LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A California man is suing a discount retail chain over claims it deceptively markets and sells its own brand of obsolete motor oils.
David Sanchez, individually and for all others similarly situated, filed a class-action lawsuit Dec. 17 in the Central District of California against Dolgencorp, doing business as Dollar General, alleging breach of implied warranties and violations of California civil and business codes.
The suit states Dollar General sells a line of its own brand of motor oils, labeled DG, that are obsolete and may be harmful to consumer automobiles.
The suit states Dollar General employs deceptive and misleading sales and marketing tactics to sell its brand of motor oils. These tactics include placing its obsolete DG motor oils adjacent to more expensive standard- and premium-quality motor oils made by competitors and failing to warn that its motor oils are unsuitable for the vast majority of the company's consumers, according to the suit. The suit states that one label on Dollar General's motor oil claims that the oils are not suitable for use in gasoline-powered engines manufactured after 1988, while another states the year 1930.
Sanchez and others in the class seek compensatory and punitive damages, restitution and disgorgement, declaratory and injunctive relief, interests, attorney fees and costs of the suit, together to exceed $5 million. They are represented by attorneys Gillian Wade and Sara D. Avila of Milstein Adelman in Los Angeles, and by attorneys Allan Kanner, Conlee Whiteley, and Cynthia St. Amant of Kanner & Whiteley in New Orleans.
Central District of California Case number 2:15-CV-09730-CBM-PJW