Neutrogena Buyer Defeats Class Status Appeal in False-Ad Suit

Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. failed to convince a federal appeals court Friday to undo class status in a deceptive marketing lawsuit alleging that Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin contains oil-based compounds.

Plaintiff Narguess Noohi said the product contained ethylhexyl palmitate and soybean sterols, ingredients that are oils or oil-based compounds. She said that she wouldn’t have purchased the product if she’d known it contained oils. Noohi brought claims for violations of California’s False Advertising Law, Unfair Competition Law, Consumer Legal Remedies Act, and common law fraud.

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rejected JJCI’s argument ...