Citizens Of Humanity “Made in U.S.A.” Label Class Action Lawsuit

A San Diego woman has filed a class action suit against fashion label Citizens of Humanity and one of its retailers, the department store, Macy’s. On June 9, 2014, Louise Clark filed the complaint in a California court, alleging that the brand and the megastore are deceiving consumers regarding Citizens of Humanity’s “Made in the U.S.A.” label on their clothing. The suit asserts the “Made in the U.S.A.” label on the apparel is in violation of California law because component pieces of the clothing, such as fabric, thread, buttons, and zipper parts, are manufactured outside of the United States. The state law dictates that all parts and pieces of products with a “Made in the U.S.A.” label must actually be produced in the U.S.A. Consequently, each piece of apparel sold with a false “Made in the U.S.A.” claim was manufactured, marketed, and retailed fraudulently and deceptively.

 

Citizens of Humanity is a designer and manufacturer of high-end denim clothing. The company designs, markets, and produces over one million pairs of jeans each year, and the clothing is widely distributed at retail outlets throughout the world. On May 31, 2014, Clark bought a pair of Citizens of Humanity jeans at a Macy’s store in San Diego. The “boyfriend” style of jean, purchased by the plaintiff, was labeled “Made in the U.S.A.” The complaint states that Clark believed at the time of the transaction that the label was accurate and true, and that she was supporting U.S. jobs and the U.S. economy with her purchase. Yet, component pieces of the “boyfriend” jean, and other Citizens of Humanity styles, are manufactured outside of the United States, according to the lawsuit.

 

The plaintiff alleges “injury in fact,” since her money was taken by both Citizens of Humanity and Macy’s for a purchase that violates California law. Additionally, the suit claims foreign-made component parts are not subject to U.S. manufacturing standards and are often inherently a lower quality, less reliable, and likely to fail more often than parts made in the United States. The plaintiff asserts that the Citizens of Humanity jeans she bought at Macy’s are not worth the price she paid.

 

The California law invoked in this case states: “labels matter.” Consumers often consciously purchase products with “Made in the U.S.A.” labels because of a desire to support U.S. jobs, a belief about higher quality, concerns about overseas environmental and labor standards, or simple patriotism. The law exists “to protect consumers from being misled when they purchase products in the belief that they are advancing the interests of the United States and its industries and workers…”

Article Type: Lawsuit
Topic: Consumer
Tags: Deceptive Advertising, Deceptive Labels, Made In America Label