Kara Swedberg of San Diego is suing boutique items manufacturer JewelScent over claims it owns and operates private lotteries.
Swedberg, individually and for all others similarly situated, filed a class action complaint July 15 in U.S. District Court Southern District of California against JewelScent Inc., alleging negligence and unlawfully owning and operating lotteries in violation of California's Unfair Competition Law.
On June 4, Swedberg bought from JewelScent's website Bamboo Rain Aroma Beads, one of several items JewelScent offers containing "a hidden jewel valued between $10 to $7,500" or a "golden token for jewels valued over $100."
The complaint alleges that all products containing a hidden jewel classify as lottery under California statute. The complaint further alleges that JewelScent's scheme induces consumers to fraudulently purchase their products, and at a higher price.
Swedberg and others in the class seek damages and injunctive relief. She is represented by Gouya Ranekouhi, Mohammad Kazerouni, and Abbas Kazerounian of Kazerouni Law Group, APC in Costa Mesa; Joshua B. Swigart of Hyde & Swigart in San Diego; and by Jeffrey M. Gottlieb and Dana L. Gottlieb of Gottlieb & Associates in New York City (pending pro hac vice).
U.S. District Court Southern District of California case number 3:15-cv-01561-LAB-JLB