False and Misleading Claims Relating to Animal Testing

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Eagan Avenatti, LLP announced today the filing of a class action lawsuit       against cosmetic companies Estee Lauder, Avon Products, and Mary Kay on       behalf of American consumers deceived by the companies’ false and       misleading representations relating to animal testing of their products. Beltran       et al. v. Estee Lauder, et al., United States District Court –       Central District of California, Case No. SA12-CV312 CJC (ANX).

“If you advertise       that you are not conducting animal testing, then you shouldn’t be       conducting animal testing – it’s that simple.”

The Class Action complaint alleges that Estee Lauder, Avon and Mary Kay       purposely defrauded consumers by falsely claiming that their products       were not tested on animals when, in reality, the companies knew full       well that they had begun testing various cosmetic products on animals.       The complaint further alleges that the companies deliberately misled the       American public by claiming their products were “cruelty free” at the       same time the companies undertook animal testing in order to sell their       products in China and reap hundreds of millions of dollars in Chinese       sales. The complaint seeks to certify a class of over 1,000,000       consumers and requests over $100,000,000 in punitive and compensatory       damages.

On February 16, 2012, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)       announced that Estee Lauder, Avon and Mary Kay had been removed from the       organization’s “cruelty free” list of companies that do not test on       animals after it was discovered that the companies were performing       animal testing. PETA subsequently downgraded the companies and listed       them on PETA’s list of companies that do conduct animal testing.

“While it may make economic sense for a company to pursue sales in       China, those sales should not occur at the expense of fundamental       principles,” stated co-counsel for the Plaintiffs Michael Avenatti of       Eagan Avenatti, LLP. “Estee Lauder, Avon and Mary Kay should have been       open and honest with the American public and told the truth – that sales       and profits were more important to them than refusing to conduct animal       testing.”

“This case is about being open and honest with consumers,” added       co-counsel Filippo Marchino of The X-Law Group, P.C. “If you advertise       that you are not conducting animal testing, then you shouldn’t be       conducting animal testing – it’s that simple.”