A class action lawsuit has accused skincare products maker Crown Laboratories of allegedly exposing customers to benzene in its line of PanOxyl acne treatments.
On March 8, named plaintiffs Priscilla Garcia, Chinyere Harris, William Eisman and Noemi Gerena filed suit in San Francisco federal court, accusing the company of consumer fraud, breach of express and implied warranties, and unjust enrichment.
The complaint alleges that Crown Labs did not adequately test its Benzoyl Peroxide (BPO) products before selling them to the public. It also claims that the defendant knew or should have known that these products degraded to benzene under normal use, handling and storage conditions.
Further, the plaintiffs allege that recent testing found common BPO products contain dangerous levels of benzene in excess of regulatory limits. They argue that Crown Labs subjected consumers to the risk of benzene exposure without their knowledge and consent.
The lawsuit also criticizes Crown Labs for marketing itself as committed to science while withholding material health and safety information about its products. Moreover, it accuses the company of directly marketing its BPO products to children and teens without disclosing the risk of benzene contamination.
The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified compensatory, statutory and punitive damages, plus attorney fees.
The plaintiffs are being represented by attorneys R. Brent Wisner and Stephanie B. Sherman, from the firm of Wisner Baum LLP, of Los Angeles.