SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) - A San Diego woman is suing the handbags company Coach, alleging it engages in price scheming.
Monica Rael, individually and for all others similarly situated, filed a class action lawsuit Feb. 10 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California against Coach Inc. and Does 1-50, alleging violations of California's Consumer Legal Remedies Act, its Unfair Competition Law and its False Advertising Law.
The suit states Coach advertises handbags, fashion accessories, shoes and clothing at discounted, "savings" prices. However, the complaint alleges, these "savings" prices mislead consumers because the represented "market" prices were artificially inflated or the products were never sold at these prices.
As such, the advertised discounts are allegedly phantom markdowns, the lawsuit states.
Rael and others in the class seek damages, restitution and disgorgement, declaratory and injunctive relief, and attorney fees and costs, together to exceed $5 million. They are represented by attorneys Todd D. Carpenter, Edwin J. Kilpela and Gary F. Lynch of Carlson Lynch Sweet Kilpela & Carpenter in San Diego and Pittsburgh.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California Case number 3:16-CV-00347-JLS-BGS