Tuesday, April 04, 2023

lidocaine suits find pain point as judge dismisses claim

 Prescott v. Rite Aid Corp., --- F.Supp.3d ----, 2023 WL 2753899, No. 22-cv-05798-VC (N.D. Cal. Apr. 3, 2023)

Breaking with several previous cases, this court holds that Rite Aid’s “Maximum Strength Pain Relief Lidocaine Patches” with 4% aren’t misleading even though a consumer could get a prescription from their doctor for a 5% patch.

A reasonable consumer understands that over-the-counter products differ from products that are available with a prescription. … Reading the label, a reasonable consumer would understand the patches to contain the “maximum strength” dose available at the drug store, and they would contemplate the possibility that a stronger dose might be available from their doctor…. Unless an over-the-counter drugmaker draws a direct comparison between its products and those available with a prescription, statements like “maximum strength” are generally understood as comparisons to other over-the-counter products.

Comment: I’m not sure how the court knows these things.

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