Frenzel v. Aliphcom
Filing
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ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART DEFENDANT'S 26 MOTION TO DISMISS FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT by Hon. William H. Orrick. Frenzel shall file a second amended complaint, if any, by July 27, 2015. (jmdS, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 7/7/2015)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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ROBERT FRENZEL,
Case No. 14-cv-03587-WHO
Plaintiff,
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ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND
DENYING IN PART DEFENDANT’S
MOTION TO DISMISS FIRST
AMENDED COMPLAINT
v.
United States District Court
Northern District of California
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ALIPHCOM,
Re: Dkt. No. 26
Defendant.
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INTRODUCTION
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Plaintiff Robert Frenzel accuses defendant Aliphcom dba Jawbone (“Jawbone”) of
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fraudulently inducing him to purchase a Jawbone UP fitness tracker wristband through
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misrepresentations regarding the device’s battery life and general functionality. He seeks to
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represent a national class asserting claims under California’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act,
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Unfair Competition Law, and False Advertising Law, as well as claims for breaches of express
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warranty and the implied warranty of merchantability. In the December 29, 2014 order on
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Jawbone’s motion to dismiss Frenzel’s original complaint (“Prior Order”), I dismissed each of
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Frenzel’s claims under a choice of law analysis and because the claims were inadequately alleged
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for a variety of other reasons. In his first amended complaint (“FAC”), Frenzel has cured some,
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but not all, of the defects I identified. Accordingly, Jawbone’s motion to dismiss the FAC is
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GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.
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BACKGROUND
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I.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
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A.
The Jawbone UP
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Jawbone is a California corporation headquartered in San Francisco, California. FAC ¶ 8
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(Dkt. No. 23). It markets and sells the Jawbone UP, a “fitness tracker” or “lifestyle” wristband
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designed to track and measure a user’s movements, calorie intake, and sleeping patterns. Id. ¶ 35.
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To do these things, each Jawbone UP contains a battery, an accelerometer, and “MotionX
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Software.” Id. ¶ 36. Frenzel describes the Jawbone UP as a system consisting of three basic
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components: (1) the wristband itself, (2) the software, and (3) the Jawbone mobile application
(“app”) and website. Id. ¶ 2. Each of these components is integral to the operation of a Jawbone
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United States District Court
Northern District of California
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UP. Id. The wristband holds the battery, accelerometer, and software; the software tracks and
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measures the user’s activity; and the Jawbone app and website record and display the data
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gathered by the software so that the user can view it. Id.
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Jawbone has distributed three versions of the Jawbone UP: the first generation Jawbone
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UP, the second generation Jawbone UP, and the Jawbone UP24. Id. ¶ 34. While Frenzel
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previously alleged claims based on all three versions of the product, he now limits his claims to
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the second generation Jawbone UP, the version he purchased. Id. ¶¶ 1 n.1, 34. All references to
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“Jawbone UP” in this order are to the second generation Jawbone UP unless otherwise indicated.
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B.
Frenzel’s Experience with the Jawbone UP
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Frenzel is a Missouri citizen residing in Kansas City, Missouri. FAC ¶ 7. On November
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12, 2012, he purchased a Jawbone UP from an Apple store in Kansas City. Id. ¶ 64. While in the
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store and before purchasing the device, he “carefully reviewed the product packaging and
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compared the representations [Jawbone] made . . . with those of other fitness trackers, including
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the Nike FuelBand.” Id. He “specifically noted that unlike the Nike Fuelband, the Jawbone UP
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had an advertised battery life of 10 days.” Id. He also specifically noted that the Jawbone UP
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would “track” and “measure” his movement, sleep patterns, and calorie intake. Id. Frenzel states
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that he “relied on these representations . . . on the product packaging when deciding to purchase
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the Jawbone UP instead of another fitness tracker.” Id. Before purchasing his Jawbone UP,
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Frenzel also downloaded the Jawbone app “to see how the Jawbone Service and Software worked
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and to determine if he wanted to purchase the device.” Id. ¶ 65.1
Frenzel states that “[f]rom the first day, [his] Jawbone UP did not maintain a charge for the
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advertised 10 days following a complete charge.” Id. ¶ 66. The device “maintained its charge for
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a dramatically shorter period of time,” such as for only “a few hours or a day.” Id. In addition, it
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“did not accurately record his movement, sleep patterns, and calorie intake.” Id. Frenzel explains
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that the device “failed to record significant periods of physical activity over the course of a day so
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that he appeared inactive when he had actually been active. That resulted in inaccurate readings of
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both movement and calorie intake. Further, the device frequently failed to record his sleep
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patterns, making it appear he had not slept when, in fact, he had.” Id.
Frenzel eventually contacted Jawbone to report these problems. Less than one year had
United States District Court
Northern District of California
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passed since he purchased his device, and he was issued a replacement. Id. ¶ 66. 2 He
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Attached to the FAC is a declaration by Frenzel describing his purchase of his Jawbone UP.
Frenzel Decl. ¶¶ 1-5 (FAC at p. 49-50). The declaration’s account of Frenzel’s purchase is
substantially identical to the FAC’s. See id.
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Frenzel alleges that each Jawbone UP is accompanied by a one-year warranty that provides for a
replacement Jawbone UP, and that each replacement device issued under the one-year warranty
comes with its own three-month warranty. FAC ¶ 34. Jawbone submits a copy of its limited
warranty for judicial notice. RJN Ex. 1 (Dkt. No. 27-1). The limited warranty provides in
relevant part:
AliphCom (“Jawbone”) warrants to you, the original retail purchaser
(“Consumer”), that this product (“Product”) will under normal use
operate substantially in accordance with the accompanying
documentation for a period of one (1) year from date of original
purchase. Consumer’s sole and exclusive remedy, and Jawbone’s
sole and exclusive responsibility under this warranty will be, at
Jawbone’s option, either to repair or replace the defective Product
during the one (1) year limited warranty period so that it performs
substantially in accordance with the accompanying documentation
on the date of your initial purchase. Any replacement may be, at the
option of Jawbone, a new or remanufactured Product.
Id. at 4. It also states, “Jawbone DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE PRODUCT IS ERROR
FREE OR THAT IT WILL FUNCTION WITHOUT INTERRUPTION.” Id. (capitalization in
original).
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“experienced identical problems” with this second device. Id. ¶ 67. “Like his first band, his
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second band immediately suffered from a significantly shorter battery life, sometimes maintaining
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a charge for only a few hours. Further, as before, the band failed to accurately record his
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movement, calorie intake, and sleep patterns from day one.” Id. When the replacement Jawbone
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UP “stopped working,” Frenzel again contacted Jawbone but was told that the three-month
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warranty period on the replacement device had expired, and that his only recourse was to purchase
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a new one. Id.3
Frenzel claims that two representations on the Jawbone UP box are false and misleading.
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The first states, “Battery life up to 10 days.” Id. ¶ 39. The second states, “Measure your daily
activity details including steps, distance, speed, intensity, and calories burned. Learn how active
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United States District Court
Northern District of California
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you are throughout the day to help you reach your goals.” Id. ¶ 44.4
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C.
Choice of Law Provisions
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Frenzel contends that all Jawbone UP purchasers are subject to California choice of law
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provisions included in contracts they enter with Jawbone upon purchasing and setting up their
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devices. FAC ¶ 12. He identifies two contracts with such provisions: (1) the terms of use for
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Jawbone’s website (the “Website Terms of Use”) and (2) Jawbone’s “Service and Software Terms
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of Use.” Id.
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Website Terms of Use
Jawbone UP purchasers agree to the Website Terms of Use by visiting the Jawbone
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website or when installing the Jawbone app. FAC ¶ 21. The Jawbone UP user manual directs
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purchasers to visit the Jawbone website to install the Jawbone app. Id. For the app to function,
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Jawbone’s unopposed request for judicial notice of its limited warranty, Dkt. No. 27, is
GRANTED. See Gross v. Symantec Corp., No. 12-cv-00154-CRB, 2012 WL 3116158, at *10
(N.D. Cal. July 31, 2012) (“Under the incorporation-by-reference doctrine, courts may consider
relevant documents not physically attached to the plaintiff's pleading if (1) the contents are central
to the allegations and (2) no party questions the authenticity of the documents.”). The rest of
Jawbone’s requests for judicial notice concern materials that are not necessary to decide this
motion. See Dkt. No. 27. They are DENIED AS MOOT.
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The Jawbone UP box similarly advertises, “Measure daily activity and calories burned,” and
“Track your daily activity food and sleep.” FAC ¶ 44. It also states: “Track how you sleep, move,
and eat. Understand more about yourself to make smarter choices and feel your best.” Id.
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purchasers must agree to the Website Terms of Use. Id. ¶¶ 25-28. Frenzel states that he agreed to
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them while in the Apple store when he downloaded the Jawbone app. Id. ¶ 65
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The first paragraph of the Website Terms of Use states that Jawbone “grants you the right
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to use this website . . . subject to the terms and conditions of use (‘Terms of Use’ or ‘Agreement’)
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set forth below. THE PURCHASE OF ANY PRODUCT OR SERVICE THROUGH THE SITE
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IS GOVERNED BY THE TERMS OF SALE.” Website Terms of Use at 1 (FAC Ex. B, Dkt. No.
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23-2). The agreement’s choice of law (and choice of venue) provision states as follows:
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These Terms of Use and any action related thereto will be governed,
controlled, interpreted, and defined by and under the laws of the
State of California, without giving effect to any principles that
require the application of the law of a different jurisdiction. By
using this site, you hereby expressly consent to the personal
jurisdiction and venue in the state and federal courts for San
Francisco County, California, and you agree that any claim brought
by you pursuant to these Terms of Use will be brought solely in
those courts and no other court.
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Id.
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United States District Court
Northern District of California
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Frenzel alleges that the Jawbone website is integral to the use of a Jawbone UP in that
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“[w]henever a user logs information into the [Jawbone] app . . . , that information is updated in real
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time on [the Jawbone] website.” Id. ¶ 32. Thus, “[w]hether users know it or not, they use the
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Jawbone website each and every time they log an activity on their app or plug their Jawbone UP
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into their phone . . . to sync and record their data.” Id. ¶ 30. In addition, both the app and the
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website enable Jawbone UP users to view their “Account Data” and to input and edit their
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“Registration Data.” Id. ¶ 29. Frenzel claims that this “affects the function of the accelerometer
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and the device’s ability to record calorie intake and burn.” Id. Frenzel states that the app and
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website are also integral to the use of a Jawbone UP device in that they are the only means by
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which a Jawbone UP user may check his or her device’s remaining battery charge. Id.
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2.
Service and Software Terms of Use
Jawbone UP users agree to the Service and Software Terms of Use when installing the
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Jawbone app and setting up their device. FAC ¶ 12. Frenzel states that he agreed to it when he
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downloaded the Jawbone app in the Apple store. Id. ¶ 65. The agreement’s first sentence explains
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that it is a “legal agreement between you and [Jawbone] concerning your use of the Jawbone
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Service and Software (both as defined below) provided by Jawbone for updating and controlling
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your Jawbone Device.” Software and Service Terms of Use at 1 (FAC Ex. A, Dkt. No. 23-1).
The agreement defines “Jawbone Service” as the “service . . . that enables you to update
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and control your Jawbone Device.” Id. at 2. The agreement then states that “[u]se of the Jawbone
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Service requires a personal computer, a Jawbone Device, internet access, and an installed and
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operating version of the Jawbone application software (‘Jawbone Application’),” and that “[y]our
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ability to use the Jawbone Service may be affected by the performance of these items.” Id.
“Software” is defined as “[t]he software products made available through the Jawbone
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Service.” Id. The agreement also explains that “[t]wo types of Jawbone software are offered
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through the Jawbone Service: (i) the Jawbone Application; and (ii) firmware for the Jawbone
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United States District Court
Northern District of California
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Device (‘Device Firmware’).” Id. “The Jawbone Application and Device Firmware are
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collectively referred to as ‘Software.’” Id.
The agreement’s choice of law/venue provision states as follows:
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These Terms of Use and your use of the Jawbone Service are
governed by the laws of the State of California, without reference to
its conflict of law rules. Your use of the Jawbone Service may also
be subject to other local, state, national, or international laws. You
expressly agree that exclusive jurisdiction and venue for any claim
or dispute with Jawbone or relating in any way to your use of the
Software resides in the state or federal courts of San Francisco
County, California. You hereby irrevocably consent to the personal
and exclusive jurisdiction and venue of these courts.”
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Id. at 7-8.
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Frenzel alleges that the Jawbone Software directly impacts the battery life of the Jawbone
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UP and is “one of the root causes” of the battery problems in the device. FAC ¶ 43. To illustrate
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this connection, Frenzel points to a September 8, 2014 posting on Jawbone’s website reporting
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that an update to the firmware for the Jawbone UP24 (a newer version of the Jawbone UP)
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doubles the device’s battery life, from seven to fourteen days. Id. (citing Hari Chakravarthula,
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“UP24 Now Lasts 14 Days on a Single Charge,” available at https://jawbone.com/blog/up24-now-
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lasts-14-days-single-charge).
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II.
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PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Frenzel filed this action on August 7, 2014. Dkt. No. 1. His original complaint asserted
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six causes of action against Jawbone: (1) violations of California’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act
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(“CLRA”), Cal. Civ. Code § 1750 et seq.; (2) violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law
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(“UCL”), Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200 et seq.; (3) violations of California’s False Advertising
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Law (“FAL”), Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17500 et seq.; (4) breach of express warranty; (5) breach
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of the implied warranty of merchantability; and (6) breach of the implied warranty of fitness for a
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particular purpose. Id.
On December 29, 2014, I issued the Prior Order, granting Jawbone’s motion to dismiss the
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original complaint. Dkt. No. 22. I dismissed each cause of action with leave to amend but
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dismissed Frenzel’s request for injunctive relief without leave to amend. Id. at 27-28. I denied
Jawbone’s motion to strike certain aspects of the proposed class definition, although without
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United States District Court
Northern District of California
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prejudice to renewal of the motion upon the filing of an amended complaint. Id.
Frenzel filed the FAC on January 28, 2015. The FAC abandons the cause of action for
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breach of the implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose but otherwise includes the same
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causes of action as the original complaint. As before, Frenzel states that he seeks to represent a
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national class. FAC ¶ 72. However, Frenzel no longer seeks to represent purchasers of the first
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generation Jawbone UP or the Jawbone UP24. Id. ¶¶ 1 n.1, 34. The proposed class definition is
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now limited to all persons who purchased the second generation Jawbone UP, excluding those
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who purchased it for resale. Id. ¶ 72. Frenzel seeks restitutionary, compensatory, and punitive
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damages on behalf of himself and the class. FAC at p. 47 (“Prayer for Relief”).5
Jawbone moved to dismiss on March 16, 2015. Dkt. No. 26. I heard argument from the
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parties on May 27, 2015.
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The FAC also includes a request for injunctive relief. FAC at p. 47. This request was dismissed
without leave to amend in the Prior Order. Prior Order at 27. Frenzel explains in his opposition
brief that the request appears in the FAC due to on oversight and that he no longer seeks injunctive
relief. Opp. at 2 n.1.
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LEGAL STANDARD
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I.
RULE 12(b)(6): MOTION TO DISMISS FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM
A motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
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12(b)(6) tests the legal sufficiency of a complaint. Navarro v. Block, 250 F.3d 729, 732 (9th Cir.
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2001). While “a complaint need not contain detailed factual allegations . . . it must plead enough
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facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Cousins v. Lockyer, 568 F.3d 1063,
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1067-68 (9th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). A claim is facially
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plausible when it “allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for
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the misconduct alleged.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (internal quotation marks
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omitted). “[C]onclusory allegations of law and unwarranted inferences are insufficient to avoid
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Northern District of California
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. . . dismissal” under this standard. Cousins, 568 F.3d at 1067 (internal quotation marks omitted).
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“[I]t is within [the court’s] wheelhouse to reject, as implausible, allegations that are too
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speculative to warrant further factual development.” Dahlia v. Rodriguez, 735 F.3d 1060, 1076
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(9th Cir. 2013).
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II.
RULE 9(b): HEIGHTENED PLEADING STANDARD FOR FRAUD OR MISTAKE
Claims sounding in fraud or mistake are subject to the heightened pleading standard of
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Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b), which requires that such claims “state with particularity the
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circumstances constituting fraud or mistake.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 9(b). To satisfy this standard, a
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plaintiff must identify “the time, place, and content of [the] alleged misrepresentation[s],” as well
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as the “circumstances indicating falseness” or “manner in which the representations at issue were
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false and misleading.” In re GlenFed, Inc. Sec. Litig., 42 F.3d 1541, 1547-48 (9th Cir. 1994)
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(internal quotation marks and alterations omitted). The allegations “must be specific enough to
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give defendants notice of the particular misconduct which is alleged to constitute the fraud
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charged so that they can defend against the charge and not just deny that they have done anything
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wrong.” Swartz v. KPMG LLP, 476 F.3d 756, 764 (9th Cir. 2007).
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III.
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RULE 12(f): MOTION TO STRIKE
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(f) authorizes a court to “strike from a pleading an
insufficient defense or any redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter.” Fed. R.
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Civ. P. 12(f). The function of a motion to strike “is to avoid the expenditure of time and money
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that must arise from litigating spurious issues by dispensing with those issues prior to trial.”
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Sidney–Vinstein v. A.H. Robins Co., 697 F.2d 880, 885 (9th Cir. 1983). Motions to strike are
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generally disfavored and “should not be granted unless the matter to be stricken clearly could have
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no possible bearing on the subject of the litigation.” Platte Anchor Bolt, Inc. v. IHI, Inc., 352 F.
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Supp. 2d 1048, 1057 (N.D. Cal. 2004); accord Adedapoidle-Tyehimba v. Crunch, LLC, No. 13-cv-
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00225-WHO, 2013 WL 4082137, at *5-7 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 9, 2013).
DISCUSSION
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I.
CHOICE OF LAW ANALYSIS
In the Prior Order, I held that California’s choice of law rules required the dismissal of
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United States District Court
Northern District of California
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each of Frenzel’s individual claims and prohibited him from representing a national class asserting
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claims under the CLRA, UCL, and FAL. Prior Order at 5-10. I dismissed his individual claims
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because he had not identified the state in which he purchased his Jawbone UP. Id. at 8-9. I
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determined that he could not represent a national class asserting CLRA, UCL, and FAL claims
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upon finding that, “given the . . . state of his pleadings, Jawbone ha[d] adequately demonstrated
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that ‘each class member’s consumer protection claim[s] should be governed by the consumer
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protection laws of the jurisdiction in which [his or her] transaction took place.’” Id. at 9 (quoting
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Mazza v. Am. Honda Motor Co., 666 F.3d 581, 594 (9th Cir. 2012)).
In the FAC, Frenzel clarifies that he purchased his Jawbone UP in Missouri but continues
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to seek to assert California state law claims on behalf of a national class.6 See FAC ¶¶ 64, 72.
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Jawbone contends that “there is nothing new in the FAC that could alter the Court’s previous
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conclusion that . . . choice of law principles prevent [Frenzel] from maintaining individual or class
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claims under California law.” Mot. at 6-7. Frenzel responds that the choice of law provisions in
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Like the original complaint, the FAC does not specify under which state’s law Frenzel seeks to
assert his warranty claims. See FAC ¶¶ 106-121. However, other allegations in the FAC indicate
that Frenzel means to bring them under California law. See, e.g., id. ¶ 20 (“California law applies
in this case.”). In addition, the two cases that Frenzel cites in his opposition brief in support of his
warranty claims both apply California law. See Opp. at 23, 23 n.4. For these reasons, I construe
the FAC as seeking to assert warranty claims under California law.
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the Website and Service and Software Terms of Use make the application of California law proper
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here, and that even if the Terms of Use are inapplicable, California law is properly applied under
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the three-step governmental interest test. Opp. at 2-13.
“A federal court sitting in diversity must look to the forum state’s choice of law rules to
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determine the controlling substantive law.” Zinser v. Accufix Research Inst., Inc., 253 F.3d 1180,
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1187 (9th Cir. 2001); accord Mazza, 666 F.3d at 589. “California has two different analyses for
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selecting which law should be applied in an action.” Washington Mut. Bank, FA v. Superior
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Court, 24 Cal.4th 906, 914 (2001). Where there is no advance agreement between the parties
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regarding applicable law, courts apply the three-step governmental interest test, “analyz[ing] the
governmental interests of the various jurisdictions involved to select the appropriate law.” Id.
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United States District Court
Northern District of California
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Where, as here, the parties have entered an agreement containing a choice of law provision, courts
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follow Nedlloyd Lines B.V. v. Superior Court, 3 Cal.4th 459 (1992).7
Nedlloyd instructs courts to “first examine the choice of law clause [to] ascertain whether
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the advocate of the clause has met its burden of establishing that the various claims of putative
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class members fall within its scope.” Washington, 24 Cal.4th at 916. “[T]he scope of a choice of
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law clause . . . is a matter that ordinarily should be determined under the law designated therein.”
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Id. at 916 n.3. In Nedlloyd, the California Supreme Court held that under California law, “a valid
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choice of law clause, which provides that a specified body of law ‘governs’ the ‘agreement’
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between the parties, encompasses all causes of action arising from or related to that agreement,
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regardless of how they are characterized, including tortious breaches of duties emanating from the
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agreement or the legal relationships it creates.” 3 Cal.4th at 470. The court explained: “When a
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rational businessperson enters into an agreement establishing a transaction or relationship and
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provides that disputes arising from the agreement shall be governed by the law of an identified
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California requires courts to conduct a “separate conflict of laws inquiry [for] each issue in the
case.” Washington, 24 Cal.4th at 920; see also Estrella v. Freedom Fin. Network, LLC, No. 09cv-03156-SI, 2010 WL 2231790, at *4 (N.D. Cal. June 2, 2010) (noting that a court applying
California’s choice of law rules must “conduct a choice of law analysis for each claim or issue”).
A court may thus “be required to utilize both [the governmental interest test and the Nedlloyd
approach]” in a single case. Washington, 24 Cal.4th at 915.
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jurisdiction, the logical conclusion is that he or she intended that law to apply to all disputes
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arising out of the transaction or relationship.” Id. at 469 (emphasis omitted).
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Once a court finds that a claim falls within the scope of a choice of law clause, it must then
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consider whether the clause is enforceable. Washington, 24 Cal.4th at 916. This involves a two-
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part inquiry. Id. The court must first determine “whether the chosen state has a substantial
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relationship to the parties or their transaction,” or “whether there is any other reasonable basis for
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the parties’ choice of law.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). Second, if either of these tests
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is met, the choice of law clause is enforceable unless the court finds both (1) that “the chosen
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state’s law is contrary to a fundamental policy of California,” and (2) that California “has a
materially greater interest than the chosen state in the determination of the particular issue.” Id. at
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Northern District of California
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916-17.
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With this framework in mind, I turn to the choice of law provisions at issue here.
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A.
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The choice of law/venue provision in the Website Terms of Use states that
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Website Terms of Use
[t]hese Terms of Use and any action related thereto will be
governed, controlled, interpreted, and defined by and under the laws
of the State of California, without giving effect to any principles that
require the application of the law of a different jurisdiction. By
using this site, you hereby expressly consent to the personal
jurisdiction and venue in the state and federal courts for San
Francisco County, California, and you agree that any claim brought
by you pursuant to these Terms of Use will be brought solely in
those courts and no other court.
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Website Terms of Use at 1. In opposing Jawbone’s motion to dismiss the original complaint,
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Frenzel argued that the choice of law provision extended to his claims. I rejected the argument on
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the ground that it was unsupported by the actual allegations in the complaint, which made no
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reference either to the provision or to the Website Terms of Use. Prior Order at 9-10.
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I also noted that even if Frenzel were to add appropriate allegations, the argument would
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still likely fail because his claims did not to appear to relate to the Website Terms of Use. Id. I
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cited two cases that had reached the same conclusion in similar circumstances. See In re Sony
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Gaming Networks & Customer Data Sec. Breach Litig., 903 F. Supp. 2d 942, 964-65 (S.D. Cal.
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2012) (rejecting argument that plaintiffs’ CLRA, UCL, and FAL claims were governed by the
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choice of law provision in defendants’ terms of service contract, where “[b]y its own terms, . . . the
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provision dictates only that California law applies to the construction and interpretation of the
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contract, and thus the provision does not apply to plaintiffs’ noncontractual claims asserted under
4
California’s consumer protection statutes”); Nikolin v. Samsung Electronics Am., Inc., No. 10-cv-
5
01456, 2010 WL 4116997, at *4 n.3 (D.N.J. Oct. 18, 2010) (“By its express language, the Terms
6
of Use ‘govern [the website visitor] while on this site,’ and in a subsection titled ‘Violation of
7
Terms of This Site,’ they state that New Jersey law governs ‘[a]ny action related to these
8
Terms.’. . . Plaintiff has not alleged that either she or [defendant] violated the terms of
9
[defendant’s] website, and [she] has not alleged that her claims arise under the website’s terms.”).
10
Frenzel dedicates a substantial portion of the FAC to allegations aimed at establishing a
United States District Court
Northern District of California
11
connection between his claims and the Website Terms of Use. He states that Jawbone UP
12
purchasers must agree to the Website Terms of Use for their Jawbone app to function. See FAC ¶¶
13
25-28. Once the app is up and running, the app and website “simultaneously calculate and display
14
user data.” Id. ¶ 31. “Whenever a user logs information into the app . . . , that information is
15
updated in real time on [the] website.” Id. ¶ 32. “Whether users know it or not, they use the
16
Jawbone website each and every time they log an activity on their app or plug their Jawbone UP
17
into their phone . . . to sync and record their data.” Id. ¶ 30. In addition, both the app and the
18
website enable Jawbone UP users to view their “Account Data” and to input and edit their
19
“Registration Data.” Id. ¶ 29. Frenzel alleges that this “affects the function of the accelerometer
20
and the device’s ability to record calorie intake and burn.” Id.
21
Frenzel also states that the app and website are the only means by which Jawbone UP users
22
may check their device’s remaining battery charge. Id. ¶ 29. He alleges that the app and website
23
display inaccurate information regarding remaining battery charge, as well as inaccurate
24
information regarding user activity. Id. ¶ 32. He claims that because the app and website display
25
this inaccurate information and are “integral to the accurate recording of the device,” his claims
26
fall within the scope of the Website Terms of Use’s choice of law provision. Id.
27
28
Jawbone contends that Frenzel’s efforts to connect his claims to the Website Terms of Use
are misguided. It emphasizes that the choice of law provision, by its own terms, governs only
12
1
“[t]hese Terms of Use and any action related thereto,” not any action related in any way to the
2
website. Reply at 3. Jawbone argues that Frenzel’s position fails to “appreciate the distinction
3
between claims arising from the website itself and claims arising from the terms of an agreement
4
governing the website. Even assuming that [Frenzel] has established the former, the choice of law
5
provision only covers the latter.” Id. at 4.
Jawbone has the better of these arguments. By its own terms, the Website Terms of Use’s
6
7
choice of law provision extends only to the terms of use themselves and to “any action related
8
thereto.” Neither Frenzel’s consumer protection claims nor his warranty claims are based on the
9
Terms of Use themselves – e.g., he has not identified any misrepresentations or sued upon any
10
express warranty statements contained in the Terms of Use.
United States District Court
Northern District of California
11
Frenzel’s efforts to portray his claims as being related to the Website Terms of Use are also
12
unconvincing. Although it appears that his claims have some tangential connection to the Jawbone
13
website, their connection to the Website Terms of Use is beyond attenuated. In Nedlloyd, the court
14
found that a choice of law clause in a shareholders’ agreement extended to claims for breach of
15
fiduciary duty where the shareholders’ agreement “creat[ed] the relationship between shareholder
16
and corporation that g[ave] rise to [the plaintiff’s] cause of action.” 3 Cal.4th at 469. The court
17
explained that the defendant’s “fiduciary duties, if any, arise from – and can exist only because
18
of – of the shareholders’ agreement.” Id. That is not the situation here. None of Frenzel’s claims
19
arise from the Website Terms of Use, and none exist only because of it. Unlike Nedlloyd, this is
20
not case where the claims at issue “emanat[e] from the agreement or the legal relationships it
21
creates.” Id. at 470. The choice of law provision from the Website Terms of Use does not apply
22
here.
23
B.
24
The choice of law/venue provision in the Service and Software Terms of Use states that
25
26
27
28
Service and Software Terms of Use
[t]hese Terms of Use and your use of the Jawbone Service are
governed by the laws of the State of California, without reference to
its conflict of law rules. Your use of the Jawbone Service may also
be subject to other local, state, national, or international laws. You
expressly agree that exclusive jurisdiction and venue for any claim
or dispute with Jawbone or relating in any way to your use of the
Software resides in the state or federal courts of San Francisco
13
1
County, California. You hereby irrevocably consent to the personal
and exclusive jurisdiction and venue of these courts.”
2
Service and Software Terms of Use at 7-8. Frenzel did not raise this provision in opposing the
3
previous motion to dismiss, and I did not discuss it in the Prior Order.
4
Frenzel states that the issue of whether his claims fit within the scope of the provision boils
5
down to a simple question: “[D]o [his] claims arise from his use of the Jawbone Service?” Opp. at
6
4 (internal quotation marks omitted). In support of his contention that they do, he alleges that the
7
Jawbone Software directly impacts the battery life of the Jawbone UP and is “one of the root
8
causes” of the device’s battery problems. FAC ¶ 43. He also alleges that the Jawbone Service and
9
Jawbone Software are responsible for “inaccurately record[ing] user activity and report[ing]
10
inaccurate charge remaining for the battery.” Id. ¶ 32.
United States District Court
Northern District of California
11
I agree with Jawbone that Frenzel’s allegations regarding the connection between his
12
claims and the Jawbone Service are thin. Nevertheless, I am persuaded that Frenzel’s new reliance
13
on the choice of law provision in the Service and Software Terms of Use raises factual issues that
14
make the choice of law issue in this case better suited for resolution at class certification. Cf. Bias
15
v. Wells Fargo & Co., 942 F. Supp. 2d 915, 928 (N.D. Cal. 2013) (applying the Nedlloyd approach
16
but declining to decide choice of law issue at pleading phase where “the record with respect to
17
balancing the competing states’ interests is not sufficiently developed”).
18
The scope of the provision is significantly broader than the choice of law provision in the
19
Website Terms of Use. Rather than applying only to the agreement itself and to “any action
20
related thereto,” Website Terms of Use at 1, the choice of law provision in the Service and
21
Software Terms of Use extends to “your use of the Jawbone Service,” Service and Software Terms
22
of Use at 7-8. While the parties dispute the meaning of “Jawbone Service,” there is no question
23
that the term covers a substantial portion of how consumers likely use their Jawbone UPs. The
24
agreement broadly defines the term as the “service . . . that enables you to update and control your
25
Jawbone Device.” Id. at 2. The agreement also states, unhelpfully, that “[u]se of the Jawbone
26
Service requires a personal computer, a Jawbone Device, internet access, and an installed and
27
operating version of the [Jawbone Application],” and that “[y]our ability to use the Jawbone
28
Service may be affected by the performance of these items.” Id. Neither party has directed me to
14
1
any portion of the agreement that provides additional clarity regarding the meaning of the term.
2
Determining that meaning, and which if any of the claims at issue here are sufficiently connected
3
to it to fall within the scope of the Service and Service Terms of Use’s choice of law provision, is
4
better done after the parties have had an opportunity to conduct discovery and develop a factual
5
record.
Accordingly, I decline to hold, at this juncture, that California’s choice of law rules
6
7
prohibit Frenzel from maintaining his claims against Jawbone, and the motion to dismiss on this
8
ground is DENIED. Jawbone will have an opportunity to revisit the choice of law issue at class
9
certification.
10
II.
11
FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD CAUSES OF ACTION: VIOLATIONS OF THE
CLRA, UCL, AND FAL
United States District Court
Northern District of California
In the Prior Order, I found that Frenzel’s claims under the CLRA, UCL, and FAL failed to
12
13
satisfy Rule 9(b)’s heightened pleading standard.8 Prior Order at 11-18. I explained that Frenzel
had not adequately alleged the existence of any actionable misrepresentation, and that he had “not
14
alleged with sufficient detail what representations he reviewed, when he first reviewed them, or
15
which ones he relied on in deciding to purchase his Jawbone UP.” Prior Order at 16.
16
Frenzel’s amended consumer protection claims are based on two theories: (1) that Jawbone
17
18
misrepresented that Jawbone UP “retains its [battery] charge for 10 days when fully charged;” and
(2) that Jawbone misrepresented that the device “would accurately ‘track’ and ‘measure’ a user’s
19
movement, sleep patterns, and calorie intake.” FAC ¶ 86; see also, e.g., id. ¶¶ 95, 98, 102, 105.
20
Frenzel alleges that Jawbone knew or should have known that the Jawbone UP device does not
21
maintain a battery charge for ten days when fully charged, and that the device does not accurately
22
record a user’s movement, sleep patterns, or calorie intake. See, e.g., FAC ¶ 86.
23
Jawbone contends that both theories are defective under Rule 9(b). I address each in turn.
24
A.
Battery Life Theory
25
As an initial matter, I note that Frenzel repeatedly mischaracterizes the alleged
26
27
8
28
Frenzel did not then and does not now dispute that his CLRA, UCL, and FAL claims sound in
fraud and are governed by Rule 9(b). See, e.g., Opp. at 18.
15
1
misrepresentation underlying his battery life theory. Frenzel claims that Jawbone misrepresented
2
that the Jawbone UP “retains its charge for 10 days when fully charged.” FAC ¶ 86. Similarly, he
3
alleges that he selected the Jawbone UP over other fitness tracker wristbands based in part on
4
Jawbone’s representations that the device “had . . . a battery life of 10 days,” and “would maintain
5
a charge for 10 days.” id. ¶ 64; Frenzel Decl. ¶ 4. The only representations that Frenzel alleges he
6
relied on in making his purchase, however, were those on the device’s box. See, e.g., FAC ¶ 64.
7
According to the FAC, the only statement regarding battery life on the device’s box was not that
8
the battery charge lasts 10 days, but that it lasts “up to” 10 days.9 See id. ¶ 39. There is a
9
significant difference between those two phrases, and Frenzel’s apparent attempt to treat them as
equivalent is not well taken. To the extent his CLRA, UCL, and FAL claims are based on the
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
10
allegation that Jawbone misrepresented that the Jawbone UP “retains its charge for 10 days when
12
fully charged,” id. ¶ 86, the claims are DISMISSED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND. Frenzel
13
cannot maintain causes of action under these statutes based on a statement that he does not claim
14
he relied on in making his purchase. See, e.g., Mazza, 666 F.3d at 591 (in case involving claims
15
under the CLRA, UCL, and FAL, noting that “California . . . requires named class plaintiffs to
16
demonstrate reliance”).
This leaves the question of whether the statement, “Battery life up to 10 days,” can support
17
18
Frenzel’s consumer protection claims. In the Prior Order, I dismissed his claims arising from this
19
statement on the ground that he “ha[d] not adequately alleged the manner in which [the statement]
20
was false or misleading.”10 Prior Order at 15. I explained that Frenzel had failed to allege with
21
any degree of specificity: (1) whether either his original Jawbone UP or his replacement device
22
ever maintained a charge for ten days; (2) how long after he acquired each device it began
23
exhibiting power problems; (3) for how long each device would maintain a charge after it began
24
9
25
26
27
28
In addition, Frenzel clarifies in his opposition brief that it was the statement, “Battery life up to
10 days,” that “deceived [him] into believing the battery would last for 10 days.” Opp. at 21.
10
Frenzel previously alleged that “[w]ithin a few months” of purchasing his original Jawbone UP,
he “began experienc[ing] problems with [the device] when it stopped maintaining its charge,” and
that his replacement device “could not retain a charge” and “ultimately died.” Dkt. No. 1 at ¶¶ 4142.
16
1
exhibiting power problems; or (4) how much time passed between when his replacement device
2
began exhibiting power problems and when it stopped working. Id. at 15-16. I noted that
3
“Frenzel may not need to answer each of these questions to satisfy Rule 9(b) (and he may still fail
4
to satisfy Rule 9(b) despite answering all of them). But Frenzel does need to provide sufficient
5
information regarding the manner in which Jawbone’s statements were allegedly false or
6
misleading to give Jawbone notice of what it is charged with doing wrong.” Id. at 16 (citing
7
Swartz, 476 F.3d at 764).
8
9
Frenzel argues that the FAC cures these deficiencies. He now alleges that “[f]rom the first
day, [his] Jawbone UP did not maintain a charge for [10 days] following a complete charge.”
FAC ¶ 66. The device “maintained its charge for a dramatically shorter period of time,” such as
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
10
for only “a few hours or a day.” Id. He further states that his replacement device exhibited
12
“identical problems” and “immediately suffered from a significantly shorter battery life,
13
sometimes maintaining a charge for only a few hours.” Id. ¶ 67.
14
I agree with Frenzel that these new allegations push his battery charge theory over the line
15
so that it survives a motion to dismiss. As I noted in the Prior Order, “the phrase ‘up to’ does not
16
necessarily preclude [a] statement from providing the basis for a misrepresentation claim under
17
California’s consumer protection statutes.” Prior Order at 14-15. “[M]ultiple courts have found
18
that ‘up to’ representations may materially mislead reasonable consumers.” Herron v. Best Buy
19
Co. Inc., 924 F. Supp. 2d 1161, 1172-73 (E.D. Cal. 2013) (citing cases). In Herron, for example,
20
the court held that the plaintiff had stated a misrepresentation claim under the CLRA and UCL
21
where he purchased a laptop advertised as having a battery life of “up to 3.32 hours” and alleged
22
that he had “never once achieved even close to the represented 3.32 hours of battery life.” Id. at
23
1166-67, 1172-73. In Walter v. Hughes Commc’ns, Inc., 682 F. Supp. 2d 1031 (N.D. Cal. 2010),
24
the court rejected the defendant internet provider’s argument that statements regarding its
25
download speeds amounted to mere puffery under the CLRA, UCL, and FAL, where the plaintiffs
26
alleged that they had been unable to experience either the “typical” download speeds advertised by
27
the defendant, or the download speeds the defendant advertised its services as reaching “up to.”
28
Id. at 1043-44. And in Consumer Advocates v. Echostar Satellite Corp., 113 Cal. App. 4th 1351
17
1
(2003), the court reversed the grant of summary judgment for defendants on plaintiffs’ CLRA,
2
UCL, and FAL claims arising from defendants’ alleged misrepresentation that their program guide
3
system would display the schedule “up to 7 days in advance,” where the record indicated that
4
plaintiffs could view the schedule only two to three days in advance. Id. at 1361-62. The court
5
rejected defendants’ argument that their “up to” representation could only be reasonably
6
understood to mean that the system had the capacity to show the schedule seven days in advance.
7
Id. The court acknowledged that this was a “possible, if technical, interpretatio[n] of the
8
statemen[t], but we cannot say that there is no triable issue on whether [it was] untrue or
9
misleading . . . A perfectly true statement couched in such a manner that it is likely to mislead . . .
10
is actionable.” Id. at 1361 (internal quotation marks omitted).
United States District Court
Northern District of California
11
The new allegations in the FAC bring this case in line with decisions like Herron, Walter,
12
and Echostar and allow Frenzel to state a claim under the CLRA, UCL, and FAL. Jawbone does
13
not offer any authority to the contrary. Its only counterargument is to fault Frenzel for not
14
specifically alleging (1) how long after he acquired each device it began lasting only “a few hours
15
or a day;” (2) with what frequency each device lasted only a few hours; or (3) the longest period
16
each device ever lasted. Mot. at 18; Reply at 12. But Frenzel does allege how long after he
17
acquired each device it began lasting only a few hours or a day – i.e., “from the first day” for his
18
original Jawbone UP and “immediately” for his replacement device. FAC ¶¶ 66-67. I do not find
19
that additional specificity is required at this time. Nor do I find that Frenzel is required to allege
20
with greater detail how often his devices lasted only “a few hours or a day,” or the longest period
21
they ever lasted.
22
23
Frenzel’s battery life theory may proceed. Insofar as his CLRA, UCL, and FAL claims are
based on this theory, Jawbone’s motion to dismiss those claims is DENIED.
24
B.
Product Functionality Theory
25
As with his battery life theory, Frenzel mischaracterizes the alleged misrepresentation
26
underlying his product functionality theory. He claims that Jawbone misrepresented that the
27
Jawbone UP “would accurately ‘track’ and ‘measure’ a user’s movement, sleep patterns, and
28
calorie intake.” FAC ¶ 86; see also, e.g., id. ¶¶ 95, 98, 102, 105. But, again, the only
18
1
representations Frenzel alleges he relied on in making his purchase were those on the Jawbone UP
2
box, none of which use the word “accurately.” Rather, according to the FAC, the only relevant
3
statements on the box are:
5
(1) “Measure your daily activity details including steps, distance,
speed, intensity, and calories burned. Learn how active you are
throughout the day to help you reach your goals.”
6
(2) “Measure daily activity and calories burned,”
7
(3) “Track your daily activity food and sleep.”
8
(4) “Track how you sleep, move, and eat. Understand more about
yourself to make smarter choices and feel your best.”
4
9
Id. ¶ 44. As stated above, Frenzel cannot maintain causes of action under California’s consumer
10
protection statutes based on statements that he does not allege he relied on in making his purchase.
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
To the extent that his CLRA, UCL, and FAL claims are based on the allegation that Jawbone
12
misrepresented that the Jawbone UP “would accurately ‘track’ and ‘measure’ a user’s movement,
13
sleep patterns, and calorie intake,” the claims are DISMISSED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND.
14
In his opposition brief, Frenzel avoids basing his product functionality theory on any
15
16
17
alleged statement involving the word “accurately.” See Opp. at 22-23. He instead reframes the
theory as a claim that “as soon as [a Jawbone UP] comes out of the box,” it “cannot and does not
function as advertised” in that it does not perform the promised tracking and measuring functions.
18
Id.
19
This claim fails for two reasons. First, it is not supported by the allegations in the FAC.
20
Frenzel repeatedly alleges that his devices failed to “accurately” track and measure, see, e.g., FAC
21
¶ 86, but he does not allege that they never tracked and measured at all. For example, he alleges
22
23
24
that his devices “failed to record significant periods of physical activity,” not that they never
recorded physical activity. See id. ¶¶ 66-67. Likewise, he states that his devices “frequently failed
to record his sleep patterns,” not that they never recorded his sleep patterns. See id. ¶¶ 66-67.
25
These are allegations that the Jawbone UP does not track and measure very dependably, not that it
26
completely fails to perform these functions.
27
The claim also fails because it is not meaningfully distinguishable from the product
28
19
1
functionality theory I rejected in the Prior Order. Frenzel previously alleged that various
2
statements on the Jawbone UP box regarding the product’s functionality were misleading because
3
his device’s power defect prevented it from working at all. See Prior Order at 12-14; Dkt. No. 1
4
¶¶ 15-17; Plaintiff’s Opposition to Jawbone’s Motion to Dismiss at 11-12 (“Plaintiff’s claim is
5
simple: defendant stated that the device would do certain things that it . . . cannot do because it is
6
defective . . . Because of the power defect, the device cannot perform as described.”). I rejected
7
this theory on the ground that it “amount[ed] to the position that because [Frenzel’s Jawbone UP]
8
eventually died, any statement by Jawbone regarding the device’s functionality – regardless of
9
whether the statement claimed the device had a characteristic it does not have, or is of a standard
or quality of which it is not – was deceptive to a reasonable consumer.” Prior Order at 14 (internal
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
10
quotation marks and citations omitted). I relied on several cases from this district holding that
12
general statements about a product’s functionality – as opposed to statements regarding the
13
product’s quality or reliability – do not become actionable on an affirmative misrepresentation
14
theory merely because the product fails to work perfectly. See In re MyFord Touch Consumer
15
Litig., 46 F. Supp. 3d 936, 954-55 (N.D. Cal. 2014); Morgan v. Harmonix Music Sys., Inc., No.
16
08-cv-05211, 2009 WL 2031765, at *3 (N.D. Cal. July 7, 2009); Long v. Hewlett-Packard Co.,
17
No. 06-cv-02816 JW, 2007 WL 2994812, at *7 (N.D. Cal. July 27, 2007); see also Berenblat v.
18
Apple, Inc., No. 08-cv-04969-JF, 2009 WL 2591366, at *6 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 21, 2009) (dismissing
19
CLRA claims based on laptop’s allegedly defective memory slot where “[t]he complaint does not
20
allege that [defendant] made any specific representation with respect to the durability of the
21
memory slot;” noting that “[s]imilar claims under the CLRA have been rejected because otherwise
22
[a] statement describing any feature would be actionable when either the feature – or product as a
23
whole – eventually failed”).
24
These cases continue to apply here, and I continue to find them persuasive. Jawbone’s
25
motion to dismiss Frenzel’s CLRA, UCL, and FAL claims arising from the product functionality
26
theory is GRANTED. Because I am persuaded that further amendment of those claims would be
27
futile, they are DISMISSED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND.
28
20
1
III.
FOURTH AND FIFTH CAUSES OF ACTION: WARRANTY CLAIMS
2
Frenzel’s fourth and fifth causes of action are for breach of express warranty and breach of
3
the implied warranty of merchantability. FAC ¶¶ 106-121. I previously dismissed these causes of
4
action on the ground that, even assuming that any such warranties existed, Frenzel had not alleged
5
that Jawbone failed to comply with them. Prior Order at 21-26. I held that the warranty periods
6
and available remedies for any express warranty or implied warranty of merchantability were
7
constrained by the terms of Jawbone’s limited warranty. Id. That limited warranty prescribes a
8
one-year warranty period for Frenzel’s original Jawbone UP and a three-month warranty period
9
for his replacement device. See, e.g., FAC ¶ 34. It also states that a consumer’s “sole and
exclusive remedy” is the “repair or replace[ment]” of the defective product. RJN Ex. A at 4 (Dkt.
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
10
No. 27-1). Thus, because Frenzel had not alleged that Jawbone failed to repair or replace either of
12
his devices within the applicable warranty period, he could not maintain claims for either breach
13
of express warranty or breach of the implied warranty of merchantability. Prior Order at 21-26.
14
Jawbone contends that the warranty claims in the FAC must be dismissed for the same
15
reason. Mot. at 21-22; Reply at 14. I agree. As in the original complaint, Frenzel does not allege
16
in the FAC that Jawbone failed to repair or replace either of his devices during the applicable
17
warranty periods. Rather, he alleges that Jawbone replaced his original Jawbone UP because he
18
contacted customer support within the one-year warranty period, and that Jawbone then refused to
19
replace his replacement Jawbone UP because he contacted customer support after the three-month
20
warranty period that governed that device. FAC ¶ 67. The only material difference between the
21
original complaint and the FAC with respect to Frenzel’s warranty claims is that Frenzel now
22
clearly states that he did not contact Jawbone regarding his replacement device until after the
23
expiration of the three-month warranty period. See Dkt. No. 1 ¶¶ 40-41; FAC ¶67. That
24
difference does not justify a different outcome here. Jawbone’s motion to dismiss the fourth and
25
fifth causes of action, for breach of express warranty and breach of the implied warranty of
26
merchantability, is GRANTED.
27
28
I will allow leave to amend. Although Frenzel does not specifically allege in the FAC
when he attempted to return his replacement Jawbone UP, it appears possible that this occurred
21
1
after the expiration of the three-month warranty period that governed his replacement device but
2
before the expiration of the one-year warranty period that governed his initial device. In this
3
scenario, it seems possible that Frenzel could state a claim under a warranty theory against
4
Jawbone.
5
IV.
6
MOTION TO STRIKE
Frenzel seeks to represent a national class defined as all persons who purchased the second
7
generation Jawbone UP, excluding those who purchased it for resale. FAC ¶ 72. Frenzel has
8
already substantially narrowed his proposed class definition by removing from it purchasers of the
9
first generation Jawbone UP and the Jawbone UP24. I agree with Frenzel that further
modification of the proposed class definition is inappropriate at this time. See In re Wal-Mart
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
10
Stores, Inc. Wage & Hour Litig., 505 F. Supp. 2d 609, 615 (N.D. Cal. 2007) (“[T]he granting of
12
motions to dismiss class allegations before discovery has commenced is rare . . . because the shape
13
and form of a class action evolves only through the process of discovery.”) (internal quotation
14
marks omitted); see also Long v. Graco Children's Products Inc., No. 13-cv-01257-JD, 2014 WL
15
7204652, at *4 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 17, 2014) (“Many courts have recognized that the sufficiency of
16
class allegations are better addressed through a class certification motion, after the parties have
17
had an opportunity to conduct some discovery.”) (internal quotation marks and alterations
18
omitted). The motion to strike is DENIED.
CONCLUSION
19
20
For the foregoing reasons, Jawbone’s motion to dismiss the FAC is GRANTED IN PART
21
and DENIED IN PART. Frenzel shall file a second amended complaint, if any, by July 27, 2015.
22
23
24
25
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: July 7, 2015
______________________________________
WILLIAM H. ORRICK
United States District Judge
26
27
28
22
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