on which the funds were drawn, the judge said (Amber Kristi Marsh and Stacie Evans, et al. v. Zaazoom Solutions LLC, et al., No. 11-5226, N.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37758). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-7%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%2010%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - A judge improperly concluded that California unfair competition law (UCL) claims against the maker of children's fruit juice rested solely on a lack of scientific support and that the primary jurisdiction doctrine barred the claims, a man argues in a Jan. 31 brief to the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals (Mauricio Chavez, et al. v. Nestle USA Inc., NO. 11-56066, U.S. App., 9th Cir.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-7%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%2011%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank LOS ANGELES - Mobile home residents alleging that a park charged excessive rents while providing substandard service can avail themselves of the California unfair competition law (UCL), and the conduct supports an award of restitution, a California appeals court held Feb. 23 (Gary Gibson, et al. v. GJ Park Associates, et al., No. B224808, Calif. App., 2nd Dist.; 2012 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 1316). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-7%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%2012%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank LOS ANGELES - A home security company's alleged failure to properly respond to an alarm did not violate its contract with the homeowner, and its representations regarding the type of service it provides is merely puffery, a federal judge held in granting judgment on California unfair competition law (UCL) claims on March 6 (Nikhil Jhaveri and Ela Jhaveri v. ADT Sec. Serv. Inc., et al., No. 11-04426, C.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38100). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-7%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%2013%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California unfair competition law (UCL) claims involving patent ownership over and royalties from sales of a tote bag fail, a federal judge held March 2 (Gerawan Farming Inc. v. Rehrig Pacific Co., No. 11-01273, E.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 28017). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-7%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%2014%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank LOS ANGELES - Consumers' California unfair competition law (UCL) claims challenging the reasonableness of fees for unlisted telephone numbers require the court to wade into complex economic issues best left to regulators, a divided state appellate court held March 6 in affirming a judge's decision to abstain (Michael Willard, et al. v. AT&T Communications of California Inc., et al., No. B231137, Calif. App., 2nd Dist.; 2012 Cal. App. LEXIS 266). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-7%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%2015%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - A mortgage broker's failure to provide a trial transcript from which he can point to reversible error requires affirming a California unfair competition law (UCL) judgment against him, an appeals court held Feb. 29 (Hector Ibarra v. Mogeeb Weiss, No. A132738, Calif. App., 1st. Dist., Div. 4; 2012 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 1526). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-7%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%2016%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - Zynga Inc. deceptively represents versions of its "With Friends" games as advertising-free, but it continues to place ads within the games, a man alleges in an unfair competition law (UCL) complaint filed March 5 (Jason Ackerman, et al. v. Zynga Inc., and DOES 1-100, inclusive, No. 518829, Calif. Super., San Francisco Co.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-7%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%2017%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank LOS ANGELES - Cosmetic companies reaped "hundreds of millions of dollars" by testing their products on animals while marketing and advertising the products as being "cruelty free," five women allege in a California unfair competition law (UCL) complaint filed in federal court on Feb. 28 (Marina Beltran, et al. v. Estee Lauder Inc., et al., No. 12-0312, C.D. Calif.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-7%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%2018%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN JOSE, Calif. - A New York man filed a California unfair competition law class complaint on March 6, claiming that Apple Inc.'s voice-activated "assistant," Siri, falls well short of the promises made by Apple in various advertisements and is in fact, at most, "a work-in-progress" (Frank M. Fazio, et al. v. Apple Inc., No. 12-1127, N.D. Calif.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-7%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%2019%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - A company sends consumers unsolicited "flirting tips" and enrolls them in a $9.99-per-month subscription plan without their consent, a man alleges in a California unfair competition law action filed in federal court March 9 (Andrew Humble, et al. v. Wise Media LLC, et al., No. 12-1203, N.D. Calif.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=10-7%20Mealey%27s%20Cal.%20Sec.%2017200%20Rep.%2020%20(2012)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target=_blank SAN FRANCISCO - A manufacturer markets its "pre-workout" and "fat burning" products as safe without disclosing that they include a stimulant with serious and life-threatening side effects, a man claims in a California unfair competition law (UCL) action filed in federal court on March 2 (Stephen J. Rush, et al. v. Nutrex Research Inc., et al., No. 12-1060, N.D. Calif.).