Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_10-cv-02256/USCOURTS-casd-3_10-cv-02256-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 370
Nature of Suit: Other Fraud
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Fraud

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

RYAN EDMUNSON, On Behalf of 

Himself, All Others Similarly Situated and 

the General Public, 

 Plaintiff, 

vs. 

THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY, 

Defendant. 

CASE NO: 10-CV-2256-IEG (NLS) 

ORDER GRANTING 

DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO 

DISMISS 

[Doc. No. 9] 

Presently before the Court is Defendant’s motion to dismiss Plaintiff’s complaint. [Doc. No. 

9.] For the reasons stated below, the Court GRANTS Defendant’s motion. 

BACKGROUND

This is a putative class action involving two models of razor blade cartridges manufactured and 

marketed by Gillette, a division of The Proctor & Gamble Company (“P&G” or “Defendant”). 

[Compl. ¶ 8; Def.’s Mot. to Dism. (“MTD”), at 2 n.1.] Both razor blade cartridges fall within 

Defendant’s “Fusion” line of razor systems: “Fusion” (“Fusion manual”) and “Fusion Power.” 

A razor system includes a handle and razor cartridges. Handles are sold with one or more razor 

cartridges, and separate cartridges are sold for refill purposes. The Fusion Power handle includes a 

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battery-operated mechanism that causes the handle and cartridge to vibrate during use. The Fusion 

manual handle does not include such a mechanism and does not vibrate during use. 

Both the Fusion manual and Fusion Power cartridges work with either Fusion handle. The 

razor blades in the Fusion Power cartridges are coated with a patented, thin uniform telomer. [See

Compl. ¶¶ 14-16; Def.’s MTD, at 3 & Ex. 2 (Patent No. 5,985,459 (the “‘459 Patent”)).] Fusion 

manual razor blades are also coated with telomer, but the coating on the Fusion manual razors is 

thicker and less uniform in thickness than the coating on the Fusion Power razors. [Def.’s Reply, at 2; 

see Compl. ¶ 17.] The ‘459 Patent claims the thin uniform telomer coating “significantly lower[s] 

initial cutting forces which correlates with a more comfortable first shave.” [‘459 Patent, Abstract, at 

1.] Plaintiff alleges the thicker telomer coating on the Fusion manual razors is “pushed back during the 

first several shaving strokes,” and there is thus “no material difference in comfort or performance 

between the Fusion manual and Fusion Power cartridges.” [Id. ¶ 17.] Plaintiff further alleges that, “to 

the extent there may be an immaterial, but nonetheless measurable [difference between the two 

blades], it disappears after the first shave and only applies when shaving a dry beard.” [Compl. ¶ 16.] 

The crux of Plaintiff’s claims is that, since introducing the Fusion products in January 2006 and 

through the present, Defendant has engaged in deceptive advertising to suggest (1) the Fusion Power 

cartridges are materially different from, and superior to, the Fusion manual razors, and (2) the Fusion 

Power handles require use of Fusion Power cartridges. Defendant’s advertising induces consumers to 

purchase the Fusion Power cartridges, a four-pack of which cost approximately 20% more than a fourpack of the Fusion manual cartridges. [Id. ¶ 2.] 

Plaintiff points to several practices that allegedly deceive consumers as described above. The 

expensive blades are named “Fusion Power,” which corresponds with the battery-operated “Fusion 

Power” handles. The two Fusion systems are color-coded to match the respective handles and 

cartridges: Fusion Power handles, cartridges, and packaging are orange, while portions of the Fusion 

manual handles, cartridges, and packaging are royal blue. Additionally, the packaging for the Fusion 

Power cartridges explicitly states that “Fusion Power cartridges can be used with all Fusion [handles],” 

while the packaging for the Fusion manual cartridges states that “[a]ll Fusion cartridges can be used 

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with all Fusion [handles.]”1 The Fusion Power cartridges are prominently labeled with the “Power” 

moniker, which corresponds with the Fusion Power handles. The labels for the Fusion Power 

cartridges state the Power blades have “a patented blade coating for incredible comfort,” but the 

packages for the Fusion manual blades do not disclose that they are also coated with telomer. Fusion 

Power cartridges sell for a retail price approximately 20% higher than the Fusion manual cartridges, 

which itself suggests a meaningful difference between the two. When Defendant sells the Fusion 

Power handles, it gives the consumer a Fusion Power cartridge in the handle, but not a Fusion manual 

cartridge. [Pl.’s Opp’n, at 7-8 & n.5; Compl. ¶¶ 2-3, 12-18.] 

Named Plaintiff Ryan Edmunson alleges he was exposed to Defendant’s deceptive advertising 

claims, relied on those claims when he purchased Fusion Power cartridges, and “suffered injury in fact 

and lost money as a result.” [Compl. ¶ 7.] Plaintiff’s complaint raises three causes of action: 

(1) Violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law (“UCL”), (2) Violations of California’s 

Consumers Legal Remedies Act (“CLRA”), and (3) Breach of Express Warranty.2

LEGAL STANDARD

A complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is 

entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). A motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) tests the legal 

sufficiency of the claims asserted in the complaint. Navarro v. Block, 250 F.3d 729, 731 (9th 

Cir.2001). The court must accept all factual allegations pleaded in the complaint as true, and must 

construe them and draw all reasonable inferences from them in favor of the nonmoving party. Cahill 

v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 80 F.3d 336, 337-38 (9th Cir. 1996). To avoid a Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal, a 

complaint need not contain detailed factual allegations; rather, it must plead “enough facts to state a 

claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). A 

 1

 Plaintiff does not raise this issue in his complaint. Both parties included reproductions of 

Fusion product packaging including these statements in their briefs for this motion. The parties dispute 

the effect of such statements on consumers. [See Def.’s MTD, at 2; Pl.’s Opp’n, at 5-6 & n.5.] 

Plaintiff also contends it was improper for Defendant to introduce these statements to the Court at this 

stage in the proceedings. [Pl.’s Opp’n, at 5.] In deciding this motion, to the extent the Court considers 

the statements at all, it views them in Plaintiff’s favor. See Cahill, 80 F.3d at 337-38. 

2

 All of Plaintiff’s Claims arise under California law. Plaintiff alleges jurisdiction under 28 

U.S.C. § 1332(d)(2). He claims to be a resident of this district and that Defendant is incorporated in 

Ohio. He alleges the amount in controversy for this putative class action exceeds $5 million. [See

Compl., ¶¶ 5-8.] 

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claim has “facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the 

reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, ---

U.S.---, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009) (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556). 

 However, “a plaintiff’s obligation to provide the ‘grounds’ of his ‘entitle[ment] to relief’ 

requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of 

action will not do.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555 (citation omitted). A court need not accept “legal 

conclusions” as true. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. at 1949. In spite of the deference the court is bound to pay to 

the plaintiff’s allegations, it is not proper for the court to assume that “the [plaintiff] can prove facts 

that [he or she] has not alleged or that defendants have violated the . . . laws in ways that have not been 

alleged.” Associated Gen. Contractors of Cal., Inc. v. Cal. State Council of Carpenters, 459 U.S. 519, 

526 (1983). 

Regardless of the title given to a particular claim, allegations grounded in fraud are subject to 

Rule 9(b)’s pleading requirements. Kearns v. Ford Motor Co., 567 F.3d 1120, 1125 (9th Cir. 2009). 

Where a plaintiff alleges a “unified course of fraudulent conduct” and relies entirely on that conduct as 

the basis for a claim, the claim is “grounded in fraud,” and the pleading as a whole must satisfy Rule 

9(b). Id. (citing Vess, 317 F.3d at 1103-04). 

 Rule 9(b) requires the circumstances constituting fraud to be stated with particularity; they 

must “state the time, place and specific content of the false representations as well as the identities of 

the parties to the misrepresentation.” Misc. Serv. Workers, Drivers & Helpers v. Philco-Ford Corp., 

661 F.2d 776, 782 (9th Cir. 1981) (citations omitted); Vess v. Ciba-Geigy Corp. USA, 317 F.3d 1097, 

1106 (9th Cir. 2003) (“Averments of fraud must be accompanied by the who, what, when, where, and 

how of the misconduct charged.”) (internal quotation marks omitted). The plaintiff must also plead 

facts explaining why the statement was false when it was made. See In re GlenFed, Inc. Sec. Litig., 42 

F.3d 1541, 1549 (9th Cir. 1994) (en banc), superseded by statute on other grounds as stated in

Marksman Partners, L.P. v. Chantal Pharm. Corp., 927 F. Supp. 1297 (C.D. Cal. 1996). 

 Additionally, Plaintiff’s complaint includes reproductions of the front of Fusion product 

packaging, and the parties provided reproductions of the back of Fusion product packaging with their 

briefs for the present motion. While the Court generally may not consider any material beyond the 

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pleadings on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, it “may consider evidence on which the complaint ‘necessarily 

relies’ if: (1) the complaint refers to the document; (2) the document is central to the plaintiff's claim; 

and (3) no party questions the authenticity of the copy attached to the 12(b)(6) motion.” Marder v. 

Lopez, 450 F.3d 445, 448 (9th Cir. 2006) (citing Branch v. Tunnell, 14 F.3d 449, 454 (9th Cir. 1994)). 

Plaintiff’s complaint quotes directly from the backside of the Fusion Power cartridge packaging, and 

the contents of both sides of Fusion product packaging are central to Plaintiff’s claims. [See Compl. 

¶ 14 (explicitly referencing the backside of the Fusion Power packaging); see also id. ¶¶ 3-4, 12, 13, 51 

(discussing the packaging of Fusion products).] Neither party has questioned the authenticity of the 

representations of Fusion product packaging, though the representations provided by the parties depict 

slightly different packaging. [Compare Def.’s MTD, Ex. 1 with Pl.’s Opp’n, at 5.] Accordingly, the 

Court may consider the various representations of Fusion product packaging as “part of the complaint, 

and thus may assume that [their] contents are true for the purposes of a motion to dismiss under Rule 

12(b)(6).” Marder, 450 F.3d at 448 (quoting United States v. Ritchie, 342 F.3d 903, 908 (9th Cir. 

2003)). 

DISCUSSION

I. Plaintiff’s Claims Under California’s Unfair Competition Law and Consumer Legal 

Remedies Act 

Plaintiff’s first two causes of action arise under California’s UCL and CLRA. Both claims are 

based on the allegation that Defendant employed various methods of advertising to convey two 

allegedly false or misleading messages to consumers: (1) the Fusion Power razors are different from 

and superior to the Fusion manual razors, and (2) the Fusion Power handles can only be used with the 

Fusion Power cartridges. Defendant disputes whether it made either representation and argues that 

Plaintiff has not offered facts showing that either representation is actionable. 

Defendant further argues that Plaintiff fails to state a claim under either the UCL or the CLRA 

because he has not pleaded with particularity as required by Rule 9(b). Although Plaintiff disputes the 

applicability of Rule 9(b), he maintains the complaint satisfies its particularity requirements. 

A. Whether Plaintiff Alleges Actionable Representations 

 The first alleged misrepresentation, that Fusion Power razors are different and superior to 

Fusion manual razors, is not actionable. An alleged misrepresentation must relate to an objectively 

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verifiable fact; subjective representations related to product superiority are mere puffery and are not 

actionable under the UCL or CLRA. E.g., In re Sony Grand Wega KDF-E A10/A20 Series Rear 

Projection HDTV Television Litig., ---F. Supp. 2d---, 2010 WL 4892114, at *5 (S.D. Cal. Nov. 30, 

2010) (dismissing UCL and CLRA claims because representations of a product’s “high” or “superior” 

quality amounted to puffery); Tietsworth v. Sears, 720 F. Supp. 2d 1123, 1137 (N.D. Cal. 2010) 

(dismissing UCL and CLRA claims because the defendant’s representations “that the [product in 

question was] ‘designed, manufactured and tested for years of dependable operations’ . . . are mere 

puffery, . . . and they as a matter of law could not deceive a reasonable consumer”); Oestreicher v. 

Alienware Corp., 544 F.Supp.2d 964, 973 (N.D. Cal. 2008), aff’d 322 Fed. Appx. 489 (9th Cir. 2009); 

Anunziato v. eMachines, Inc., 402 F. Supp. 2d 1133, 1139-41 (C.D. Cal. 2005) (representations that a 

notebook computer was of “high quality,” was “reliable,” offered “high performance,” and employed 

the “latest technology” amounted to non-actionable puffery, while representations that the computers 

included “brand-name components” and were subject to the “most stringent quality control test” were 

actionable because they were specific factual allegations which could be proved or disproved through 

discovery); see also Shroyer v. New Cingular Wireless Servs., 622 F.3d 1035, 1043 (9th Cir. 2010) 

(affirming the dismissal of fraud claims because the alleged misrepresentation about the superiority of 

services provided amounted to mere puffery); Barbara’s Sales, Inc. v. Intel Corp., 227 Ill. 2d 45, 74 

(2007) (finding alleged representations that Intel’s Pentium 4 processor was better than its previous, 

Pentium III processor to be non-actionable puffery). 

Here, Plaintiff states that the telomer coating on the Fusion Power razors differs from the 

coating on the Fusion manual razors. [See Compl. ¶¶ 14-17.] Plaintiff alleges, however, the difference 

is immaterial because any additional benefit to consumers from the Fusion Power razors is limited to 

the initial shave, and even then only affects dry shaving. [See id.] But Plaintiff points to no authority 

supporting his contention that, for a manufacturer to advertise that two of its products differ, the 

products must differ by some specified degree. Whether the difference in the quality and comfort of 

the shave provided by the Fusion Power versus the Fusion manual razors is “material” depends on 

individual consumers’ subjective preferences. Cf. Kwikset Corp. v. Superior Court, 51 Cal. 4th 310, 

329-30 (2011) (discussing standing requirements under the UCL and noting that regardless of whether 

a court might find them functionally equivalent, courts should not doubt consumers’ subjective 

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preferences).3 The related allegation that Defendant falsely represented that Fusion Power razors are 

“superior” to Fusion manual razors is similarly subjective. 

 The complaint suggests no way to objectively measure whether Fusion Power razors are 

different from or superior to the Fusion manual blades. Accordingly, to the extent Plaintiff’s UCL and 

CLRA claims stem from these alleged representations, they are DISMISSED WITH LEAVE TO 

AMEND. 

 By contrast, the second alleged misrepresentation, regarding the compatibility of the Fusion 

Power and manual cartridges with the Fusion Power and manual handles, is potentially actionable. 

Defendant admits that Fusion Power handles are compatible with both Fusion Power and Fusion 

manual cartridges. [Def.’s MTD, at 2 (“It is undisputed that both replacement cartridges work with 

either handle.”) (emphasis in original).] The complaint highlights aspects of the packaging, branding, 

and pricing of the various Fusion products that, taken together, might be likely to deceive reasonable 

consumers. See Williams v. Gerber Prods. Co., 552 F.3d 934, 939-40 & n.3 (9th Cir. 2008) (reversing 

dismissal of UCL and CLRA claims where the plaintiff “could plausibly prove that a reasonable 

consumer would be deceived” by “the context of the packaging as a whole”). 

Thus, the alleged misrepresentation that Fusion Power handles are incompatible with Fusion 

manual cartridges may support UCL and CLRA claims. As discussed below, however, Plaintiff’s 

claims fail because he has not pleaded them with sufficient particularity. 

 3

 In Kwikset, the defendant advertised that its product was “Made in the U.S.A.,” although the 

product contained foreign-made parts or involved foreign manufacture. 51 Cal. 4th at 328-29. The 

California Supreme Court held that customers who purchased the defendant’s product in reliance on 

the representation that they were made in the U.S.A. suffered economic loss, and therefore had 

standing to sue under the UCL, even though they had received a functional product. The Court noted 

that, though “a court might objectively view the products as functionally equivalent,” it was not the 

court’s place to “doubt the consumer.” Id. at 329. The Kwikset Court provided examples that help to 

illustrate this point: 

A counterfeit Rolex might be proven to tell the time as accurately as a genuine Rolex and 

in other ways be functionally equivalent . . . Two wines might to almost any palate taste 

indistinguishable—but to serious oenophiles, the difference between one year and the 

next, between grapes from one valley and another nearby, might be sufficient to carry 

with it real economic differences in how much they would pay. Nonkosher meat might 

taste and in every respect be nutritionally identical to kosher meat, but to an observant 

Jew who keeps kosher, the former would be worthless. 

Id. at 329-30. While Kwikset examined such subtle, subjective differences in the context of 

establishing economic harm where consumers had been mislead, the point is equally persuasive here. 

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B. Whether the Complaint Satisfies Rule 9(b) 

The parties dispute whether Plaintiff’s UCL and CLRA claims are subject to the heightened 

pleading standards under Rule 9(b). Fraud is not a necessary element of UCL or CLRA claims; 

however, “claims under CLRA and the UCL are subject to Rule 9 if they are ‘grounded in fraud’ 

and . . . allegations of false representation and nondisclosure are grounded in fraud.” Lima v. 

Gateway, Inc., 710 F. Supp. 2d 1000, 1006-07 (C.D. Cal. 2010) (quoting Kearns, 567 F.3d at 1126-27). 

In this case, allegations of false representation and nondisclosure underlie both claims: Plaintiff alleges 

Defendant engaged in deceptive advertising and withheld information to induce consumers to purchase 

the more expensive Fusion Power cartridges instead of the Fusion manual cartridges. [See Compl. 

¶¶ 27-48.] Thus, Rule 9(b) applies to Plaintiff’s UCL and CLRA claims. 

 Plaintiff fails to plead with sufficient particularity to satisfy Rule 9(b). Claims grounded in 

fraud must state the factual circumstances with particularity; such averments must include “the who, 

what, when, where, and how of the misconduct charged.” Vess, 317 at 1103-04, 1106. The complaint 

contains general allegations about Defendant’s products and advertising scheme, but almost no 

allegations specific to Plaintiff. The complaint alleges only that Plaintiff saw Defendant’s advertising 

claims at some point during the class period (which spans more than five years) and purchased Fusion 

Power cartridges in reliance on those claims. [See Compl. ¶¶ 7, 29.] Plaintiff does not allege when 

during the class period, where, how many, or how many times he purchased Fusion Power cartridges 

or was exposed to the alleged misrepresentations. See, e.g., Yumul v. Smart Balance Inc., 733 F. 

Supp. 2d 1117, 1122-24 (C.D. Cal. 2010) (dismissing plaintiff’s claims for failing to allege specific 

information about her purchases of the product in question). Plaintiff does not allege that he purchased 

any Fusion handle at all, let alone whether he purchased Fusion Power or Fusion manual handles and 

whether those handles he purchased came with Fusion Power or Fusion manual cartridges. While the 

complaint includes a partial depiction of the packaging for Fusion Power and Fusion manual products, 

it does not allege that the packaging depicted is the packaging Plaintiff saw or relied on in purchasing 

Fusion Power cartridges.4

 See, e.g., id. at 1124 & n.8. 

 4

 Notably, Defendant also includes depictions of Fusion products’ packaging with its motion to 

dismiss, but the packaging depicted in Defendant’s motion differs somewhat from that depicted in 

Plaintiff’s complaint. [Compare Def.’s MTD, Ex. 1 with Compl., ¶ 12.] 

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 Accordingly, Plaintiff’s CLRA and UCL claims are DISMISSED WITH LEAVE TO 

AMEND. 

II. Plaintiff’s Express Warranty Claim

To prevail on a breach of express warranty claim under California law, a plaintiff must prove: 

(1) the seller made an affirmation of fact or a promise, or otherwise described the goods; (2) the 

statement formed part of the basis of the bargain; (3) the express warranty was breached; (4) the 

plaintiff was harmed; and (5) the breach of warranty was a substantial factor causing the plaintiff’s 

harm. Morey v. NextFoods, Inc., No. 10 CV 761 JM (NLS), 2010 WL 2473314, at *2 (S.D. Cal. June 

7, 2010) (citing Williams v. Beechnut Nutrition Corp., 185 Cal. App. 3d 135, 142 (1986)); see

Weinstat v. Dentsply Int’l, Inc., 180 Cal. App. 4th 1213, 1227 (2010) (citing Cal. Com. Code § 2313). 

A plaintiff must allege the “exact terms of the warranty.” Williams, 185 Cal. App. 3d at 142; 

Stearns v. Select Comfort Retail Corp., ---F. Supp. 2d---, 2010 WL 2898284, at *10 (N.D. Cal. July 21, 

2010). To constitute an express warranty, statements must describe specific characteristics of a 

product; “vague or highly subjective product superiority claims often amount to non-actionable 

puffery.” Brothers v. Hewlett-Packard Co., 2007 WL 485979, at *6 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 12, 2007) (quoting 

Southland Sod Farms v. Stover Seed Co., 108 F.3d 1134, 1145 (9th Cir. 1997)) (internal alterations 

omitted). 

Plaintiff’s express warranty claim fails because he has not demonstrated the existence of a 

relevant express warranty, let alone provided its exact terms. Plaintiff argues he has satisfied this 

requirement by including reproductions of packaging for Fusion manual and Fusion Power products. 

Plaintiff correctly notes that product advertisements, brochures, or packaging can create an express 

warranty. Fundin v. Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co., 152 Cal. App. 3d 951, 957 (1984); Morey, 2010 

WL 2473314, at *2; see also Weinstat, 180 Cal. App. 4th at 1225-33 (warranty created in product 

manual). But, unlike the packaging in the cases on which Plaintiff relies, the Fusion product 

packaging provides no statement or product description that can be construed as an express warranty 

relevant to Plaintiff’s allegations. 

For instance, in Morey v. NextFoods, Inc., the defendant manufactured and sold products called 

“GoodBelly Probiotic Fruit Drinks.” 2010 WL 2473314, at *2. The plaintiff’s complaint included 

reproductions of GoodBelly advertisements and packaging, which clearly stated that GoodBelly 

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products “‘Support Healthy Digestion [and] Natural Immunity’ and that GoodBelly has ‘Clinically 

Tested Live Cultures.’” Id. (quoting the complaint). Plaintiff alleged the products were never 

clinically tested and there was no basis for the claims related to digestion and immunity. The court 

held the assertions on the packaging were sufficient to state a claim for breach of warranty. Id. 

Here, by contrast, the reproductions provided in Plaintiff’s complaint show only the front of 

various Fusion packaging. The packaging states only the respective branding—“Fusion [manual]” and 

“Fusion Power”; that the products are, or were, “new”; that both versions of Fusion cartridges have a 

“5 Blade Shaving Surface + 1 Precision Trimmer” and last “up to 6 months”; and the number of razors 

included in the package. [See Compl. ¶¶ 3-4, 12-13.] Whether or not any such statements can be 

construed as express warranties, they are unrelated to the harm Plaintiff claims to have suffered. 

 Nor does anything on the backside of the packaging establishes a relevant express warranty. 

The Fusion manual packaging states the five-blade surface technology provides less irritation than 

another razor produced by Defendant (the “Mach 3”) and notes that “[a]ll Fusion cartridges can be 

used with all Fusion razors.” The Fusion Power packaging includes the same statement comparing the 

five-blade cartridge with another razor. It also states “Fusion Power cartridges can be used with all 

Fusion razors,” and “[f]or best results, power up with the Fusion Power razor.” 

As discussed above with regard to Plaintiff’s fraud-based claims, statements related to 

obtaining “best results” or whether Fusion products provide a better and more comfortable shave than 

other razors are non-actionable puffery and do not establish express warranties. See Johnson v. 

Mitsubishi Digital Elec. Am., Inc., 578 F. Supp. 2d 1299, 1238-39 (C.D. Cal. 2008) (a television 

manufacturer’s “promise to deliver unsurpassed picture quality” is mere puffery and not an actionable 

warranty); Consumer Advocates v. Echostar Satellite Corp., 113 Cal. App. 4th 1351 (2003) (satellite 

broadcaster’s assertions of “crystal clear digital” video quality were puffery and not actionable as 

warranties). 

Of the representations on the back side of the Fusion packaging, only those describing the 

interchangeability of Fusion products relate to specific characteristics that may be construed as express 

warranties. Plaintiff, however, does not allege Defendant breached any such warranty. 

Because Plaintiff has failed to plead the existence of an express warranty, this claim fails. 

Thus, Plaintiff’s express warranty claim is DISMISSED WITH LEAVE TO AMEND. 

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III. Plaintiff’s Standing to Pursue Injunctive Relief

Because the Court dismisses Plaintiff’s substantive claims, it need not address at this time the 

parties’ dispute over whether Plaintiff has standing to seek injunctive relief. 

CONCLUSION

 For the reasons stated above, the Court GRANTS Defendant’s motion to dismiss. The Court 

grants Plaintiff leave to file an amended complaint within twenty (20) calendar days from the date of 

this order. Should Plaintiff fail to amend the complaint within the time permitted or fail to address the 

deficiencies discussed in this order, Plaintiff’s remaining claims will be dismissed WITH 

PREJUDICE.

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATED: _______________________________ 

 IRMA E. GONZALEZ, Chief Judge 

 United States District Court 

 

5/17/11

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