Filed 9/25/14 Studendorff v. National Semiconductor CA6 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS

California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

CHRISTOPHER STUDENDORFF, et al., Plaintiffs and Appellants,

v.
NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION, Defendant and Respondent. H037739 (Santa Clara County Super. Ct . No. 110C V178254)

In this case, we consider questions re garding the statute of limitations for and delayed discovery of pre-birth injuries that were allegedly due to exposure to toxic and
hazardous materials that occu rred more than 20 years ago. Debbie Studendorff and her husband, Michael Studendorff, worked fo r defendant National Semiconductor Corporation (NSC) from the late 1970’s unt il the late 1980’s assembling semiconductor products. The plaintiffs are Debbie Studendorff and Christophe r Studendorff, Debbie
and Michael Studendorff’s son. Michael Studendorff is not a plaintiff. (For clarity, and meaning no disrespect, we will hereafter refe r to the members of the Studendorff family individually by their first names. We w ill refer to Debbie, Michael, and Christopher collectively as “the Studendorffs,” to Debbie and Christopher jointly as “Plaintiffs,” and
sometimes to Debbie and Michael jointly as “Parents.”)2 Plaintiffs allege that Christopher was born with retinoblastoma (a cancer of the eye) and other birth defects as a result of parental and in utero exposure to hazardous and
toxic chemicals while Debbie and Michael worked in NSC’s “clean rooms.” Plaintiffs further allege that Parents did not know Ch ristopher’s birth defects were caused by workplace exposure to hazardo us chemicals until December 2008, when they heard on the radio that their attorneys were investiga ting cases of birth defects caused by chemical exposures in the semiconductor industry. But Plaintiffs also allege that around the time Christopher was diagnosed with retinoblasto ma in October 1987, Parents asked NSC “whether they had worked with or otherwise been exposed to any hazardous chemicals.” Plaintiffs appeal from a judgment of dism issal after the trial court sustained NSC’s demurrer to Plaintiffs’ second amended compla int without leave to amend on statute of limitations grounds. The court concluded th at the action was barred by the statute of
limitations in Code of Civil Procedure section 340.4, or its predecessor, former Civil Code section 29, both of which apply to ac tions based on birth and pre-birth injuries. (Unless otherwise stated, all further statut ory references are to the Code of Civil Procedure.) Plaintiffs contend the applicable statute of limitations is section 340.8, the twoyear limitations period for causes of action based on exposure to hazardous chemicals (which they contend is subject to tolling for mi nority and insanity), a nd that the trial court erred when it applied section 340.4, the six- year limitations period for causes of action based on pre-birth injuries (which is not subj ect to such tolling). Plaintiffs also argue that: (1) the court erred when it concluded th ey were not entitled to rely on the discovery rule to toll the statute of limitations; (2 ) NSC is equitably es topped from relying on a
statute of limitations defense because it knew the chemicals used in the workplace caused reproductive harm and NSC fraudulently concealed the causal connection between plaintiffs’ chemical exposure and their injuries ; and (3) if the allegations of the second3 amended complaint are insuffici ent, they can amend their pl eading to adequately allege delayed discovery and equitable estoppel based on NSC’s fraudulent concealment. We conclude that (1) the applicable lim itations period is the six-year period in former Civil Code section 29; (2) Plaintiffs have not pleaded sufficient facts to support their claim of delayed discovery; and (3) the allegations of the comp laint are insufficient to support an equitable estoppel claim. Furthermore, since Plaintiffs’ proposed
amendments do not cure the deficiencies in th eir pleading, the trial court did not abuse its
discretion when it sustained the demurrer withou t leave to amend or when it denied leave to amend to allege an equitable estoppel clai m. We will therefore affirm the judgment of
dismissal.

F ACTS 1

Christopher was born on August 27, 1987 ; he was 22 years old when the original complaint was filed. Christopher is developm entally disabled; he is represented in this action by and through his father and conservator, Michael Studendorff. 2

1 In reviewing the propriety of the tria l court’s order sustaining NSC’s demurrer, we accept as true all factual allegations properly pleaded in the complaint. ( Gu v. BMW of North America, LLC (2005) 132 Cal.App.4th 195, 200.) Accordingly, our summary of the facts is drawn from the material allega tions of the operative pleading, the second amended complaint. ( Ibid. ) And since a demurrer admits th e truth of all facts properly pleaded, we will refer to the allegations of the second amended complaint in this paragraph and in succeeding paragraphs wit hout sometimes using the prefatory phrase “plaintiffs allege,” to avoid undue repetition of the phrase. 2 Although Michael was named as a plain tiff in the original and first amended complaints, he is not a plaintiff in the seco nd amended complaint. It appears Michael elected not to pursue his own claims so he c ould serve as Christophe r’s guardian ad litem. In March 2010, the court denied Michael’s re quest to serve as Christopher’s guardian ad litem without prejudice, on the ground that “a co-plaintiff is an inappropriate guardian due to potential conflicts of interest.” In May 2010, after Michael filed a request for dismissal of his own claims, the court gran ted his application to be Christopher’s guardian ad litem.4 Both Debbie and Michael worked for NSC at its Santa Clara manufacturing facility. Debbie worked there from 1977 unt il 1987; Michael worked there from 1979 until 1989. While working in “clean rooms” at NSC, Parents were “required . . . to use
numerous chemicals that are known to be hazardous, teratogenic, [ 3 ] genotoxic [ 4 ] and reproductively toxic” to assemble and to manu facture NSC’s products. “These chemicals
are known to cause severe harm to unborn children.”
Debbie worked in NSC’s clean rooms while she was pregnant with Christopher. During Debbie’s pregnancy, Ch ristopher was “ ‘present’ ” in the clean rooms and was exposed in utero , “during the crucial months of gr owth in his moth er’s womb, for prolonged periods of time to teratogenic, ge notoxic, and reproduc tively toxic chemicals and processes.” The “ ‘clean rooms’ ” we re only clean for NSC’s products, not its employees. There was no ventilation system to protect workers from inhaling fumes emitted by the chemicals, which remained in the re-circulated air in the clean rooms. The protective clothing the employees wore prot ected NSC’s products from the workers and their clothing, but it did not protect the worker s from the chemicals. Parents absorbed the chemicals used in the workpla ce into their bodies through thei r skin and by inhalation. “Upon information and belief,” the second amended complaint lists chemicals or classes of chemicals Parents were exposed to and specifies how NSC used some of those chemicals. The exposu re to these chemical substances alone or in combination caused Christopher to develop retinobl astoma, a pediatric cancer of the eye, and other birth defects. Parents were exposed to other chem icals and processes, the “exact description, trade name, formulation and other specific iden tifying information” of which NSC is in a

3 “Teratogenic” means “tending to cause developmental malformations . . . .” (Webster’s 3d New Internat. Di ct. (1993) p. 2358, col. 1.) 4 “Genotoxic” means “[d]enoting a subs tance that by damaging DNA may cause mutation or cancer.” (PDR Medical Dic tionary (2d ed. 2000) p. 739, col. 1.)5 “superior position to identify” because it “ purchased, manufactured or otherwise acquired
same.” Plaintiffs allege NSC “knew or should have known of the hazardous nature of the . . . chemicals and processe s used in the ‘clean rooms’ ” and should have foreseen or anticipated that NSC workers would be exposed to thos e chemicals. NSC “concealed and/or misrepresented the . . . toxic nature of chemicals used in the manufacture of its products,” and “failed to warn . . . its empl oyees” of the toxic nature of the chemicals used. Parents “reasonably and justifiably re lied on their employer” “to appropriately warn, advise and/or implement safety policies and procedures” pertaini ng to chemicals in the workplace and as a “direct and proximate result of [NSC’s] concealment and failure to warn,” they “wer e prevented from discovering th e cause of . . . Christopher’s retinoblastoma and other injuries.” Christopher was diagnosed with retinoblas toma “in or about October 1987” (two months or less after his birth). Parents sp oke with Christopher’s “treating physicians, surgeons and other specialis ts” regarding his condition “c ontinuously throughout the
course of his medical treatment and care.” “At no time prior to December 2008, did any” of the medical professionals treating Chri stopher “ever inform, advise, suggest or otherwise imply that parental occupational exposure was a potential contributing cause of” Christopher’s injuries and birth defect s. Parents therefore had “no reason to investigate, inquire into or suspect any occupational cause of these injuries.” But around the time Christopher was diag nosed with retinoblastoma in October 1987, Parents asked NSC “whether they had wo rked with or otherwise been exposed to any hazardous chemicals. Specifically, Debbie . . . contacted the [NSC] human resources department, which in turn referred her to othe r departments.” In response, NSC “actively concealed and by omission faile d to provide inform ation to” Parents, and it thus “engaged in a willful subterfuge, purpo rting to respond to the inqui ry while in fact actively concealing, and failing and refusing to provid e, any information regarding the nature or6 potential health hazards of the chemicals and processes used in its manufacturing
facilities or to admit that it was in possession of any knowle dge or information regarding such hazards.” NSC “expressly and impliedl y represented to [Par ents] . . . that the chemicals and substances pres ent in their work areas and at their place of employment did not pose a hazard to [Paren ts] or their unborn children.” Parents “reasonably relied upon such representations.” Twenty-one years later, “[i]n or after December 2008,” Parent s “heard attorney radio advertisements [that] in formed them that certain atto rneys . . . were investigating cases of birth defects caused by chemical exposures in the semiconductor industry.” Parents responded to the ads and retained counsel to investigate whether Christopher’s
retinoblastoma and other birth defects “were caused by parental occupational exposure” to toxic chemicals at NSC. Through that inve stigation, “they learned for the first time, in or after December 2008,” that Christopher’s in juries were caused by chemical exposures at NSC. “[A]t no time prior to retaining couns el,” did Parents suspect that Christopher’s injuries were caused by chem ical exposures at NSC.

P ROCEDURAL H ISTORY
Appointment of Parents as Conservators for Christopher

Before filing this action, Parents filed a petition for a limited c onservatorship to be appointed conservators of the person fo r Christopher. The petition alleged that Christopher “is developmentally disabled. Wh ile he can groom himself and cook simple meals, he is unable to manage money, ha s no concept of time, and his judgment is impaired. He functions at about a 3rd gr ade level.” Christopher lived at the DEMY Home in Livermore. His parents and two si blings resided in Pleasanton. The court granted the petition and appointed both Debbi e and Michael to serve as Christopher’s

conservators.7 The operative pleading does not expressly a llege that exposure to toxic chemicals at NSC caused Christopher’s developmental disability; it is not clear whether Christopher’s developmental disability is one of the other “birth defects” that Plaintiffs claim were caused by exposure to chemicals at NSC.

Initial Pleadings and Demurrer to First Amended Complaint

The Studendorffs filed their original co mplaint against NSC on February 22, 2010, in Alameda County Superior Court. In add ition to Michael, Debbie, and Christopher, the named plaintiffs included Megan Ovick (who also had retinoblastoma) and her parents, Marla Ovick and Michael Ovick (both of wh om also worked at NSC). The Ovicks’ claims are the subject of a separate appeal in Ovick v. National Semiconductor (Sept. 25, 2014, H038108, nonpub. opn.). In May 2010, the parties stipulated to a change of venue fro m Alameda County to Santa Clara County and the court or dered the matter transferred. In September 2010, after NSC filed a de murrer to the origin al complaint, but before the hearing on the demu rrer, Plaintiffs filed a first amended complaint. The first amended complaint included causes of action on behalf of Christopher for negligence, strict liability, willful misconduct, misrepre sentation, premises liability, and products liability. The first amended comp laint also included causes of action on behalf of Debbie for intentional and negligent inf liction of emotional distress. NSC demurred to the first amended compla int on a variety of grounds, including that it was barred by the statute of limitations. Plaintiffs filed opposition to the demurrer. In November 2010, the court sustained th e demurrer with leave to amend based on
the statute of limitations defense. The co urt found that the action was governed by section 340.4, and its predecessor, former Ci vil Code section 29, which were subject to the discovery rule. Citing Fox v. Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc . (2005) 35 Cal.4th 797, 808 ( Fox ), the court held that “Plaintiffs had failed to specifically ‘plead facts to show (1) the8 time and manner of discovery and (2) the inability to have made earlier discovery despite reasonable diligence.’ ” (Original italics.)
Second Amended Complaint and Demu rrer to Second Am ended Complaint

Plaintiffs filed their second amended co mplaint in December 2010. It contained the same causes of action as their first amended complaint.
NSC demurred to the second amended co mplaint. NSC argued, among other things, that Plaintiffs’ claims were barred by the statute of limitations in section 340.4 and that Plaintiffs had failed to specifically plead facts that warranted application of the discovery rule. NSC argued that Christopher’ s causes of action accrued in October 1987,
when Parents asked NSC whethe r they had been exposed to any hazardous chemicals, and that because they suspected a causal link in 1987, th ey were required to conduct a reasonable investigatio n at that time. Plaintiffs opposed the demurrer, arguing th at the applicable statute of limitations was the two-year period in section 340.8, wh ich governs actions based on exposure to toxic substances, and that the limitations pe riod had not yet expired when the original complaint was filed because it was tolled by Christopher’s intellectual disability. They also argued that their claims were timely under both sections 340 .4 and 340.8 because they were tolled by the disc overy rule. Plaintiffs argued that Parents undertook a reasonable investigation when they consulted Christopher’s physicians and “relied on the misinformation and false assurances of [NSC]” and that through no fault of their own, they did not discover facts essential to Plain tiffs’ claims until Decemb er 2008. Plaintiffs also requested leave to amend. In its order on the demurrer, the court affirmed its previous holding that the applicable limitations period is the six-year period in section 340.4 or former Civil Code section 29 for pre-birth injuries. As to th e Studendorffs, the trial court sustained the demurrer without leave to amend finding that the entire complaint was barred by section9 340.4, which is not subject to tolling for minority or insanity (§ 352). The court held that although section 340.4 is subject to the di scovery rule, the limitations period was not tolled by delayed discovery because Parents actually suspected wr ongdoing in October 1987, and Plaintiffs “clearly fail[ed] to demonstrate that de spite diligent investigation of the circumstances of injury , [Parents] could not have reasonably discovered facts supporting the cause of action w ithin the applicable . . . li mitations period.” The court did not make an express ruli ng regarding Debbie’s emotional distress claims (§ 335.1),
but it sustained the demurrers wi thout leave to amend as to th e entire complaint. As to the Ovicks, the court sustained the demurrer to their claims with leave to amend and made other rulings that are not relevant to this appeal.
Motion for Reco nsideration

In June 2011, Plaintiffs filed a motion for reconsideration of the court’s order on the demurrer. They asserted th at after the court granted the Ovicks leave to amend, their
counsel “undertook an extensive examination of all available facts . . . to satisfy the heightened pleading standard,” which included documents that were not readily available when the second amended comp laint was filed. They argue d that counsel’s review had
uncovered “several new and different fact s pertinent to the cause of action for misrepresentation,” which also tolled the statut e of limitations “on the basis of fraudulent concealment.” Plaintiffs attached a propos ed third amended complaint that contained 40 to 50 paragraphs of add itional allegations relating to NSC’s alleged knowledge and
concealment. The proposed third amended complaint a lleged that NSC was a founding member of the Semiconductor Industry Association (S IA) and participated in the Semiconductor Safety Association (SESHA). It alleged that before 1982, SIA to ld NSC that animal
studies had revealed that the chemicals used in the semiconductor industry caused birth defects. And before 1987, a SESHA journal advised NSC that: (1) at least 18 chemicals10 used to manufacture semiconductors were known to cause birth defects in animals; (2) at least 15 such chemicals were known to cause birth defects in humans; (3) extreme
caution should be used with these chemicals; and (3) empl oyers should discuss known risks of reproductive harm with their fema le employees. By 1987, NSC knew that an epidemiologic study of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) workers documented an increased risk of miscarriage among fabricati on workers in the semico nductor industry. To support allegations of concealment, the proposed third amended complaint described statements by the SIA in a 19 80 newspaper article, a 1987 white paper, testimony before Congress in 1989, as we ll as comments by NSC employees in two newspaper articles in 2000 that the semiconduc tor industry was safe . The pleading also described an SIA-funded study done by the Univ ersity of California at Davis in the late 1980’s relating to miscarriages and fertility in the semiconductor industry, as well as a “script” developed by the SIA for sharing the study’s results with industry workers. The proposed third amended complaint alleged mi srepresentation and concealment because that SIA-funded study did not explore birth defects and developmental damage (as opposed to miscarriages and fertility) and because the “s cript affirmatively advised employees that semiconductor fabs were ‘a safe place for women of child-bearing age to work’ ” in terms of miscarriage rates. Because employee “debriefing sessions” by the industry “took great pains to avoid and deflect” any discussion of birt h defects, they left the impression that miscarriages, but no t birth defects, were a problem. The proposed third amended complaint went on to allege that “by at least 1987,” NSC and the SIA “knew of multiple . . . studi es involving the reproductive effects of manufacturing chemicals, the results of whic h were summarized in detail and distributed by the Semiconductor Safety Association.” Notwithstanding this knowledge, NSC’s 1995 Chemical and Radiation Safety Handbo ok contained no information pertaining to reproductive harm or pregna ncy and NSC’s employee hazard training in the 1980’s and11 1990’s was silent regarding the potential for reproductive harm from work in the semiconductor industry. NSC opposed the motion for reconsider ation on a number of grounds, including that Plaintiffs had not explained why they could not have discovered this information sooner, that the statements were made by th ird parties who were not defendants, that Plaintiffs had not alleged that Parents heard or relied on any of the facts set forth in the third amended complaint, and that the “new facts” did not justify Parents’ failure to investigate.
The court denied the motion for reconsider ation. On November 1, 2011, the court entered a judgment of dismissal as to Plaintiffs.

D ISCUSSION

I. Standard of Review

We perform an independent review of a ruling on a demurrer and decide de novo whether the challenged pleading states facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. ( Committee for Green Foothills v. Sant a Clara County Bd. of Supervisors (2010) 48 Cal.4th 32, 42; McCall v. PacifiCare of Cal., Inc. (2001) 25 Cal.4th 412, 415.) “In reviewing the sufficiency of a complaint against a general demurrer, we are guided by long-settled rules. ‘We treat the demurre r as admitting all material facts properly pleaded, but not contentions, deduc tions or conclusions of fact or law. [Citation.] We also consider matters which may be judicially noticed.’ [Citation.] Further, we give the complaint a reasonable interpreta tion, reading it as a whole and its parts in their context. [Citation.] When a demurrer is sustained, we determine whether the complaint states
facts sufficient to constitute a ca use of action. [Citation.]” ( Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 Cal.3d 311, 318 ( Blank ); see also Randi W. v. Muroc Join t Unified School Dist. (1997) 14 Cal.4th 1066, 1075.) In addition to accep ting as true all properly pleaded material12 facts, we also accept as true those facts that may be implied or inferred from facts expressly alleged. ( City of Morgan Hill v. Bay Ar ea Air Quality Management Dist

. (2004) 118 Cal.App.4th 861, 869-870.) “It is not the ordinary function of a demu rrer to test the truth of the plaintiff’s allegations or the accuracy with which he de scribes the defendant’s conduct. A demurrer tests only the legal sufficien cy of the pleading.” ( Committee on Children’s Television, Inc. v. General Foods Corp. (1983) 35 Cal.3d 197, 213.) Thus, as noted, “the facts alleged in the pleading are deemed to be true, however improbable they may be. [Citation.]” ( Del E. Webb Corp. v. Structural Materials Co. (1981) 123 Cal.App.3d 593, 604; see also Alcorn v. Anbro Engineering, Inc. (1970) 2 Cal.3d 493, 496 [court reviewing propriety of ruling on demurrer is not concerned w ith the “plainti ff’s ability to prove . . . allegations, or the possible difficulty in making such proof”].) On appeal, we will affirm a “trial court’ s decision to sustain the demurrer [if it] was correct on any theory. [Citation.]” ( Kennedy v. Baxter Healthcare Corp. (1996) 43 Cal.App.4th 799, 808, fn. omitted.) Thus, “we do not review the validity of the trial court’s reasoning but only the propriety of the ruling itself. [Citations.]” ( Orange Unified School Dist. v. Rancho Santiago Comm unity College Dist. (1997) 54 Cal.App.4th 750, 757.)

II. Statute of Limitations for Christopher’s Claims

Plaintiffs contend the court erred when it held that the applicable statute of limitations is the six-year lim itations period in section 340. 4, which applies to personal injury claims based on birth and pre-birth injuries. They assert that the applicable statute of limitations is the two-year limitations period in section 340.8, wh ich applies to injury claims “based upon exposure to a hazardous material or toxi c substance.” (§ 340.8) Plaintiffs argue that both statutes “appear to govern an action for birth or pre-birth injuries caused by exposure to hazardous materials or toxic substances” and that section13 340.8, the later-enacted, more specific stat ute, controls over the earlier-enacted, more general provision in section 340.4.

A. General Principles Regarding Statutes of Limitations

As the Supreme Court explained in Pooshs v. Phillip Morris USA, Inc . (2011) 51 Cal.4th 788 ( Pooshs ), a “statute of limitations strikes a balance among conflicting interests. If it is unfair to bar a plaintiff fro m recovering on a meritorious claim, it is also unfair to require a defendant to defend agains t possibly false allegations concerning longforgotten events, when important evidence may no longer be available. Thus, statutes of limitations are not mere technical defenses, allowing wrongdoers to avoid accountability. ( Norgart v. Upjohn Co . (1999) 21 Cal.4th 383, 395-397 . . . [( Norgart )].) Rather, they mark the point where, in the judgment of the Legislature, th e equities tip in favor of the defendant (who may be innocent of wrongdoing) and against the plaintiff (who failed to take prompt action): ‘[T]he period allowed for instituting su it inevitably reflects a value judgment concerning the point at which the interests in favor of protecting valid claims are outweighed by the interests in prohibitin g the prosecution of stale ones.’ ” ( Pooshs , at p. 797, quoting Johnson v. Railway Express Agency (1975) 421 U.S. 454, 463-464.) “There are several policies underlying su ch statutes. One purpose is to give defendants reasonable repose, thereby protecting parties from ‘defending stale claims, where factual obscurity through the loss of time, memory or supporting documentation may present unfair handicaps.’ [Citations.] A statute of limitations also stimulates plaintiffs to pursue their claims diligently . [Citations.] A co untervailing factor, of course, is the policy favoring di sposition of cases on the merits rather than on procedural grounds.” ( Fox , supra , 35 Cal.4th 797, 806.) Statutes of limitations are “ ‘designed to promote justice by preventing surprises throu gh the revival of claims that have been
allowed to slumber until eviden ce has been lost, memories have faded, and witnesses have disappeared.’ ” ( Adams v. Paul (1995) 11 Cal.4th 583, 592.) Once the statute of14 limitations runs, “ ‘the right to be free of stal e claims . . . comes to prevail over the right to prosecute them.’ ” ( Ibid .) “Critical to applying a statute of lim itations is determini ng the point when the limitations period begins to run. Generally, a plaintiff must file suit within a designated period after the cause of action accrues . (. . . § 312.) A cause of action accrues ‘when [it] is complete with all of its elements ’—those elements being wrongdoing, harm, and causation.” ( Pooshs , supra , 51 Cal.4th at p. 797, citing Norgart , supra , 21 Cal.4th at p. 397; original italics.) “The most important exception to [the] ge neral rule regarding accrual of a cause of action is the ‘discovery rule,’ under whic h accrual is postponed until the plaintiff ‘discovers, or has reason to discover, the caus e of action.’ [Citation.] Discovery of the
cause of action occurs when the plaintiff ‘has reason . . . to su spect a factual basis’ for the
action.” 5 ( Pooshs , supra , 51 Cal.4th at p. 797, citing Norgart , supra , 21 Cal.4th at pp. 397, 398 and Jolly v. Eli Lilly & Co. (1988) 44 Cal.3d 1103, 1110-1111 ( Jolly ).) “ ‘The policy reason behind the discovery rule is to ameliorate a harsh rule that would allow the limitations period for filing suit to expi re before a plaintiff has or should have learned of the latent injury and its cause.’ ” ( Pooshs , at pp. 797-798, quoting Buttram v. Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp . (1997) 16 Cal.4th 520, 531 .) When the plaintiff is a minor, it is the knowledge or la ck thereof of the parents thatdetermines when the cause of action accrues. ( Young v. Haines (1986) 41 Cal.3d 883, 890, fn. 4 ( Young ).)
The statutes of limitations at issue in th is case are section 340.4 and its antecedent, former Civil Code section 29, (both of whic h apply to pre-birth an d birth injuries) and section 340.8 (which applies to injuries due to exposure to hazardous materials or toxic substances). For clarity and ease of referen ce, we will sometimes use the parentheticals

5 The discovery rule is also referred to in the case law and the parties’ briefs as the “delayed discovery ru le.” (See e.g., Fox , supra , 35 Cal.4th at p. 803.) For ease of reference, we shall use th e term “discovery rule.”15 “(pre-birth injuries)” after references to fo rmer Civil Code secti on 29 and section 340.4 and “(toxic exposures)” after references to section 340.8.
B. Former Civil Code Section 29 (Statu te of Limitations for Pre-Birth Injuries Until 1993)

Former Civil Code section 29 provided: “A child concei ved, but not yet born, is to be deemed an existing person , so far as may be necessary for its interest s in the event of its subsequent birth; but any action by or on behalf of a minor for personal injuries sustained prior to or in the course of his bi rth must be brought within six years from the date of the birth of the minor, and the time such minor is under any disability mentioned
in Section 352 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall not be excluded in computing the
time limited for the commencemen t of the action.” Section 35 2, in turn, provides in relevant part: “(a) If a person entitled to bring an action, men tioned in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 335) [ 6 ] is, at the time the cause of action accrued either under the age of majority or insane, the time of the disability is not part of the time limited for the commencement of the action.” Thus, unde r the plain language of former Civil Code section 29, an action for pre-birt h and birth injuries is not to lled by the child’s minority or insanity.
The second clause of former Civil Code section 29, which sets forth the statute of limitations, was added in 1941 and became eff ective on January 1, 1942. (Stats. 1941, ch. 337, § 1; Cal. Const., art. IV, § 8, subd. (c); People v. Verba (2012) 210 Cal.App.4th 991, 997 [“with some excepti ons, statutes enacted by the Legislature in one year take effect on January 1 of the following year”].) Former Civil Code section 29 was subject to the discovery rule. ( Young , supra , 41 Cal.3d at pp. 892-893.) The statute

6 The reference to “Chapter 3” in secti on 352 is to chapter 3 (civil actions other than for the recovery of real property) of title 2 (the time of comme ncing civil actions) of part 2 (civil actions) of the Code of Civil Pr ocedure. Chapter 3 includes sections 335 through 3493⁄4.16 was never amended after 1941 and was repealed in 1993. (Stats. 1993, ch. 219, § 2; see Historical and Statutory Notes, 6 West’s Ann. Civil Code (2006 ed.) foll. § 29, p. 90.)

C. Section 340.4 (Statute of Limitation s for Pre-Birth Injuries Since 1994)

Section 340.4 provides: “An action by or on behalf of a minor for personal injuries sustained before or in the course of his or her birth must be commenced within six years after the date of birth, and the tim e the minor is under any disability mentioned
in Section 352 shall not be excluded in computing the time limited for the
commencement of the action.”
Section 340.4 was enacted in 1992; it became opera tive on January 1, 1994. (Stats. 1992, ch. 163 §§ 16, 161.) Section 340.4 contains language very similar to that of
the second clause of former Ci vil Code section 29. (Stats. 1941, ch. 337, § 1.) Section
340.4 is “ ‘but a continuation o f’ ” the second clause of form er Civil Code section 29. ( In
re White (2008) 163 Cal.App.4th 1576, 1582, citing Sekt v. Justice’s Court (1945) 26 Cal.2d 297, 306.) Li ke its predecessor, under the plain language of section 340.4, an action for personal injuries sustained before or at the time of birth is not tolled by the child’s minority or insanity, bu t the limitations period is subject to the discovery rule. ( Young , supra , 41 Cal.3d at pp. 892-893 [former Civil Code section 29].).

D. Section 340.8 (Statute of Limitation s for Exposure to Toxic Substances)

Section 340.8 provides in relevant part: “(a) In an y civil action for injury or illness based upon exposure to a hazardous ma terial or toxic substance, the time for
commencement of the action shall be no later than either two years from the date of injury, or two years after the plaintiff becomes aware of, or reasonably should have become aware of, (1) an injury, (2) the physical cause of the injury, and (3) sufficient facts to put a reasonable person on inquir y notice that the in jury was caused or contributed to by the wrongful act of another, whichever occurs later. [¶] [¶] (c) For17 purposes of this section: [¶] (1) A ‘civil action for injury or illness based upon exposure
to a hazardous material or toxic substance’ does not include an action subject to Section 340.2 [(limitations period for actions based upon exposure to asbestos)] or 340.5 [(limitations period for actions based on professional negligence of a health care provider)]. [¶] (2) Media reports regarding the hazar dous material or toxic substance contamination do not, in and of themselves, constitute suffici ent facts to put a reasonable person on inquiry notice that th e injury or death was caused or contributed to by the wrongful act of another. [¶] (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit, abrogate, or change the law in effect on the e ffective date of this section with respect to actions not based upon exposure to a ha zardous material or toxic substance.” Section 340.8, signed into law by the Governor in October 2003, became effective on January 1, 2004. (Stats. 2003, ch. 873, p. 6398; Cal. Cons t., art. IV, § 8, subd. (c).)

E. Section 352 Tolling for Minority and Insanity Applies to Section 340.8

Unlike section 340.4 and former Civil Code section 29, which ex pressly state that section 352 tolling for minority and insanity does not apply to actions for pre-birth and birth injuries, section 340.8 is silent regarding se ction 352 tolling. By its own terms, section 352 applies only to civil actions that ar e mentioned in chapter 3 of title 2 of part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure (§§ 335 th rough 3493⁄4). Since se ction 340.8 is in chapter 3 and section 340.8 do es not expressly exclude section 352 tolling, the tolling provision in section 352 for minority a nd insanity applies to section 340.8. In summary, the six-year limitations period in former Civil Code section 29 governed pre-birth and birth injuries from 1942 through its repeal on December 31, 1993. In 1992, the Legislature updated the language of the limitations provision in former Civil
Code section 29 and moved it from the Civil Co de to the Code of Civil Procedure when it enacted section 340.4, w ithout making any substantive chan ge. Section 340.4 (pre-birth injuries) became operative on Janu ary 1, 1994. In 2003, th e Legislature added section18 340.8, the statute of limitations for causes of action based on exposure to hazardous
materials and toxic substances , effective Janua ry 1, 2004.

F. Analysis

The operative pleading alle ges three possible accrual dates for Christopher’s injuries: (1) August 27, 1987 (his date of birth), (2) October 1987 (when Parents asked NSC about possible chemical exposures), a nd (3) December 2008 (when Parents learned that their attorneys were investigating case s involving birth defects due to chemical exposures in the semiconductor industry). We will examine each of these accrual dates as they relate to the statutes of limitations at issue to determin e whether there is any possible analysis under which Christ opher’s claims might be timely.
1. Assuming accrual on Christopher’ s birth date (August 27, 1987), Plaintiffs’ claims are time-barred un der former Civil Code Section 29

When Christopher was born on August 27 , 1987, the limitations period in former Civil Code section 29 govern ed actions for pre-birth in juries; section 340.8 (toxic exposures) had not yet been enacted. Under former Civil Code se ction 29, Christopher was required to bring his claims for pre-birt h injuries no later th an six years from his birth, or by August 27, 1993. This limitations period was not tolled by his minority or developmental disability. Thus, assuming Chri stopher’s claims accrued on his date of birth, the original complaint, filed in February 2010, was untimely by more than 16 years.
2. Assuming delayed accrual until Octo ber 1987, Plaintiffs’ claims are time-barred under former Civil Code section 29

Assuming delayed accrual under the discov ery rule and that Christopher’s causes of action accrued when his parents made inquiri es regarding the cause of his birth defects around the time of his diagnosis in Octobe r 1987, former Civil Code section 29 still applied. Under that section, Christopher wa s required to file suit within six years of19 discovery, or no later than October 1993. Un der this analysis, his complaint, filed in February 2010, was still untimely by more than 16 years.
3. Assuming delayed accrual until Dece mber 2008, Plaintiffs’ claims would be timely under sections 340.4 and 340.8

Assuming delayed discovery and that Christopher’s causes of action accrued in
December 2008 when Parents h eard the attorneys’ radio adve rtisements, the applicable statute of limitations for pre- birth and birth injuries was se ction 340.4. Under section 340.4, Christopher was required to file suit with in six years of discovery, or no later than December 2014. But by December 2008, sec tion 340.8 (toxic exposures) was also operative. Under section 340.8, Christopher was required to file suit within two years of discovery, or no later than December 2010. If the accrual of Christopher’s causes of action was delayed until December 2008, then hi s complaint, filed in February 2010, was timely under both section 340.4 (pre-birth injuries) and se ction 340.8 (toxic exposures).
But the statutes at issue were not in e ffect when Christopher was born or when he was diagnosed. Plaintiffs argue that be cause section 340.8 (toxic exposures) did not become operative until January 1, 2004, “it will apply to Christo pher’s claims only if they were not already time-barred under section 340. 4 when section 340.8 became operative.” “Statutes generally operate only prospectiv ely, and ‘[a] new statute that enlarges a statutory limitations period [only] applies to actions that are not already barred by the original limitations period at the time the new statute goes into effect.’ ( Andonagui v. May Dept. Stores Co . (2005) 128 Cal.App.4th 435, 440 . . . [( Andonagui )].) To revive an expired claim, a new statute of limitations must be made expressly retroactive by the Legislature, . . . . ( Andonagui , at p. 440; . . . .) ‘The reason for this rule is a judicial perception of unfairness in reviving a cause after the prospective defendant has assumed its expiration and has conducted his a ffairs accordingly.’ [Citations.]” ( Aguilera v.
Heiman (2009) 174 Cal.App.4th 590, 596.)20 Neither section 340.4 nor se ction 340.8 contains language that makes it expressly retroactive. Section 340.4 applies only ifChristopher’s claims were not already timebarred when it became operative on January 1, 1994, and section 3 40.8 applies only if Christopher’s claims were not already time ba rred on its effective date, January 1, 2004. Assuming Christopher’s causes of action accrued when he was born in August 1987, or when his parents made inquiry of NSC in Oc tober 1987, under former Civil Code section 29, he was required to bring suit no later than August 1993 or October 1993. Thus, Christopher’s claims were already time barred when sections 340.4 and 340.8 went into
effect. The only way Christopher’s claims survive is if he has adequately pleaded delayed accrual until December 2008 under the discovery rule. If that is the case, Christopher’s action would be timely under both section 34 0.4 and section 340.8, without having to consider tolling for minority or insanity.
4. Plaintiffs’ claims are time-barred because they accrued in October 1987

If Plaintiffs’ claims had accrued in Decem ber 2008, they woul d have been timely
under both sections 34 0.4 and 340.8. But as we will explain, the allegations of the second amended complaint show that the clai ms accrued in October 1987. Therefore, they were time barred under former Civil Code section 29.

III. Delayed Accrual Under the Discovery Rule

A. Legal Principles

“The discovery rule provides that the accru al date of a cause of action is delayed until the plaintiff is aware of her [or his] in jury and its negligent cause. [Citation.] A plaintiff is held to her [or his] actual knowledge as well as knowledge that could reasonably be discovered thr ough investigation of sources open to her [or him].” ( Jolly ,21 supra , 44 Cal.3d at p. 1109, foot note omitted.) “Under the discovery rule, the statute of limitations begins to run when the plaintiff su spects or should suspect that her [or his] injury was caused by wr ongdoing, that someone has done something wrong to her [or to him].” ( Id. at p. 1110.) In other words, “the lim itations period begins once the plaintiff
‘has notice or information of circum stances to put a reasonable person on inquiry .’ ” ( Id. at pp. 1110-1111, original italic s, internal quotations omitted .) “A plaintiff need not be aware of the specific ‘facts’ necessary to establish the claim; that is a process contemplated by pretrial discovery. Once the plaintiff has a suspicion of wrongdoing,
and therefore an incentive to sue, she [or he] must decide whether to file suit or sit on her [or his] rights. So long as a suspicion exists , it is clear that the pl aintiff must go find the facts; she [or he] cannot wait for th e facts to find her [or him].” ( Id. at p. 1111.) Jolly “sets forth two alternate tests for tri ggering the limitations period: (1) a subjective test requiring actual suspicion by th e plaintiff that the in jury was caused by wrongdoing; and (2) an objective test requi ring a showing that a reasonable person would have suspected the injury wa s caused by wrongdoing. [Cita tion.] The first to occur under these two tests begins the limitations period.” ( Kitzig v. Nordquist (2000) 81 Cal.App.4th 1384, 1391, citing Jolly , supra , 44 Cal.3d at p. 1110.) “ ‘[O]nce properly pleaded, belated discover y is a question of fact.’ [Citation.]
. . . ‘There are no hard and fast rules for determining what facts or circumstances will compel inquiry by the injured party and re nder him chargeable with knowledge. [Citation.] . . . ‘However, whenever reasonable minds can draw only one conclusion from the evidence, the question becomes one of law.’ [Citation.] Thus, when an appeal is taken from a judgment of dismissal following the sustention of a demurrer, ‘the issue is
whether the trial court could de termine as a matter of law that failure to discover was due to failure to investigate or to act without diligence.’ ” ( E-Fab, Inc. v. Accountants, Inc.
Services (2007) 153 Cal.App.4th 1308, 1320 ( E-Fab ).)22 Jolly used Miller v. Bechtel Corp . (1983) 33 Cal.3d 868 ( Miller ) to illustrate application of the discovery rule. ( Jolly , supra , 44 Cal.3d at p. 1111.) In Miller , the California Supreme Court had “held that [t he] plaintiff was barred by the statute of limitations from pursuing her suit for fraud, even though she filed suit soon after she discovered facts confirming her long-held suspicion that her former husband had
concealed the true worth of his assets during dissolution negotiations. [The Miller court] noted that the plaintiff had doubts at the time she signed the dissolu tion agreement as to
the actual value of her husband’s Bechtel stoc k. However, neither she nor her attorney took adequate steps th en to investigate the matter. Year s later, when the stock was sold for an amount well beyond th at stated during the dissoluti on discussions, [the] plaintiff brought suit. [The Supreme Court] held that her early suspicion put her on inquiry notice of the potential wrongdoing, which an inves tigation would have confirmed. Her failure timely to investigate barred the action.” ( Jolly , at p. 1111.) “[B]y discussing the discovery rule in term s of a plaintiff’s suspicion of ‘elements’ of a cause of action, [the Supreme Court] was referring to the ‘g eneric’ elements of wrongdoing, causation, and harm.” ( Fox , supra , 35 Cal.4th at p. 807 .) “In so using the term ‘elements,’ [the Supreme Court did] not take a hypertechnical approach to the application of the discovery rule. Rather th an examining whether th e plaintiffs suspect facts supporting each specific legal element of a particular cause of action, [courts] look to whether the plaintiffs have reason to at least suspect that a type of wrongdoing has injured them.” ( Ibid. ) “The discovery rule only delays accrual until the plaintiff has, or should have, inquiry notice of the cause of ac tion. The discovery rule does not encourage dilatory tactics because plainti ffs are charged with presumptiv e knowledge of an injury if they have ‘ “ ‘information of circumstances to put [them] on inquiry’ ” ’ or if they have ‘ “ ‘the opportunity to obtain knowledge from sources open to [their] investigation.’ ” ’ [Citations.] In other words, plaintiffs are required to conduct a reasonable investigation after becoming aware of an injury, and are charged with knowledge of the information23 that would have been revealed by such an inve stigation.” ( Id. at pp. 807-808.) In this context, “injury” means both a person’s physical condition and its negligent cause. ( Id. at p. 808, fn. 2.) “Thus, physical injury alone is often insuffic ient to trigger the statute of limitations.” ( Ibid. ) To rely on the discovery rule, “ ‘[a] plaintiff whose complaint shows on its face
that his claim would be barred without the bene fit of the discovery ru le must specifically plead facts to show (1) the time and manner of discovery and (2) the inability to have made earlier discovery despite reasonable d iligence.’ [Citation.] In assessing the sufficiency of the allegations of delayed disc overy, the court places the burden on the plaintiff to ‘show diligence’; ‘conclusory a llegations will not withstand demurrer.’ ” ( Fox , supra , 35 Cal.4th at p. 808.) “Simply put, in order to employ the discovery rule to delay accrual of a cause of action, a potential plaintiff who suspects that an injury has been wrongfully caused must conduct a reasonable investig ation of all potential causes of that injury. If such an investigation would have disclo sed a factual basis for a cause of action, the statute of limitations begins to run on that cause of action when the investigation would have brought such informati on to light. In order to adequately allege facts supporting a theory of delayed discover y, the plaintiff must plead that, despite diligent investigation of the circumstances of the injury, he or she could not have reasonably discovered facts supporting the cause of action within the applicable statute of limitations period.” ( Id. at pp. 808-809.) The California Supreme Court’s app lication of the discovery rule in Jolly and Norgart is instructive. The plaintiff in Jolly sued Eli Lilly and othe r drug companies that manufactured the drug estroge n diethylstilbestrol (DES) fo r personal injuries she
sustained as a result of her mother’s i ngestion of DES while the plaintiff was in utero

. ( Jolly , supra , 44 Cal.3d at pp. 1107-1108 .) Undisputed evidence in Jolly showed that “[a]s of 1972, [the] plaintiff was aware or at least suspected” her precancerous condition was a result of her mother’s ingestion of DE S and attempted to discover the identity of24 the manufacturer of the DES her mother had taken. ( Id. at p. 1107.) Several companies manufactured the drug and Jolly was unable to determine which company manufactured the DES her mother took. But “[a]t least as of 1978, [she] was awar e of the pendency of one or more DES suits alleging th at DES manufacturers were liable to those injured . . . .” ( Id. at p. 1108.) Jolly filed her complaint in early 1981, almost a year after the California Supreme Court held that a plaintiff who co uld not identify the manufacturer of the ingested DES could state a cau se of action against the manuf acturers of a substantial percentage of the market share of the drug. ( Ibid ., citing Sindell v. Abbott Laboratories (1980) 26 Cal.3d 588.) The parties had agreed that the applicable limitations period was the one-year statute of limitations in fo rmer section 340, subdivision (3). ( Jolly , at pp. 1108-1109.) Applying the discovery rule, the court held that Jolly’s claims were time barred. The court explained that Jolly had “s tated that as early as 1978 she was interested in ‘obtaining more information’ about DES because she wanted to ‘make a claim’; she felt that someone had done something wro ng to her concerning DES, that it was a defective drug and that she should be compensate d. . . . Thus, plaintiff is held to her admission; she suspected that defendants’ conduct was wrongful during 1978—well over a year before she filed suit. This susp icion would not have been allayed by any investigation. To the contrary, a timely i nvestigation would have disclosed numerous articles concerning DES and many DES suits filed throughout the country alleging wrongdoing.” ( Jolly , at pp. 1112-1113.)
In Norgart , a wrongful death action, the decedent’s parents sued drug manufacturer Upjohn alleging that their daughter, Kristi, had committed suicide by
means of an intentional overdose of the prescription drug Halcion. ( Norgart , supra , 21 Cal.4th at p. 390.) The tr ial court granted summary judgme nt on statute of limitations grounds. The Supreme Court held that the ac tion, filed six years after Kristi died, was time barred both under the general rule, which re quired filing within one year of the date of death, (former § 340, subd. (3)) and under the discovery rule. ( Id. at pp. 393-394.)25 The court stated that the plaintiffs’ causes of action “accrued when they came at least to suspect, or have reason to suspect, a factua l basis for their elemen ts, which occurred as early as the date of Kristi’s death on October 16, 1985, but no later than . . . mid-1986. Nevertheless, they were not brought until the original comp laint was filed on October 16, 1991.” ( Id. at p. 405.) The decedent’ s father admitted that, “ ‘around the time of Kristi’s death,’ ” he suspected “that ‘something wrong’ had happened to her to cause her death.” ( Id. at pp. 405-406.) The court held that th e plaintiffs “had reason to discover their causes of action . . . against Upjohn for manuf acturing and distributi ng Halcion soon after Kristi’s death” when “they learned of her depr ession and [prior] suicid e attempts, [as well as] her depression and suicid e by overdose of prescription drugs, including Halcion, on October 16, 1985. And soon after her death, . . . having undertaken an investigation into its cause, they had reason to learn of a possi ble connection to Halcion and Upjohn” which “was disclosed by the package insert that the company had prepared for the drug.” ( Id. at p. 407.) More recently, the California Supreme Court has noted that “California law recognizes a general, rebuttable presumption, that plaintiffs have ‘knowledge of the wrongful cause of an injury.’ [Citation.] In order to rebut that presumption, ‘ “[a] plaintiff whose complaint show s on its face that his claim would be barred without the benefit of the discovery rule must specifi cally plead facts to show (1) the time and manner of discovery and (2) the inability to have made earlier discovery despite reasonable diligence.” ’ [Citation.]” ( Grisham v. Philip Morris U.S.A., Inc . (2007) 40 Cal.4th 623, 638 ( Grisham ), quoting Fox , supra , 35 Cal.4th at p. 808.)

B. Analysis

The allegations of the second amende d complaint do not support a claim of delayed discovery after October 1987. Parents became aware of the alleged harm in this case when Christopher was diagnosed with retinoblastoma and other birth defects in26 October 1987. And this case involves some thing more than inju ry alone. Like the plaintiffs in Miller , Jolly , and Norgart , who all suspected a wrongful cause of their injuries shortly after the inju ry occurred, Parents suspected that Christopher’s injuries were caused by chemical exposure in their workplace. The averments of the second amended complaint support the conclusion that they suspected both wrongdoing and the alleged cause of Christopher’s injuries shortly afte r the diagnosis when they went to NSC and asked “whether they had worked with or otherwise been expo sed to any hazardous
chemicals.” The use of the word “hazardous” supports th e conclusion that Parents suspected something in thei r work environment was dang erous to human health; not simply a cause, but a wrongful cause. At that point, they were “required to conduct a reasonable investigation of a ll potential causes of that in jury” and were “charged with knowledge of the information that would have been revealed by such an investigation.” ( Fox , supra , 35 Cal.4th at p. 808.) In other words, Parents’ actual suspicion of wrongdoing by their employer put them on in quiry notice for purposes of a statute of limitations analysis. Since Parents suspected bo th wrongdoing and the alle ged cause of Christopher’s injuries in October 1987, Plaintiffs were required to plead that “despite diligent investigation of the circumstances of the in jury, [Parents] could not have reasonably discovered facts supporting the cause of action within the applicable statute of limitations period.” ( Fox , supra , 35 Cal.4th at pp. 808-809.) In th is regard, Plaintiffs allege that Parents spoke to Christopher’s doctors thro ughout his care and treatment, and that the
doctors never informed them that parental occupational ex posure may have caused his injuries. But Parents do not allege that th ey ever discussed with Christopher’s doctors their suspicion that Christopher’s cond ition was caused by parental occupational exposure to toxic chemicals. Nor do they allege that the causal connection between Parents’ workplace exposure to hazardous chem icals and Christopher’s injuries was not known by October 1993 when the limitations period ran (within six years after27 Christopher was diagnosed), or that it was di scovered later than October 1993 based on
new scientific information. Th ey do not allege that there we re any new scientific studies
or medical information that exposed the alleged causal link between their workplace exposure and Christopher’s in juries that were unavailable to them during the limitations period or any time before December 2008. And Plaintiffs have not pleaded that a reasonable investigation betwee n 1987 and 1993 would not ha ve revealed a factual basis
for their claim. Furthermore, the allegations of Plainti ffs’ proposed third amended complaint belie their contention that they could not have di scovered the cause of Christopher’s injuries
before December 2008. According to that pleading, which is part of the record in this appeal, before 1982, SIA told NSC that animal studies had revealed that the chemicals
used in the semiconductor in dustry caused birth defects. And before 1987, a SESHA journal article stated that at least 15 chemicals used to ma nufacture semiconductors were known to cause birth defects in humans, at least 18 such chemicals were known to cause birth defect in animals, employers like NSC should use caution with these chemicals, and employers should discuss potential reproductiv e harm with their female employees. The proposed third amended complaint also alle ged that, “by at least 1987,” there were “multiple . . . studies involving the reproduc tive effects of manufacturing chemicals, the
results of which were summarized in detail a nd distributed by the Semiconductor Safety Association.” The proposed amended complaint does not alle ge that despite a diligent investigation, Plaintiffs (or their attorneys or Christopher’ s doctors) would not have been
able to discover these materials before Octo ber 1993 (within six years of Christopher’s diagnosis).
We also examine whether Plaintiffs have rebutted the presumption that they had knowledge of the alleged wrongful cause of Christopher’s injuries, applying the twopronged test from Fox , which requires a plaintiff whose complaint shows on its face that
the claim would be barred without the benefit of the discovery rule to “ ‘specifically28 plead facts to show (1) the time and manner of discovery and (2) the inability to have made earlier discovery despite reasonable diligence.’ ” ( Fox , supra , 35 Cal.4th at p. 808.) As we have noted, this “places th e burden on the plaintiff to ‘show diligence’; ‘conclusory allegations will not withstand demurrer.’ ” ( Ibid. ) Plaintiffs contend they have pleaded adequate facts that satisfy both prongs of this test. “The first prong requires plaintiffs to allege ‘facts showing the time and surrounding circumstances of the discovery of the cause of action upon which they rely.’ [Citation.] ‘The purpose of this requirement is to afford th e court a means of determining whether or not the discovery of the asserted [harm] was made with in the time alleged, that is, whether plaintiffs actually learned something they did not know before.’ ” ( EFab , supra , 153 Cal.App.4th 1308, 1324, quoting Bennett v. Hibernia Bank (1956) 47 Cal.2d 540, 563.) Plaintiffs contend they have adequate ly pleaded time and manner of discovery because the second amended complaint allege s that in December 2008, Parents heard radio advertisements that certain attorneys were investigating cas es of birth defects caused by chemical exposures in the semic onductor industry; that Parents responded to
the advertisements and retained counsel w ho began investigating whether Christopher’s
retinoblastoma and birth defects were caused by parental chemical exposure at NSC; and that through this investigation they learned for the first time that Christopher’s injuries were caused by harmful chemical exposures at NSC. Plainti ffs further allege that at no time prior to retaining counsel did Parents su spect that Christopher’s injuries could be caused by parental or in utero exposure to toxic ch emicals at NSC and that they “did not discover,” “nor through the exercise of reasonable diligence could [they] have discovered,” these facts “earlier than December 2008.” We will disregard Plaintiffs’ conclusory allegations that Parents did not suspect wrongdoing before December 2008 because these allegations conflict with the allegations that in October 1987 they asked NSC whethe r they had worked with or otherwise been29 exposed to hazardous chemical s. When a complaint contai ns both general allegations and specific allegations and a conflict or inc onsistency exists between those allegations, the specific allegations contro l over inconsistent genera l allegations. “Under this principle, it is possible that specific allega tions will render a complaint defective when the general allegations, standing alone , might have been sufficient.” ( Perez v. Golden Eagle Transit Dist. (2012) 209 Cal.App.4t h 1228, 1235-1236 citing Skopp v. Weaver (1976) 16 Cal.3d 432, 437.) Here, the specif ic allegations that support the conclusion that Parents actually suspected wrongdoing and were on in quiry notice in October 1987 control over the general allega tion that Parents did not susp ect wrongdoing until they saw the attorney advertis ements in 2008. Even if we consider the allegations that Plaintiffs did not disc over their causes of action until December 2008, they are still insufficient to satis fy the “time and manner of discovery” prong of Fox . Plaintiffs argue otherwise, re lying on this court’s opinion in EFab , supra , 153 Cal.App.4th 1308. The plaintiff in E- Fab , a corporation, sued an employment agency for negligence, breach of contract, and neglig ent misrepresentation after Vickie Hunt (an employee referred by the agency) embezzled money from the plaintiff between 1996 and 2003. ( Id. at pp. 1313-1315.) In support of delayed accrual under the discovery rule, the “plaintiff allege[d ] that it ‘did not become aware of, nor did it have any reason to suspect, that Vickie Hu nt had prior convictions for theft and welfare
fraud and that her academic credentials had not been verified until after her
embezzlement became known in No vember 2003 when Plaintiff was first informed of . . . Hunt’s criminal record by the police. It was at that time that Plaintiff first became aware
that . . . Hunt had not been “screened ” by [defendant] and that [defendant’s] representations as to her background were false.’ ” ( Id. at 1324.) “Given the specificity of the foregoing allegations, [this court] c onclude[d] that the factual circumstances of plaintiff’s discovery of defend ant’s wrongdoing [were] sufficien tly asserted to meet [the] first pleading requirement of th e delayed discovery rule.” ( Ibid .) The court bolstered its30 conclusion by comparing the averments of the complaint in E-Fab with “the insufficient pleadings found in other cas es” and observed that the plaintiff’s allegations in E-Fab showed “that it ‘actually learned someth ing [it] did not know before.’ ” ( Id. at pp. 1324- 1325.) In contrast, as this court noted in E-Fab , the pleading in McKelvey v. Boeing North American, Inc . (1999) 74 Cal.App.4th 151 (superseded by statute on another ground as
stated in Grisham , supra , 40 Cal.4th at page 637) was insufficient because it failed to “disclose the time or manner of discovery by any plaintiff” and offe red “only conclusory allegations of [defendant’s] ‘m assive cover-up,’ and allegations that plaintiffs discovered that they ‘may have sustained injuries as a result of [defe ndant’s] wrongs “less than one year prior to filing [suit].” ’ Before that tim e, they say (without ela boration), they did not suspect any wrongdoing.” ( E-Fab , supra , 153 Cal.App.4th at p. 1325 citing McKelvey , at pp. 160-161, fn. omitted .) The complaint in Unpingco v. Hong Kong Macau Corp

. (1991) 935 F.2d 1043 was also in sufficient. The plaintiffs in that case claimed they did
not discover the facts constitu ting the fraud until 1988, but fa iled to explain what it was that they discovered in 1988 that finally put them on notice of the alleged fraud. ( E-Fab , at p. 1325, citing Unpingco , at p. 1046.) Although Plaintiffs here allege that th ey did not discover Christopher’s claims until after they heard a ttorney advertisements in December 2008, and after they consulted with attorneys who conducted an investigation and determined that Plaintiffs had claims, they do not allege what facts their attorn eys uncovered. Thus, we have no way of assessing whether those facts were different from or added anything new to Parents’ suspicion in October 1987 that Christopher’s injuries were caused by their exposure to
hazardous substances at NSC or whether th ose facts would have been disclosed by a reasonable investigation after October 1987. Since the se cond amended complaint does not address this point, we conclude that Plai ntiffs have not adequately pleaded time and manner of discovery of the wrongful conduct th at caused their injuries. Therefore, it is31 not necessary to determine wh ether the allegations of the second amended complaint are sufficient to meet the second pl eading requirement of the disc overy rule (inability to have made an earlier discovery). Because Plainti ffs cannot meet the two-pronged test under
Fox , we hold that they have inadequately pleaded delayed discovery of Christopher’s
claims. If indeed Christopher’s retinoblastoma a nd other birth defect s were caused by parental exposure to hazardous chemicals at work, we are sympathetic to Plaintiffs’ desire for a remedy for NSC’s alleged wro ngful conduct. But we must apply the statutory limitations periods in accordan ce with the common law discovery rule.

IV. Timeliness of Debbie’s Claims

Plaintiffs contend the trial court er red when it sustained NSC’s demurrer to Debbie’s claims for negligen t and intentional infliction of emotional distress on the ground that they were barred by the two-year st atute of limitations for personal injuries in section 335.1. Although the trial court’s orde r did not mention section 335.1 or Debbie’s separate claims, the court sustained NSC’s demurrer to Debbie’s causes of action, which was based on section 335.1, w ithout leave to amend. We shall therefore address this contention. Plaintiffs argue that their “analysis regarding the delayed accrual of Christopher’s cause of action under the discov ery rule applies with equal force to the accrual of [Debbie’s] i ndividual cause[s] of action, as her claims for emotional distress are premised on the same acts and omi ssions by Defendant NSC that resulted in Christopher’s injuries.” Claims for negligent and in tentional infliction of emotio nal distress are subject to the general personal injury statute of limitations. ( Roman v. County of Los Angeles (2000) 85 Ca1.App.4th 316, 323 [applying one- year statute of limitations in former section 340, subd. (3)].) Debbie’s claims ar e based on (1) alleged acts or omissions by
NSC while Debbie worked for the company, and (2) alleged misrepresentations regarding32 her exposure to workplace chem icals in October 1987. Th e second amended complaint alleges Debbie last worked for NSC in 1987. Th e personal injury statute of limitations in effect in 1987 was former section 340, subdivision (3), which provided that the limitations period for an action for “injury . . . caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another” was one year. A ssuming Debbie’s claims accrued in October 19 87, when she asked NSC about her exposure to hazardous chemicals, or on December 31, 1987, the day she last worked for NSC, 7 she was required to file her complaint no later than December 31, 1988. The limitations period for pers onal injury claims was enla rged to two years by the enactment of section 335.1, which beca me effective on January 1, 2003. ( Andonagui , supra , 128 Ca1.App.4th at p. 440.) With one exception not relevant here, section 335.1 does not apply retroactively to revive clai ms that were already time-barred when it became effective on January 1, 2003. ( Ibid. ) Thus, to obtain the benefit of the longer limitations period of section 335.1, Debbie’s cl aims must not have been time-barred as of January 1, 2003. ( Ibid .) But as we have already stated, assuming her causes of action accrued no later than December 31, 1987, th ey were time barred as of December 31, 1988, long before the two-year limitations peri od in section 335.1 went into effect. The only manner in which Debbie’s claims could be subject to the two-y ear limitations period
in section 335.1 is if the accrual of her cl aims was delayed until December 2008 under the discovery rule. But we have already co ncluded that the comp laint does not state sufficient facts to permit Christopher to rely on delayed accrual of his causes of action
until December 2008 under the di scovery rule. Debbie does not allege any different facts from those that Christopher relies on to support delayed accrual of her causes of action. Therefore, we conclude that Debbie, like Ch ristopher, has not pleaded sufficient facts to

7 Since the second amended complaint alleges only the year and not the specific date that Debbie last worked for NSC, we a ssume she worked there until the last day of 1987.33 support application of the discovery rule in her case, and we hold that her claims for negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress are time-barred.

V. Leave to Amend

Plaintiffs argue that if this court finds the allegations of their second amended complaint insufficient to demo nstrate timeliness under the disc overy rule, they should be granted leave to amend.
We review the denial of leave to amend after the sustaining of a demurrer under an abuse of discretion standard. ( Schifando v. City of Los Angeles (2003) 31 Cal.4th 1074, 1081 ( Schifando ).) “If we see a reasonable possibility that the plaintiff could cure the defect by amendment, then we conclude that the trial court abused its discretion in denying leave to amend. If we determine ot herwise, then we conclude it did not.” ( Campbell v. Regents of University of California (2005) 35 Cal.4t h 311, 320, citing Schifando , at p. 1081.) The plaintiff has the bur den of proving that an amendment would cure the defect. ( Ibid .) Furthermore, “[i]f the plainti ff has not had an opportunity to amend the complaint in response to the demurrer, leave to ame nd is liberally allowed as a matter of fairness, unless the complaint s hows on its face that it is incapable of amendment. [Citations.]” ( City of Stockton v. Superior Court (2007) 42 Cal.4th 730, 747 [“second amended complaint does not on its face foreclose any reasonable possibility of amendment”].) Plaintiffs argue that if we find the a llegations of the second amended complaint insufficient under the discovery rule, they can cure the de ficiency by alleging “that beginning shortly after his birth and continui ng thereafter, Christopher received medical treatment, including surgery, for his retinobl astoma from Dr. Peter Egbert at Stanford Hospital; . . . ; that in response to their que stions, Dr. Egbert info rmed [Parents] that retinoblastoma was caused by ‘spontaneous mu tation’; and that he never told or suggested to them that retinoblastoma could be caused by or was associated with parental34 or in utero exposure to chemicals or chemical processes.” While these allegations add detail regarding the identity of Christopher’s doct or and what he told Parents, they do not add to previous allegations that the doctors never told Parent s that Christopher’s injuries were related to their workplace exposure. Like previous complaints, the proposed amendment does not say whether Parents discu ssed their suspicions regarding workplace exposure with Dr. Egbert, nor does it disclose when the doctor last discussed causation
with them. Regarding the alleged fraudulent c oncealment by NSC, Plaintiffs propose amending their complaint to allege “that before, during and after [Parents’] employment with Defendant NSC, NSC was aware of repr oductive health hazard s associated with
chemicals and chemical formul ations made and utilized at its manufacturing facilities, including in ‘clean rooms’ at its Santa Cl ara facility where [Paren ts] worked; that NSC
concealed and failed to inform its prospective, current an d former employees and the general public, including [the] Studendorffs, of the reproductiv e health hazards of these
chemicals and chemical formul ations, whose constituents were known to NSC, but not its employees; and that NSC’s concealment and no n-disclosure of these matters directly contributed to the ignorance of [Parents ], Christopher, and his doctors regarding the
connection between the above described ex posures and his grave birth defects and injuries.” These proposed amendments do not allege who concealed information, or what, if anything, was said to allay Parents’ suspicion that hazardous chemicals at NSC caused Christopher’s injuries. The proposed amendments are as conclusory as the allegations of the second amended complaint and are insufficient to support a claim of fraudulent concealment. ( Lazar v. Superior Court (1996) 12 Cal.4th 631, 645 [“fraud must be pled specifically; general and c onclusory allegations do not suffice”].) The proposed amendments do not state what new information Pl aintiffs’ attorneys provided after December 2008 that was differe nt from what Parents suspected in October 1987 or explain why they could not have discovered that information before December35 2008. Because plaintiffs have not demonstrated that they could cure the defects in their second amended complaint by am endment, even though the trial court gave them ample opportunity to do so, we conc lude that the trial court di d not abuse its discretion in denying leave to amend.

VI. Equitable Estoppel

Acknowledging that they did not raise this issue in the trial court, Plaintiffs argue that NSC is equitably estopped from relying on the statute of limitations defense because
NSC knew the chemicals used in its facility were hazardous and could cause severe harm
to unborn children. Plaintiffs contend: (1) the second amended complaint contains sufficient facts to plead equitable estoppel; (2) th eir failure to raise this theory in the trial court does not preclude them from asserting it on appeal; and (3) if we conclude the allegations of the second amended complaint ar e insufficient to plead estoppel, they can amend their complaint to cure any deficiency. NSC responds that Plaintiffs have wa ived any reliance on equitable estoppel by failing to raise this theory in the trial court. They also assert that the allegations of the second amended complaint do not support app lication of the doctrine of equitable estoppel because Plaintiffs do not allege “a misrepresentation bearing on the necessity of bringing a timely suit” and NSC’s “mere denial of legal liability does not set up an estoppel.” (Italics original.)

A. Waiver

NSC relies on Green v. Travelers Indemnity Co . (1986) 185 Cal.App.3d 544 ( Green ), which reviewed a judgment of dismissa l after demurrer. The appellate court in
Green held that the plaintiffs had waived their estoppel claim because they “failed to plead the theory of estoppel and failed to argue that doctrine in the court below, despite the fact that they were allowed to amend thei r complaint and did, in fact, advance lengthy36 arguments in opposition to re spondents’ demurrers.” ( Id. at p. 555.) The court explained, “It is, . . . , well settled that a party who has an opportunity to plead estoppel
on which his cause of action or defense is premised must do so, and that an eventual failure to so plead constitutes a waiver of estoppel. [Citations.] It is likewise settled (1) ‘that a party to an action may not, for the first time on appeal, cha nge the theory of the cause of action’ and (2) ‘that issues not raised in the trial court ca nnot be raised for the first time on appeal.’ [Citation.] The latter rule especially applies to the doctrine of estoppel which constitutes factua l elements which must be bo th pled and proved in the trial court. [Citations.]” ( Ibid. ) The Green court offered two other reasons for its holding, including that the plaintiffs had not and could not allege facts that would support their estoppel claim. ( Id. at pp. 555-556.) Like the plaintiffs in Green , Plaintiffs were allowed to amend their complaint twice and had two opportunities to present ar gument in opposition to NSC’s demurrers. But unlike the plaintiffs in Green , Plaintiffs’ estoppel claim relies on facts already pleaded in their second amended complaint. And some of the reasoning NSC relies on
from Green is contrary to this court’s holding in Alfaro v. Community Housing Improvement System & Planning Assn., Inc. ( 2009) 171 Cal.App.4th 1356 ( Alfaro ). Alfaro stated: “ ‘An appellate court may . . . consider new theories on appeal from the sustaining of a demurrer to challe nge or justify the ruling. As a general rule a party is not permitted to change its position on appeal and raise new i ssues not presented in the trial court. [Citation.] This is particularly true “when the new theory depends on controverted factual questions whose relevance thereto was not made to appear” in the trial court. [Citation.] However, “a litigant may raise for the first time on appeal a pure question of law which is presented by undisp uted facts.” [Citations.] A demurrer is directed to the face of a complaint (. . . § 430.30, subd. (a)) and it raises onl y questions of law (. . . § 589, subd. (a); [citation]). Thus an appellant challenging the sustaining of a general demurrer may change his or her theo ry on appeal [citation], and an appellate37 court can affirm or reverse th e ruling on new grounds. [Citati ons.] After all, we review the validity of the ruling and not the reasons given. [Citation.]’ ” ( Alfaro , at pp. 1396- 1397, quoting B & P Development Corp. v. City of Saratoga (1986) 185 Cal.App.3d 949, 959.) In light of Alfaro , since Plaintiffs’ equitable estoppel argument relies on facts already contained in their pleading, we concl ude that they have no t waived or forfeited
the contention that their second amended co mplaint sufficiently pleads that NSC is equitably estopped from relying on the statute of limitations. We turn to the merits of that argument.
B. The Allegations of the Complaint are Insufficient to Supp ort an Equitable Estoppel Claim

“Equitable tolling and equitable estoppel are distinct doctrines. ‘ “Tolling, strictly speaking, is concerned with the point at wh ich the limitations peri od begins to run and
with the circumstances in whic h the running of the limitations period may be suspended. . . . Equitable estoppel, however, . . . comes into play only after th e limitations period has
run and addresses . . . the circumstances in which a party will be estopped from asserting
the statute of limitations as a defense to an admittedly untimely action because his conduct has induced another into forbearing su it within the applicab le limitations period. [Equitable estoppel] is wholly independent of the limitations period itself and takes its life . . . from the equitable principle that no man [may] profit from his own wrongdoing in a court of justice.” ’ [Citation.]” ( Lantzy v. Centex Homes (2003) 31 Cal.4th 363, 383 ( Lantzy ).) “One aspect of equitable estoppel is codified in Evidence Code section 623, which provides that ‘[w]henever a party has, by his own statement or conduct, intentionally and deliberately led another to be lieve a particular thing true and to act upon such belief, he is not, in any litigation arising out of such statement or conduct, permitted to contradict it.’ ” ( Lantzy , at p. 384.)38 “ ‘A valid claim of equitable estoppel consists of the following elements: (a) a representation or concealment of material fa cts (b) made with knowledge, actual or virtual, of the facts (c) to a party ignorant, ac tually and permissibly, of the truth (d) with the intention, actual or virtual, that the ig norant party act on it, and (e) that party was induced to act on it.’ [Citations.]” ( Transport Ins. Co. v. TIG Ins. Co . (2012) 202 Cal.App.4th 984, 1013 ( Transport ).) “The defendant’s statement or conduct must amount to a misreprese ntation bearing on the necessity of bringing a timely suit; the
defendant’s mere denial of legal liability does not set up an estoppel.” ( Lantzy , supra , 31 Cal.4th at p. 384, fn . 18; original italics.)” The California Supreme Court has clarif ied the latter rule in cases involving insurance claims. The question in that context is whether th e insurer’s stat ement that the
insured was not entitled to be nefits under the policy was “an unconditional denial of liability that would start the running of the st atute of limitations” or “a misrepresentation of fact on which the insured reasonably relied . . . that could furnish a basis for” an estoppel. ( Vu v. Prudential Property & Casualty Ins. Co . (2001) 26 Cal.4th 1142, 1149 ( Vu ), citing Neff v. New York Life Ins. Co . (1947) 30 Cal.2d 165.) In Vu , an insurance adjuster told the insured (a victim of the Northridge eart hquake) that he was not entitled to any benefits under his earthquake policy be cause the cost of repair was $3,962.50, considerably less than the po licy’s $30,000 deductible. ( Vu , at p. 1147.) After the limitations period expired, the insured hired an appraiser who opined that his damages far
exceeded his deductible. The court conclude d that the adjuste r’s statement was a misrepresentation of fact and that since the insurer “represented in correctly” that Vu’s loss was less that the policy’s deductible , it was estopped from raising the one-year statute of limitations as a defense. ( Id. at pp. 1152-1154.)
In Lantzy , the Supreme Court addressed the ad equacy of a complaint to plead equitable estoppel in a case alleging latent construction defects and concluded that the allegations in that case were insufficient to es tablish equitable estoppel. The court stated,39 “The complaint’s sole allega tion on this issue is ‘that at various times Defendants have attempted to make repairs . . . or advised Pl aintiffs that the defective windows were not
defective and not to file a la wsuit,’ but have not properly repaired the leaking windows and associated damage, and ‘are [therefore] es topped to assert that Plaintiffs have not
commenced this action in a timely fashion.’ ” ( Id. at p. 385, original italics.) The court found this allegation insufficient because th e complaint was “devoid of any indication
that defendants’ conduct actually and reasonably induce d plaintiffs to forbear suing within the 10-year period of section 337.15 . There is no suggestion that the repair attempts alleged, if successful , would have obviated the need for suit. Moreover, for all that appears, the ‘various times’ at whic h defendants’ alleged conduct occurred were
times well before the statute of limitations ran out, or even, as the trial court suggested, after it had expired. And there is no claim th at the inadequacy of these repairs, or the falsity of defendants’ allege d ‘no defect’ representations, remained hidden until after the limitations period had passed. Hence, plain tiffs have pled no facts indicating that defendants’ conduct directly prevented them from filing their suit on time.” ( Ibid. , original italics.) The court also held ther e was “no reasonable possibility the deficiency [could] be remedied by credible amendment of the complaint.” ( Id. at pp. 386-388.) Turning to the allegations in this case, we begin with the general rule “that estoppel must be specifically ‘pleaded in the complaint with su fficient accuracy to disclose [the] facts relied upon.’ ” ( Transport , supra , 202 Cal.App.4th at p. 1013.) Plaintiffs allege that around October 1987, Parents asked NSC “whether they had worked with or otherwise been exposed to any h azardous chemicals. Specifically, Debbie . . . contacted [NSC’s] human resources depart ment, which in turn referred her to other departments.” They allege that in re sponse to Debbie’s question, NSC “actively concealed and by omission fa iled to provide information, ” and that it purported to respond “while in fact activ ely concealing, and failing and refusing to provide, any information regarding the na ture or potential health ha zards of the chemicals and40 processes used in its manufacturing facilities or to admit that it was in possession of any knowledge or information regarding such hazard s.” Plaintiffs allege that NSC “expressly and impliedly represented to [them] . . . that the chemicals and substances present in their work areas and at their place of employment di d not pose a hazard to [Parents] or their
unborn children” and that Parents “reasonably relied upon such re presentations.” Unlike the specific allegations in Vu , these allegations are insufficient to support an estoppel to assert a statut e of limitations defense. In Vu , the plaintiff described his interactions with a named claims adjuster who told the plaintiff he was not entitled to benefits under his insurance policy becaus e his damages were worth a specific amount that was significantly less than his deductible. The plaintiff also alleged that the claims adjuster misrepresented the cost of repair and that the act ual cost of repair far exceeded the deductible. ( Vu , supra , 26 Cal.4th at p. 1147.) In contrast, Plaintiffs allege only that Parents asked whether they had been expos ed to hazardous chemicals. The second amended complaint does not allege who Parents talked to (by name, title, or job description), that person’s role at NSC and au thority to speak for th e company, or what specific questions Parents asked. Plaintiffs do not allege that they asked about a specific chemical or group of chemical s. Instead, they allege gene rally that Debbie asked about exposure to hazardous chemi cals. The complain t does not say whether Parents asked if the workplace chemicals caused their son’s reti noblastoma or his other unspecified birth defects. And they do not state what NSC’ s representatives said in response, what information NSC actively concealed, or what information NSC representatives failed to
admit other than that there were hazardous chemicals in the workplace. Importantly, there is no allegation that anyone at NSC told Parents they did not have a claim, or that they should forbear from suing or acting on their suspicion an d investigating their claims further. Like the complaint in Lantzy , NSC’s alleged concealment occurred around October 1987, long before the six-year lim itations period ran. And the complaint41 contains only a conclusory allegation that Pl aintiffs reasonably relied on the information provided by NSC representatives. We conclude that Plaintiffs’ non-specific allegations are too conclusory to support the inference that NSC made a misrepresent ation of fact on whic h Parents reasonably relied that could furnish a basis for an estoppel . Therefore, we hold th at the allegations of the complaint at most allege “a denial of legal liability ” but do “not set up an estoppel.” ( Lantzy , supra , 31 Cal.4th at p. 384, fn. 18; original italics.)

C. Leave to Amend to Allege Estoppel

Plaintiffs contend they can amend thei r complaint “to cure any deficiency” and request leave to do so. Th ey argue that amendments could include that Parents “reasonably relied on . . . NSC’s statements, ma de in response to their inquiry after Christopher’s diagnosis, that the chemic als and processes at NSC’s Santa Clara manufacturing facility were not hazardous to employees or their unborn children and were not the cause of Christopher’s injuries. Additionally, they can allege that had they been told the truth by NSC, i.e. , that the chemicals and processes were reproductively toxic and could cause severe injury to unbo rn children, which NS C knew, they would have filed an action against NSC within th e limitations period.” (Original italics.) These proposed amendments are as conclusory as th e averments of the second amended complaint and do not cu re the problems identified. In other words, they do not allege a “misrepresen tation bearing on the necessity of bringing a timely suit.” ( Lantzy , supra , 31 Cal.4th at p. 384, fn. 18; original italics.) We theref ore hold that Plaintiffs will not be granted leave to amend to plead that NSC is equitably estopped to rely on the
statute of limitations.

D ISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed. The parties shall bear their own costs on appeal._______ ____________ ____________ Márquez, J.

WE CONCUR:

_____________ __________________ ______________ Bamattre-Manoukian, Acting P.J.

_____________ _________________ Grover, J.