Houseware and Furniture Products “Made in USA” Claims

Mar 30, 2020 | Consumer Protection, Employment & Technology Archive

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Agrees to Stop Making Overly Broad and Misleading “Made in USA” Claims About Houseware and Furniture Products – Williams-Sonoma Required to Pay $1 Million to Settle FTC Charges

Kehoe Law Firm, P.C. is making consumers aware that n March 30, 2020, the FTC advised that Williams-Sonoma Inc. has agreed to stop making false, misleading, or unsubstantiated claims that all of its Goldtouch Bakeware products, its Rejuvenation-branded products, and Pottery Barn Teen and Pottery Barn Kids-branded upholstered furniture products are all or virtually all made in the United States.  As part of the proposed settlement, Williams-Sonoma is required to pay $1 million to the FTC.

The San Francisco-based company, also doing business as Williams Sonoma, Williams Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, West Elm, Rejuvenation, Outward, and Mark & Graham, markets its products throughout the United States, in stores and on its websites and social media platforms.

According to the FTC’s complaint, Williams-Sonoma deceptively claimed in advertisements and promotional materials that certain categories of its products were all, or virtually all, made in the United States.

In 2018, the FTC received reports that Williams-Sonoma claimed in ads and promotional materials for Pottery Barn Teen organic mattress pads that those products were “Crafted in America from local and imported materials.” When consumers purchased the mattress pads, they discovered that the pads, in fact, were made in China, according to the FTC’s complaint. Williams-Sonoma quickly corrected the country-of-origin information for the mattress pads, and agreed to comply with the FTC’s requirement that it undertake a larger review of its country-of-origin verification process. Consequently, on June 13, 2018, the FTC staff issued a letter closing the investigation.

The FTC alleges that since the closing letter was issued, Williams-Sonoma has made misleading claims that all Goldtouch Bakeware, Rejuvenation-branded products, and Pottery Barn Teen and Pottery Barn Kids-branded upholstered furniture products, including raw materials and subcomponents, were all or virtually all made in the United States. These claims include:

  • Goldtouch Bakeware is made in America or in the USA. This claim appeared on the company’s website and in its catalogue.
  • On the company website and in emails, Rejuvenation-branded products are made in America or in the USA.
  • In a company video, Pottery Barn Teen and Pottery Barn Kids-branded upholstered furniture is made in America or in the USA.

According to the FTC’s complaint, numerous Goldtouch Bakeware products, Rejuvenation-branded products, and Pottery Barn Teen and Pottery Barn Kids-branded upholstered furniture products are wholly-imported, or contain significant imported materials or components. Therefore, Williams-Sonoma, allegedly, deceived consumers with its broad claims that all items in these product lines are all or virtually all made in in the United States.

Under the terms of the proposed order, Williams-Sonoma is prohibited from making unqualified U.S.-origin claims for any product, unless it can show that the product’s final assembly or processing—and all significant processing—takes place in the United States, and that all or virtually all components of the product are made and sourced in the United States. Under the order, any qualified Made in USA claims must include a clear and conspicuous disclosure about the extent to which the product contains foreign parts, components, and/or processing. To claim that a product is assembled in the United States, Williams-Sonoma must ensure that it is last substantially transformed in the United States, its principal assembly takes place in the United States, and United States assembly operations are substantial.

The FTC’s order also prohibits Williams-Sonoma, its officers, and any other company representatives from making untrue, misleading, or unsubstantiated country-of-origin claims in their marketing materials about any product or service.

Source: Federal Trade Commission – FTC.gov

Kehoe Law Firm, P.C.

 

Class Period Expanded For SBT Investors Who Suffered Losses

Mar 30, 2020 | Securities Class Action Archive

Class Action Lawsuit Filed Expanding the Class Period for Sterling Bancorp, Inc. Investors Who Purchased, Or Otherwise Acquired, SBT Shares Between November 17, 2017 and March 17, 2020, Both Dates Inclusive – Sterling Bancorp Investors Who Suffered Losses During the Class Period Encouraged To Contact Kehoe Law Firm, P.C.

Kehoe Law Firm, P.C. is making investors aware that another class action lawsuit was filed on March 27, 2020 in United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, against Sterling Bancorp, Inc. (NasdaqGS: SBT) on behalf of all persons and entities who purchased, or otherwise acquired, Sterling common stock from November 17, 2017 through and including March 17, 2020, (the “Class Period”),

The class action seeks to recover damages pursuant to §10(b) and §20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder.  The class action also alleges claims under §§11,12(a)(2) and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 on behalf of members of the Class that purchased, or otherwise acquired, Sterling Bancorp common stock in or traceable to Sterling Bancorp’s Initial Public Offering (“IPO”), which commenced on November 17, 2017.

Sterling Bancorp investors who purchased, or otherwise acquired, securities during the Class Period November 17, 2017 through and including March 17, 2020 and suffered losses are encouraged to contact either Michael Yarnoff, Esq., (215) 792-6676, Ext. 804, [email protected], [email protected], or John Kehoe, Esq., (215) 792-6676, Ext. 801, [email protected], to discuss the class action lawsuit or potential legal claims.

Kehoe Law Firm, P.C.

 

 

HF Foods Group Class Action Filed On Behalf of HFFG Shareholders

Mar 30, 2020 | Securities Class Action Archive

Class Action Lawsuit Filed on Behalf of HF Foods Group Inc. Shareholders Who Purchased, Or Otherwise Acquired, HFFG Securities Between August 23, 2018 and March 23, 2020, Both Dates Inclusive – Kehoe Law Firm, P.C. Investigating Securities Claims on Behalf of HFFG Investors

Kehoe Law Firm, P.C. is making investors aware that on March 29, 2020, a class action lawsuit was filed in United States District Court, Central District of California, on behalf of persons or entities who purchased, or otherwise acquired the publicly-traded securities of HF Foods Group (“HF Foods” or the “Company”) (NasdaqCM: HFFG) between August 23, 2018 and March 23, 2020, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). The class action seeks to recover compensable damages caused by the HFFG Defendants’ alleged violations of the federal securities laws under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

HF Foods investors who purchased, or otherwise acquired, securities during the Class Period and suffered losses are encouraged to contact either Michael Yarnoff, Esq., (215) 792-6676, Ext. 804, [email protected], [email protected], or John Kehoe, Esq., (215) 792-6676, Ext. 801, [email protected], to discuss the class action lawsuit or potential legal claims.

Kehoe Law Firm, P.C.