and that no reasonable consumer would expect a product labeled and marketed as containing“ 100 % Natural Flavors” to also include artificial sweeteners, as the stated products do.
Palmer wants to represent a nationwide class and California subclass of consumers who purchased one or more of the Sprite and Fanta products that were marketed or represented as being made with“ 100 % Natural Flavors.”
Coca-Cola has urged California District Judge George H. Wu to dismiss a proposed class action alleging it falsely labeled Sprite and Fanta sodas as containing“ 100 % natural flavors” despite including citric acid and other synthetic ingredients.
The company argues plaintiff Victoria Palmer has not plausibly alleged that the citric acid is artificial or functions as a flavor under U. S. Food and Drug Administration regulations.
Coca-Cola maintains that the ingredients named in the complaint serve as flavor enhancers or preservatives, not artificial flavors.
The company also claims Palmer lacks standing to sue over products she did not purchase, such as Fanta flavors beyond orange, and asserts her claims are preempted by federal regulations.
Coca-Cola further argues that the plaintiff’ s allegations do not meet the legal standards required to support a viable consumer deception claim under California law.
Uber wins partial dismissal in sexual assault MDL; some bellwether claims proceed
A California federal judge has partially dismissed claims in a bellwether group of lawsuits accusing Uber of failing to protect riders from sexual assault. However, several claims— including allegations of deceptive omissions and certain product liability claims— were allowed to proceed.
The Uber sexual assault MDL includes claims from more than 20 women who say Uber knew for years that some drivers posed safety risks but failed to implement effective safeguards like in-car cameras, improved background checks, or app-based protections. The plaintiffs claim Uber failed to screen, monitor or discipline its drivers, and that it misled passengers about the safety of its service.
U. S. District Judge Charles Breyer rejected claims that Uber’ s marketing campaigns— such as ads saying“ Don’ t drink and drive, call an Uber”— were misleading. The court found that the slogans amounted to general encouragement and“ non-actionable puffery,” not specific safety guarantees.
However, the judge declined to dismiss fraud and misrepresentation claims based on the in-app driver profiles that appear after a ride is booked. Plaintiffs allege that Uber misled users about ride safety by showing a driver’ s name, photo, vehicle, and rating but failing to include prior misconduct or criminal history. Judge Breyer ruled these claims could reasonably be seen as deceptive omissions.
On the product liability front, the court dismissed claims based on Uber’ s decision not to implement“ Safe Ride Matching,” an internal algorithmic tool that plaintiffs said could reduce risk by blocking certain driver-passenger pairings. The judge said those allegations targeted Uber’ s services rather than a product defect.
However, the court allowed claims related to Uber’ s failure to offer Gender Matching, a feature that would allow passengers to choose drivers of the same gender. Judge Breyer said this functionality, like parental controls in other consumer apps, relates to the app’ s design and could support a product liability theory.
Lawsuits allege Suboxone causes severe dental harm
Suboxone, a widely prescribed medication used to treat opioid addiction, is now facing legal scrutiny over its alleged link to severe dental problems. After using Suboxone sublingual strips, users have reported sudden tooth decay, cracking and even total tooth loss. In many cases, these issues have led to multiple extractions and overwhelming dental bills.
Suboxone sublingual strips are placed under the tongue, where they dissolve slowly. This exposes teeth to a prolonged acidic environment, which can erode enamel and lead to cavities, infections, and eventually tooth loss. The high acidity, combined with reduced saliva flow and the sugar content of some formulations, creates ideal conditions for dental decay— even in people with good oral hygiene.
The Food and Drug Administration( FDA) has acknowledged these risks, warning that even short-term use of Suboxone can cause severe dental issues. For some individuals, the damage is irreversible and requires extractions, crowns, implants or dentures.
Many former Suboxone users have come forward to share their painful experience with dental damage. Some describe sudden and severe tooth decay, while others report losing most— or all— of their teeth. One long-time Suboxone user shared:“ I’ m 45 years old, and I’ ve got 24 teeth that have broken off even with the gums. I’ ve been on Suboxone for over 12 years. I can’ t afford to get my teeth fixed.”
Another user explained their history:
86 The Trial Lawyer