Lazy Cakes

In November 2013, the Ninth Circuit upheld a California district court’s decision to dismiss a class-action lawsuit filed against HBB, LLC, maker and marketer of Lazy Cakes. The complaint, which was originally filed in 2011, alleged that the company failed to inform consumers about the serious side effects stemming from the excessive quantity of melatonin in the Lazy Cakes, and that consumers were therefore misled into buying an unsafe product. The federal appeals court determined that the plaintiffs did not show that a reasonable consumer was likely to be deceived by the company’s marketing because the Lazy Cakes packaging describes the product as a relaxation agent, discloses the presence and quantity of melatonin in each serving, and warns consumers about the risk of drowsiness.

The federal appeals court, however, is allowing the plaintiffs an opportunity to refile their complaint since it may be possible for them to allege facts with enough detail to get beyond dismissal a second time around. (Cheramie v. HBB, LLC, Case No. 12-55148, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit).