In Re Farm Raised Salmon Cases

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, Rex S. Heinke, David C. Allen, Johanna R. Shargel, Los Angeles; Streeter & Nangano, Thomas Barclay, Michael Nangano, Michael L. Coates, Los Angeles; Greenberg, Glusker, Fields, Claman, Machtinger & Kinsella, Norman Howard Levine, Los Angeles; Ervin, Cohen & Jessup, Allan B. Cooper, Beverly Hills, Tamara L. Dewar, Encino; O'Melveny & Myers, Carla J. Christofferson, Los Angeles; Seyfarth Shaw, Jay W. Connolly, San Francisco, and Geoff S. Long, for Defendants and Respondents.

Several individuals commenced separate actions against owners and operators of grocery stores alleging that the defendants sold artificially colored farmed salmon without disclosing to consumers the artificial coloring. The actions were coordinated in Farm Raised Salmon Cases, Judicial Council Coordination Proceeding No. 4329. The plaintiffs filed a coordinated complaint alleging as a class and representative action counts for unfair competition, violation of the Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA) (Civ.Code, § 1750 et seq.), false advertising, and negligent misrepresentation. The superior court sustained a demurrer to the complaint on the grounds that the Federal…