Alba Botanica Cosmetics

December 2016: The named plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed this action When a complaint is dismissed with prejudice, it cannot be refiled., the reasons for which have not been disclosed.

February 2016: The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the district court decision dismissing the case and remanded the case for further proceedings. The appellate court found that plaintiffs’ allegations were sufficient.

January 2014: Plaintiffs filed a Notice of Appeal regarding the dismissal of this action. (Balser et al v. The Hain Celestial Group, Inc., Case No. 14-55074, 9th Cir.)

December 2013: A federal judge dismissed a class action complaint alleging that The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. deceptively advertises its Alba Botanic cosmetics line. The complaint, originally filed in August 2013, claims that the company markets its Alba Botanica line – including lotion, body wash, and hair care products – as “natural” when the products actually contain unnatural synthetic ingredients. In dismissing the complaint, the judge found that:

• the plaintiffs failed to allege what they believe the term “natural” means;
• the plaintiffs failed to allege that they relied on and were harmed by the misleading representation;
• the products’ “natural” label would not mislead a reasonable consumer.

The judge dismissed the complaint with prejudice, meaning that the plaintiffs may not re-file, finding that further amendment would be futile because the problems with the complaint cannot be fixed.

(Balser et al v. The Hain Celestial Group, Inc., Case No. 13-cv-5604, C. D. CA.).

For more information about other class-action lawsuits filed against The Hain Celestial Group and TINA.org’s coverage of the company, click here.