LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – Two consumers have filed a class-action lawsuit alleging a grocer's cereals and oatmeals do not contain maple as advertised.
Michael Stiles of California and Alexander Vuckovic of Massachusetts, individually and on behalf of those similarly situated, filed a complaint on June 16 in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against Trader Joe’s Co. and Does 1-5, alleging mislabeling and false advertising, fraudulent inducement and breach of express warranty in that the defendant failed to comply with the provisions of several California laws.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs overpaid for Trader Joe's Frosted Maple and Brown Sugar Shredded Bite-Size Wheats and its Oatmeal Complete Maple and Brown Sugar. They allege that these products do not contain any maple syrup or maple sugar as was advertised.
The plaintiffs allege the defendants manufactured, marketed, distributed and sold misbranded products, and intentionally designed the public representations to mislead consumers about the ingredients and quality of the products.
Stiles and Vuckovic seek a trial by jury, an injunction requiring the defendants to cease misrepresenting the products and providing a notice to consumers who already purchased the products, attorney fees and costs, prejudgment interest and such other relief as the court deems proper. They are represented by attorneys David C. Parisi and Suzanne Havens Beckman of Parish & Havens LLP in Santa Monica, Yitzchak H. Lieberman of Parasmo Lieberman Law in Los Angeles, and David Pastor of Pastor Law Office LLP in Boston.
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California Case number 2:16-cv-04318