Consumer Law Library

Pom Wonderful LLC

Volume 154 · 154 F.T.C. 844

Citation
154 F.T.C. 844
Docket
9344
Decision
2012-07-25
Document type
interlocutory order
Case type
consumer protection
Industry
food and beverage
Outcome
other
Source
Original volume PDF
Original PDF
This decision as a PDF

deceptive advertisinghealth claims

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Pom Wonderful LLC, 154 F.T.C. 844 (2012). Consumer Law Library, https://consumerlawlibrary.org/decisions/v154-0019

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Cited by 0 later FTC decisions

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IN THE MATTER OF POM WONDERFUL LLC, ROLL INTERNATIONAL CORP., STEWART A. RESNICK, LYNDA RAE RESNICK, AND MATTHEW TUPPER Docket No. 9344. Order, July 25, 2012 Order denying Complaint Counsel’s motions to reopen the record and for leave to reply.

ORDER RULING ON MOTION TO REOPEN THE RECORD AND MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE A REPLY On June 13, 2012, Counsel for the Complaint filed a Motion To Reopen the Record in this matter (“June 13 Motion”), and to admit into the record “(1) certain POM product advertisements that Respondents created after the issuance of the Initial Decision; and (2) the Declaration of William Ducklow authenticating these advertisements.” On June 25, 2012, Respondent Matthew Tupper and the other Respondents respectively filed Oppositions to the June 13 Motion. On July 2, 2012, Counsel for the Complaint filed a Motion For Leave To File Reply in support of the June 13 Motion.

The evidence that Complaint Counsel attempt to introduce into the record includes (1) advertisements disseminated by Respondents that include quotes from the ALJ’s Initial Decision; and (2) other advertisements, some of which are already in the record, and the meaning of which Complaint Counsel are already in the process of appealing to the Commission. Under Commission Rules 3.51(e)(1) and 3.54(a), 16 C.F.R. §§ 3.51(e)(1), 3.54(a), a party may move to "reopen the proceeding POM WONDERFUL LLC 845 Interlocutory Orders, Etc.

for the reception of further evidence" at any time before the Commission issues its decision. Brake Guard Products sets forth the applicable standard for reopening the record. Under that test, "the Commission considers: (1) whether the moving party can demonstrate due diligence (that is, whether there is a bona fide explanation for the failure to introduce the evidence at trial); (2) the extent to which the proffered evidence is probative; (3) whether the proffered evidence is cumulative; and (4) whether reopening the record would prejudice the non-moving party. Brake Guard Products, Inc., 125 F.T.C. 138, 248 n.38 (1998). We find that Complaint Counsel has acted with diligence, as the facts regarding publication of these claims and advertisements were not available until after the issuance of the Initial Decision. Based on our analysis of the remaining three factors, however, we do not find that Complaint Counsel’s arguments warrant reopening the record in this matter to introduce the proposed new exhibits.

Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED THAT Complaint Counsel’s Motion to Reopen the Record is denied; and IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT Complaint Counsel’s Motion for Leave to File a Reply is denied. By the Commission.

VOLUME 154 Interlocutory Orders, Etc.

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