Norton v. LG Chem, Ltd et al

Filing 70

OPINION AND ORDER granting 17 LG Chem America, Inc.'s Partial Motion to Dismiss. Count V of the Complaint is DISMISSED. Norton's alternative request for leave to amend is DENIED. Signed by Judge Steven D. Grimberg on 2/17/2021. (jed)

Case 1:20-cv-02263-SDG Document 70 Filed 02/17/21 Page 1 of 11

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
ATLANTA DIVISION
DAKOTA NORTON,
Plaintiff,
Civil Action No.
1:20-cv-02263-SDG

v.
LG CHEM, LTD and LG CHEM AMERICA,
INC.,
Defendants.
OPINION AND ORDER

This matter is before the Court on LG Chem America, Inc.’s partial motion
to dismiss [ECF 17] and Plaintiff Dakota Norton’s alternative request for leave to
amend the Complaint [ECF 19]. After careful consideration of the parties’ briefing,
the Court GRANTS LG Chem America’s partial motion to dismiss and DENIES
Plaintiff’s request for leave to amend.
I.

BACKGROUND
The following facts are treated as true for purposes of this motion.1 Plaintiff

Dakota Norton, a resident of Arizona, was injured when a lithium-ion battery,

1

Bryant v. Avado Brands, Inc., 187 F.3d 1271, 1274 (11th Cir. 1999) (“At the motion
to dismiss stage, all well-pleaded facts are accepted as true, and the reasonable
inferences therefrom are construed in the light most favorable to the
plaintiff.”).

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manufactured by Defendant LG Chem, Ltd., exploded inside his e-cigarette device
while the device was inside the front pocket of his pants.2 Norton sustained second
and third degree burns as a result, and was treated for eight days in a facility in
Tucson, Arizona.3 Norton missed five weeks of work to heal from his injuries and
continues to suffer from severe and permanent physical, as well as emotional,
injuries.4
On May 27, 2020, Norton filed his Complaint against LG Chem, Ltd., and its
subsidiary LG Chem America, Inc.5 Norton filed in this Court because LG Chem
America resides in this district and he believed that LG Chem, Ltd. would be
subject to this Court’s jurisdiction based on its relationship with LG Chem
America.6 Norton alleged five causes of action: (1) products liability, defective
design; (2) products liability, failure to warn; (3) negligence; (4) breach of implied
warranty of merchantability; and (5) violation of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty
Act (MMWA).7 Norton seeks damages for his personal injuries, including medical

2

ECF 1, ¶¶ 58–63.

3

Id. ¶¶ 59–60.

4

Id. ¶¶ 61–63.

5

Id.

6

Id. ¶¶ 5–9, 20.

7

Id. ¶¶ 64–101.

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expenses, lost wages, emotional pain and suffering, and punitive damages.8 On
July 7, 2020, LG Chem America moved for partial dismissal pursuant to Federal
Rule of Procedure 12(b)(6) on Norton’s MMWA cause of action.9 Norton opposed
the motion and alternatively requested leave to amend his Complaint.10 LG Chem
America replied in support of dismissal and in opposition to the request for leave
to amend.11
II.

LEGAL STANDARD
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2) requires a pleading to contain a

“short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to
relief.” While this standard does not require “detailed factual allegations,” the
Supreme Court has held that “labels and conclusions” or “a formulaic recitation
of the elements of a cause of action will not do.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678
(2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)).
To withstand a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim under Federal
Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), “a complaint must contain sufficient factual

8

Id. ¶¶ 102–08.

9

ECF 17.

10

ECF 19.

11

ECF 22.

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matter, accepted as true, to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Am.
Dental Ass’n v. Cigna Corp., 605 F. 3d 1283, 1289 (11th Cir. 2010) (quoting Twombly,
550 U.S. at 570). A complaint is plausible on its face when a plaintiff pleads
sufficient factual content for the court to draw the reasonable inference that the
defendant is liable for the conduct alleged. Id. (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556).
“The plausibility standard is not akin to a ‘probability requirement,’ but it asks for
more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully.” Iqbal, 556
U.S. at 678. A complaint must also present sufficient facts to “raise a reasonable
expectation that discovery will reveal evidence of the claim.” Am. Dental Ass’n, 605
F.3d at 1289 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556).
At the motion to dismiss stage, “all well-pleaded facts are accepted as true,
and the reasonable inferences therefrom are construed in the light most favorable
to the plaintiff.” FindWhat Inv’r Grp. v. FindWhat.com, 658 F.3d 1282, 1296 (11th Cir.
2011) (quoting Garfield v. NDC Health Corp., 466 F.3d 1255, 1261 (11th Cir. 2006)).
The Court is not bound, by contrast, to accept legal conclusions as true. Iqbal, 556
U.S. at 678–79.

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III.

DISCUSSION
a.

LG Chem America’s Motion to Dismiss

LG Chem America asserts that, with limited exceptions, the MMWA does
not permit recovery for personal injury and, because Norton’s claims are for
personal injury and do not fit within the exceptions, his MMWA cause of action
fails.12 Even if Norton’s claims do fit within these exceptions, LG Chem America
argues, he has not satisfied the $50,000 amount in controversy requirement of the
MMWA because that amount cannot include personal injury damages.13 Norton
responds that he appropriately asserted claims for breach of implied warranty
under the MMWA and that his request for punitive damages satisfies the amount
in controversy requirement.14 The Court agrees with LG Chem America and finds
that Norton’s MMWA claim must be dismissed.
i.

Plaintiff Cannot Recover for Personal Injury Under the
MMWA Because He Has Not Alleged Violations of § 2308 or
§ 2304.

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act was Congress’s first
comprehensive attempt to deal at the federal level with
problems of consumer warranties. “The draftsmen
believed that warranties on consumer products often
were too complex to be understood, too varied for
12

ECF 17-1, at 5–6.

13

Id. at 7–10.

14

ECF 19.

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consumers to make intelligent market comparisons, and
too restrictive for meaningful warranty protection.”
Schroeder, Private Actions under the Magnuson-Moss
Warranty Act, 66 Calif. L. Rev. 1, 2 (1978). . . . The Act
creates minimum disclosure standards for written
consumer product warranties and defines minimum
content standards for such warranties. The Act does not
require that a seller give a warranty on a consumer
product, but if a warranty is given, it must comply with
the terms of the Act.
Boelens v. Redman Homes, Inc., 748 F.2d 1058, 1061 (5th Cir. 1984). In sum, the
MMWA was enacted to address situations where “the large print giveth but the
small print taketh away.” Gorman v. Saf-T-Mate, Inc., 513 F. Supp. 1028, 1035
(N.D. Ind. 1981). Further, the MMWA “does not provide an independent cause of
action for state law claims, only additional damages for breaches of warranty
under state law.” Fedrick v. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, 366 F. Supp. 2d 1190, 1200
n.14 (N.D. Ga. 2005). Norton is correct that the MMWA applies to breaches of
implied warranties, not just written warranties. Boelens, 748 F.2d at 1063.
However, the MMWA specifically limits recovery for personal injuries.
15 U.S.C. § 2311(b)(2) (“Nothing in this chapter (other than sections 2308 and
2304(a)(2) and (4) of this title) shall (A) affect the liability of, or impose liability on,
any person for personal injury, or (B) supersede any provision of State law
regarding consequential damages for injury to the person or other injury.”). In
interpreting this section, the Fifth Circuit held “that § 2311(b)(2) sets up a

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dichotomy between personal injury claims based on a breach of the substantive
provisions of §§ 2308 and 2304, which are cognizable under the MMWA, and
personal injury claims based only on a breach of warranty, which are not
cognizable under the MMWA,” and, therefore, “where there has not been a
violation of the substantive provisions of §§ 2308 or 2304, the exceptions to
§ 2311(b)(2) are inoperative and the express language of § 2311(b)(2) bars liability
for personal injury.” Boelens, 748 F.2d at 1065–66. The sections that allow for
personal injury liability under the MMWA create substantive obligations, in which
the warrantor must neither disclaim implied warranties, 15 U.S.C. § 2308, or limit
implied warranties, 15 U.S.C. § 2304(a)(2), and must allow for refunds or
replacements without charge for a defective product. 15 U.S.C. § 2304(a)(4).
Norton’s claims do not fall under § 2311(b)(2)’s exceptions. He does not
claim that LG Chem, Ltd. or LG Chem America disclaimed or limited implied
warranties or that either failed to offer refund or replacement of the lithium-ion
batteries. Instead, as confirmed by Norton in his response to LG Chem America’s
motion, he claims a breach of an implied warranty caused his personal injuries.15
The Fifth Circuit addressed this issue head on in Boelens, and held that “the

15

ECF 1, ¶¶ 84–101; ECF 19, at 7.

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MMWA does not create a federal cause of action for personal injury damages
based solely on a breach of warranty,” even if state law provides such a remedy.
748 F.2d at 1066. The Court finds Boelens persuasive. Norton’s MMWA allegations
fail to state a claim upon which relief can be granted and must be dismissed.
ii.

Plaintiff Failed to Allege Damages that Satisfy the Amountin-Controversy Requirement of the MMWA.

Norton also does not satisfy the $50,000 amount in controversy requirement
of the MMWA. “Section 2310(d)(3)(B) provides that no claim is cognizable under
the MMWA unless the amount in controversy is at least $50,000.” Id. at 1069.
Personal injury damages are not counted towards the amount in controversy
because personal injury claims, with the limited exceptions noted above, are
precluded under the MMWA. Id. (“Because of our holding that personal injury
damages for breach of warranty are not recoverable under the MMWA, these
damages may not be counted toward satisfaction of the amount-in-controversy
requirement.”). Thus, Norton’s claimed damages for personal injury are excluded
from the amount in controversy requirement.
Norton contends that, even excluding the personal injury damages, he can
meet the amount in controversy based on his claims for punitive damages.16

16

ECF 19, at 9.

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“Punitive damages are recoverable under the MMWA for breach of warranty only
if they may be recovered in a breach of warranty action brought under the
governing state law.” Id. See also Simmons v. Taylor Childre Chevrolet-Pontiac, Inc.,
629 F. Supp. 1030, 1033 (M.D. Ga. 1986). Norton argues that Arizona law governs
this case because it is the location of his injury. LG Chem America argues that,
regardless of whether Arizona or Georgia law governs, punitive damages are not
recoverable on Norton’s breach of warranty claims.
LG Chem America is correct. Barrio v. Gisa Invs. LLC, No. CV-20-00991-PHXSPL, 2020 WL 6081495, at *3 (D. Ariz. Oct. 15, 2020) (“[W]hile the MMWA allows
punitive damages where the governing state law allows, Arizona does not allow
punitive damages because they are unavailable in breach of warranty claims.”);
Jones v. Gen. Motors Corp., No. CV-08-2099-PHX-GMS, 2009 WL 648613, at *2 (D.
Ariz. Mar. 11, 2009) (same); Simmons v. Taylor Childre Chevrolet-Pontiac, Inc., 629 F.
Supp. 1030, 1033 (M.D. Ga. 1986) (holding the plaintiff failed to meet the MMWA
amount in controversy because, in Georgia, exemplary damages are not allowed
in cases arising on contracts, including express warranty cases); Smith v. K-V
Pharm. Co., No. 1:09-CV-1020-WSD, 2009 WL 10665762, at *3 n.2 (N.D. Ga. Sept. 24,
2009) (“Under Georgia law, warranty claims are a matter of contract law and
privity of contract is required for a warranty to apply.”) (citing McQueen v. Minolta

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Bus. Sols., Inc., 275 Ga. App. 297, 300 (2005)). Eliminating Norton’s personal injury
and punitive damages, Norton cannot satisfy the $50,000 amount in controversy
required under the MMWA because he failed to allege that he is entitled to any
other type of damages.17 Accordingly, Norton fails to state a claim under the
MMWA for this additional reason.
b.

Norton’s Request for Leave to Amend

In response to LG Chem America’s motion to dismiss, Norton alternatively
requests leave to amend his Complaint. “Ordinarily, if the underlying facts or
circumstances relied upon by a plaintiff may be a proper subject of relief, leave to
amend should be freely given.” Crawford’s Auto Ctr., Inc. v. State Farm Mut. Auto.
Ins. Co., 945 F.3d 1150, 1162 (11th Cir. 2019) (quoting Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178,
182 (1962) and Hall v. United Ins. Co. of Am., 367 F.3d 1255, 1262 (11th Cir. 2004)).
“However, the District Court may properly deny leave to amend the complaint
under Rule 15(a) when such amendment would be futile.” Id.
Norton is not entitled to leave to amend his Complaint at this time because
his request is procedurally improper. In this Circuit, a party seeking to amend a
pleading must move to do so under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(a) and

17

ECF 1, ¶¶ 102–08.

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“must either attach a copy of the proposed amendment to the motion or set forth
the substance thereof” because “a plaintiff ‘should not be allowed to amend [his]
complaint without showing how the complaint could be amended to save the
meritless claim.’” U.S. ex rel. Atkins v. McInteer, 470 F.3d 1350, 1362 (11th Cir. 2006)
(quoting Wisdom v. First Midwest Bank, 167 F.3d 402, 409 (8th Cir. 1999)). Norton
did not move for leave to amend the Complaint, nor did he attach an amended
pleading or describe how the amended pleading would cure the deficiencies in his
Complaint. Thus, Norton has not yet shown he is entitled to leave to amend.
IV.

CONCLUSION
LG Chem America’s partial motion to dismiss [ECF 17] is GRANTED and

Norton’s alternative request for leave to amend is DENIED. Count V of the
Complaint is DISMISSED.
SO ORDERED this the 17th day of February 2021.

Steven D. Grimberg
United States District Court Judge