DocketNumber： No. 3:13-CV-01066-BR
Citation Numbers： 24 F. Supp. 3d 1010
Judges： Brown
Filed Date： 6/6/2014
Status： Precedential
Modified Date： 7/25/2022
OPINION AND ORDER
This matter comes before the Court on Defendant Victaulic Company’s Motion (# 85) to Dismiss Claims for Fraud [Fifth Claim], Negligent Misrepresentation [Sixth Claim], and Violation of the UTPA [Fourth Claim] and Motion (# 85) to Strike Punitive Damages. For the reasons that follow, the Court GRANTS Defendant’s Motions.
The following facts are taken from the First Amended Complaint of Plaintiff Avenue Lofts Condominiums Owners’ Association, Defendants Memorandum in Support of its Motion to Dismiss, and Plaintiffs Memorandum in Opposition to Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss.
Plaintiff is an Oregon nonprofit corporation and the governing body of the Avenue Lofts Condominium (the Condominium). The Condominium consists of 169 living units, 186 parking units, and 88 storage units. Construction on the Condominium was completed in 2004.
Defendant is a New Jersey corporation and at all relevant times manufactured, marketed, and supplied valves, pipe couplings, gaskets, and fittings to suppliers and installers for use in their businesses.
At some point before 2004 developer Evergreen M & F, LLC, hired Howard S. Wright Construction (HSW) as general contractor for the Condominium. HSW contracted with MSI to install the plumbing systems for the Condominium. MSI purchased plumbing components (including products manufactured by Defendant) from third-party distributor Ferguson. MSI then installed Defendant’s products in the Condominium as part of the plumbing system.
At some point the
potable water piping system installed throughout the CONDOMINIUM!, which] includes VICTAULIC PRODUCTS[,] ..'. prematurely deteriorated and failed or otherwise failed to properly perform. Among other things, the VIC-TAULIC PRODUCTS have become brittle, cracked, softened, deteriorated and disintegrated. The deterioration of the VICTAULIC PRODUCTS has caused water intrusion, pipe bursts and property damage to components of the CONDOMINIUM’S General Common Elements ... by causing damage to the potable water system itself, appliances, fixtures, walls, insulation, floor, drywall and the interiors of the living units. As deterioration and failure of the VIC-TAULIC PRODUCTS progresses, further widespread water intrusion and property damage is occurring.
First Am. Compl. at ¶ 35.
On June 25, 2013, Plaintiff filed a Complaint against Defendant in this Court in which it brought claims for (1) strict products liability; (2) negligence; (3) breach of express warranty; (4) violation of Oregon’s Consumer Warranty Act (CWA), Oregon Revised Statute § 72.8180; (5) violation of Oregon’s Unlawful Trade Practices Act (UTPA), Oregon Revised Statute § 646.608(l)(e), (g), and (t); (6) fraud; and (7) negligent misrepresentation.
Before this action was filed, Plaintiff’s counsel filed an-action against Defendant on February 25, 2013, on behalf of Edge Lofts Master Condominium Association (the Edge Lofts action) in Multnomah County Circuit Court in which the plaintiffs alleged claims against Defendant based on facts similar to those alleged by Plaintiff against Defendant in this case. On March 22, 2013, Defendant removed the matter to the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, and the case was assigned to Judge Michael Mos-man, On June 10, 2013, Defendant filed a Motion to Dismiss the Edge Loft action in which it sought dismissal of, among other things, the plaintiffs claims for violation of the UTPA, fraud, and negligent misrepresentation.
Plaintiff’s counsel also filed a Complaint against Defendant on June 17, 2013, on behalf of Benson Tower Condominium Owners Association (the Benson action) in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon in which the plaintiffs
On July 29, 2013, Defendant filed Motions for Centralized Pre-Trial Proceedings in each of the above three cases.
On August 7, 2013, Judge Mosman granted Defendant’s Motions for Centralized Pre-Trial Proceedings in all three actions.
On September 6, 2013, Defendant filed Motions to Dismiss in this matter and in the Benson action that mirrored the Motion to Dismiss that Defendant filed in the Edge Lofts action.
On November 18, 2013, Defendant filed a Motion to Consolidate Hearings on Defendant’s Motions to Dismiss in the three actions. On November 26, 2013, Judge Mosman granted Defendant’s'request for consolidated hearings.
On January 6, 2014, Judge Mosman heard oral argument on Defendant’s Motions to Dismiss and, among other things: (1) granted Defendant’s Motions as to each of the Plaintiffs’ CWA claims on the ground that Plaintiffs failed to plead sufficiently that Defendant’s products are “consumer products” within the meaning of the CWA, (2) granted Defendant’s .Motions as to each of the Plaintiffs’ UTPA claims on the ground that Plaintiffs failed to plead sufficiently that Defendant’s products are “consumer goods” within the meaning of the UTPA, and (3) granted Defendant’s Motions as to each of the Plaintiffs’ claims for fraud and negligent misrepresentation on the ground that Plaintiffs failed to plead the elements of justifiable reliance and to identify to whom the statements were made with the specificity required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b). Judge Mosman also granted each of the plaintiffs leave to amend their Complaints.
On January 21, 2014, Plaintiff in this matter filed a First Amended Complaint in which it alleged claims for (1) strict products liability, (2) negligence, (3) breach of express warranty, (4) violation of the UTPA, (5) fraud, and (6) negligent misrepresentation.
Also on January 21, 2014, the plaintiffs in the Edge Lofts action filed a Second Amended Complaint and the plaintiffs in the Benson action filed a First Amended Complaint in which each of those plaintiffs asserted the same claims as those asserted by Plaintiff in this action based on facts similar to those alleged by Plaintiff in this action.
On February 24, 2014, Defendant filed nearly identical Motions to Dismiss Claims for Fraud, Negligent Misrepresentation, and Violation of the UTPA in both this matter and the Benson action. On March 5, 2014, Defendant filed a similar Motion to. Dismiss in the Edge Lofts action.
This Court took Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs claims for fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and violation of the UTPA filed in this action under advisement on March 24, 2014.
On March 21, 2014, Defendant filed a Motion for Summary Judgment in the Edge Lofts action in which it also sought summary judgment as to the plaintiffs claims for violation of the UTPA, negligent misrepresentation, and fraud.
On April 3, 2014, Judge Mosraan entered an order in all three actions dissolving the administrative consolidation of the matters.
On April 18, 2014, Judge Mosman issued an Order in the Edge Lofts action in which, among other things, he granted Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment as to Plaintiffs claims for fraud and misrep
On May 27, 2014, Judge Simon issued an Opinion and Order in the Benson action in which, among other things, he also granted Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss the plaintiffs claims for fraud and negligent misrepresentation based on the plaintiffs allegations that Defendant misrepresented the ability of its products to operate at temperatures lower than 230 degrees or to operate in potable water systems containing a certain percentage of chloramines such as the Portland water system. In addition, Judge Simon granted Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss the plaintiffs UTPA claim.
STANDARDS
To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to “state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” [Bell Atlantic v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544,] 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007). A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged. Id. at 556, 127 S.Ct. 1955.... The plausibility standard is not akin to a “probability requirement,” but it asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted -unlawfully. Ibid. Where a complaint pleads facts that are “merely consistent with” a defendant’s liability, it “stops short of the line between possibility and plausibility of ‘entitlement to relief.’ ” Id. at 557, 127 S.Ct. 1955 (brackets omitted).
Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1949, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009). See also Bell Atlantic, 550 U.S. at 555-56, 127 S.Ct. 1955. The court must accept as true the allegations in the complaint and construe them in favor of the plaintiff. Din v. Kerry, 718 F.3d 856, 859 (9th Cir.2013).
“In ruling on a 12(b)(6) motion, a court may generally consider only allegations contained in the pleadings, exhibits attached to the complaint, and matters properly subject to judicial notice.” Akhtar v. Mesa, 698 F.3d 1202, 1212 (9th Cir.2012) (citation omitted). A court, however, “may consider a writing referenced in a complaint but not explicitly incorporated therein if the complaint relies on the document and its authenticity is unquestioned.” Swartz v. KPMG LLP, 476 F.3d 756, 763 (9th Cir.2007) (citation omitted).
DISCUSSION
Defendant moves to dismiss Plaintiffs claims for violation of the UTPA (Fourth Claim), negligent misrepresentation (Sixth Claim), and fraud (Fifth Claim) as well as Plaintiffs request for punitive damages.
I. Plaintiffs UTPA Claim (Fourth Claim)
Defendant moves to dismiss Plaintiffs Fourth Claim for violation of the UTPA on the grounds that (1) the purchase of Defendant’s components by MSI was a commercial transaction rather than a consumer transaction, and, therefore, the UTPA does not apply; (2) Plaintiff has failed to plead sufficient reliance to state a claim under the UTPA; and (3) Plaintiff is not
The UTPA provides in pertinent part:
(1) A person engages in an unlawful practice if in the course of the person’s business, vocation or occupation the person does any of the following:
(e) Represents that real estate, goods or services have sponsorship, approval, characteristics, ingredients, uses, benefits, quantities or qualities that the real estate, goods or services do not have or that a person has a sponsorship, approval, status, qualification, affiliation, or connection that the person does not have.
* * *
(g) Represents that real estate, goods or services are of a particular standard, quality, or grade, or that real estate or goods are of a particular style or model, if the real estate, goods or services are of another.
(t) Concurrent with tender or delivery of any real estate, goods or services fails to disclose any known material defect or material nonconformity.
Oregon courts have long held the UTPA “applies only to consumer transactions; it does not regulate commercial transactions.” Investigators, Inc. v. Harvey, 53 Or.App. 586, 590, 633 P.2d 6 (1981). See also Denson v. Ron Tonkin Gran Turismo, Inc., 279 Or. 85, 90 n. 4, 566 P.2d 1177 (1977) (The “policy underpinning” the UTPA is “protection of consumers.”). Courts in this District have reached the same conclusion. See, e.g., L & A Designs v. Xtreme ATVs, Inc., No. 03:10-CV-00627-HZ, 2012 WL 1532417, at *4 (D.Or. Apr. 30, 2012)(“[T]he UTPA is limited to consumer actions.”); Slep-Tone Entm’t Corp. v. Shenanigans Lounge, No. 6:12-CV-1236-TC, 2013 WL 1768444, at *4 (D.Or. Feb. 22, 2013)(“Plaintiff has not alleged that it is a consumer of defendants’ products and thus, I find that plaintiff lacks standing to maintain claims under the UTPA.”), adopted by Chief District Judge Ann Aiken, 2013 WL 1767727 (D.Or. Apr. 20, 2013)(“Despite plaintiffs objections,' this court finds no reason to depart from the previous decisions by the judges of this court finding that the UTPA is limited to consumer actions.”); Allegro Corp. v. Only New Age Music, Inc., No. 01-790-HU, 2003 WL 23571745, at *16 (D.Or. Jan. 23, 2003) (granting summary judgment to the plaintiff on defendant’s counterclaim for violation of the UTPA on the ground that the defendant was not a consumer of the plaintiffs products); Volm v. Legacy Health Sys., 237 F.Supp.2d 1166, 1175 (D.Or.2002) (granting summary judgment to the defendant on the plaintiffs UTPA claim on the ground that plaintiff was not a consumer of the defendant’s products); CollegeNet, Inc. v. Embark.Com, Inc., 230 F.Supp.2d. 1167, 1175 (D.Or.2001) (granting the defendant’s motion to dismiss the plaintiffs UTPA claim on the ground that the plaintiff is not a consumer of the defendant’s products); Oregon Laborers-Emp’r Health & Welfare Trust Fund v. Philip Morris, Inc., 17 F.Supp.2d 1170, 1180 (D.Or.1998)(same).
The Court notes Plaintiff does not explicitly allege it is a “consumer” of Defendant’s products. Indeed, MSI purchased Defendant’s products through Ferguson and installed those products in the Condominium in the course of its plumbing business. There is not any allegation that Plaintiff or the condominium owners (Owners) purchased any of Defendant’s products. In addition, the Owners purchased their condominium units either from the developer, Evergreen M & F, or from
The sole allegation in Plaintiffs First Amended Complaint related to Plaintiffs alleged status as a consumer is that the Owners of the individual condominiums and “members of Plaintiff, when buying their individual units, purchased real property as contemplated by the [UTPA].” First Am. Compl. at ¶ 68. Plaintiff relies on Fowler v. Cooley, 239 Or.App. 338, 245 P.3d 155 (2010), to support its assertion that the Owners’ purchase of their condominium units is sufficient.to establish that the’ Owners, and, in turn, Plaintiff are consumers under the UTPA. In Fowler the plaintiff sought damages under the UTPA' arising from the defendant’s sale to the plaintiff of a single-family home that had a water leak in the basement. After a bench trial the court entered a judgment in the plaintiffs favor. The defendant appealed on the ground that, among other things, the trial court erred when it denied the defendant’s motion to dismiss the plaintiffs UTPA claim because the house was not purchased by the plaintiff for personal, household, or family purposes. The Oregon Court of Appeals noted
the [Oregon] Supreme Court in Searle v. Exley Express, 278 Or. 535, 540, 564 P.2d 1054 (1977), [explained] “[i]f goods are customarily bought by a substantial number of purchasers for personal, family or household uses and were, in fact, bought by the plaintiff for his or someone else’s use and not for resale, the [UTPA] applies.” Thus, Searle embodies a two-part test: Is the real estate, good, or service at issue customarily purchased by a substantial number of people for personal, family, or household use (the objective component) and was it, in fact, purchased by the plaintiff for personal, family, or household use, rather-than for commercial use or resale (the subjective component).
239 Or.App. at 344, 245 P.3d 155. The Oregon Court of Appeals found “[a] residential home is Undoubtedly real estate that is customarily bought by a substantial number of people for personal, family, or household use. Thus, plaintiff easily satisfies the objective component of the Searle test.” Id. at 344-45, 245 P.3d 155.
Plaintiff asserts Fowler supports the proposition that because the Owners, who are members of Plaintiff, purchased their units in the Condominium for personal use, they also purchased the plumbing materials (including Defendant’s products) for their personal use. According to Plaintiff, therefore, it is a consumer of Defendant’s products for personal', family, or household uses, and, therefore, Plaintiff has stated a claim under the UTPA. Nevertheless, Judge Mosman rejected this same argument when it was made by the plaintiffs in the Edge Lofts action, and he granted summary judgment in favor of Victaulic on the ground that the plaintiff had not established the owners’ purchase of the condominium units was sufficient to establish a purchase of Defendant’s consumer goods under the UTPA. Edge Lofts v. Victaulic, 3:13-CV-00492-MO, Hearing Tr. at 43-44 (Apr. 14, 2014). Judge Simon, also rejected this argument in the Benson action and granted Defendant’s Motiori to Dismiss the plaintiffs UTPA claim on the ground that
[w]hat Plaintiff, or to be precise, an individual unit owner who is a member of Plaintiff, purchased was a living unit (a condominium, or a home) that contained plumbing components, among many other things. That purchaser did not purchase the plumbing components — at least not under the UTPA as that statute has been interpreted by the federal courts .in this district.
Benson v. Victaulic, 3:13-CV-01010-SI, Opin. and Order at 16 (May 27, 2014, docket # 76).
contracted with Herman for the construction of a new home, not for the individual sale of windows. Because those windows were intended to be integrated into the [plaintiffs’] home, we find that they do not constitute “consumer products” under the Magnuson-Moss Act, but are instead building materials indistinguishable from the real property. Thus, the [plaintiffs] have no valid claims under the Magnuson-Moss Act.
Id. at 731. Accordingly, the trial court granted the defendants’ motions. The plaintiffs appealed. The Seventh Circuit affirmed the trial court and noted the Act defines a “consumer product” as “any tangible personal property which is distributed in commerce and which is normally used for personal, family, or household purposes (including any such property intended to be attached to or installed in any real property without regard to whether it is so attached or installed).” 15 U.S.C. § 2301(1). The court noted “[the plaintiffs] did not go to the store and engage in a transaction for windows. Instead, [they] specifically alleged that ‘Herman purchased, on behalf of the [plaintiffs], fixed and casement windows and several hinged doors and a slider patio door manufactured by Pella.’ ” Id. at 735. The court found the plaintiffs’ circumstances were similar to those described in 16 C.F.R. § 700.1(f),
[When] a consumer contracts with a builder to construct a home, ... the building materials to be used are not consumer products. Although the materials are separately identifiable at the time the contract is made, it is the inten*1018 tion of the parties to contract for the construction of realty which will integrate the component materials.
Ultimately the court concluded the plaintiffs
contracted with Herman for the construction of a new home. The home was not existing; the windows at issue here were purchased by Herman, a contractor, to install into the home. [The plaintiffs have] not produced any evidence showing a separate contract for the windows, or a separate transaction for them in which [they were] personally engaged .... [Thus], the windows are not “consumer products” within the meaning of Magnuson-Moss.
Id. at 737.
Here neither Plaintiff nor the Owners contracted with Defendant for the plumbing parts at issue. As noted MSI purchased Defendant’s products from Ferguson, a third party. The Owners purchased the condominium units from either Evergreen M & F or from previous unit owners. As in § 700.1(f), it was the intention of the Owners to purchase realty that integrated Defendant’s component materials rather than to purchase the component materials themselves. There is not any evidence of a separate contract between Plaintiff and Defendant or the Owners and Defendant for the purchase of Defendant’s components. On this record, therefore, the Court concludes Plaintiff has not alleged sufficient facts to establish that it is a consumer of Defendant’s products as defined in the UTPA. Because the Court concludes the purchase of Defendant’s components by MSI was a commercial transaction rather than a consumer transaction and the UTPA, therefore, does not apply to Plaintiffs claim, the Court declines to address Defendant’s other grounds for dismissal.
Accordingly, the Court grants Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs Fourth Claim for violation of the UTPA. In addition, because Plaintiff has already been given the opportunity to amend its UTPA claim, the Court declines to grant Plaintiff leave to amend its Complaint a 'second time as to this issue.
II. Plaintiffs Claim for Negligent Misrepresentation (Sixth Claim)
Plaintiff alleges in its Sixth Claim for negligent misrepresentation that Defendant was aware “[p]rior to the installation of [Defendant’s] products into the condominium ... that [Defendant’s] products contained an inherent defect” and that Defendant was recklessly indifferent to the risk that its products would fail when exposed to temperatures less than 230 degrees and/or would fail when exposed to chloramines. First Am. Compl. ¶¶ 90, 93-94.
The Oregon Supreme Court has held claims for negligent misrepresentation “must be predicated on some duty of the negligent actor to the injured party beyond the common law duty to exercise reasonable care to prevent foreseeable harm.” Onita Pac. Corp. v. Trs. of Bronson, 315 Or. 149, 159, 843 P.2d 890 (1992)(emphasis added). “In other words, for the duty to avoid making negligent misrepresentations to arise, the parties must be in a ‘special relationship,’ in which the party sought to be held liable had some obligation to pursue.the interests of the other party.” Conway v. Pac. Univ., 324 Or. 231, 237, 924 P.2d 818 (1996). Courts in Oregon have concluded such special relationships may arise with, for example, attorneys, physicians, principals in an agent relationship, trustees, '“pledgees,” and liability insurers “who undertake!] a duty to defend.” Id. at 239-40, 924 P.2d 818. In addition, an individual may be in a
Here Plaintiff does not allege in its First Amended Complaint that it was in a special relationship with Defendant nor does Plaintiff allege any facts in its First Amended Complaint from which the Court could infer -that Plaintiff and Defendant were in a special relationship. As noted, MSI rather than Plaintiff or the Owners purchased Defendant’s products from a third-party dealer in a typical business transaction. To the extent that the Owners were an intended beneficiary of that purchase, Plaintiff does not allege, and there are not any facts in the First Amended Complaint to suggest, that MSI’s purchase of Defendant’s products from Ferguson was anything other than that of an arm’s-length transaction between “adversaries] in a sales transaction.” Conway, 324 Or. at 243, 924 P.2d 818. Although courts have held engineers or architects may be in a special relationship with their clients, Plaintiff does not bring this action on behalf of the Owners against the developer or contractor. Thus, those cases in which engineers or architects are held to be in a special relationship with their clients are not applicable here.
In addition, to the extent that Plaintiff asserts its First Amended Complaint should be read as contending that Defendant may be liable for negligent misrepresentation because Defendant was a “non-gratuitous supplier of information” and, therefore, Defendant owed the Owners as intended beneficiaries of that information a duty to avoid making negligent misrepresentations, the Court finds such an assertion to be unpersuasive. In Onita the Oregon Supreme Court noted some legal scholars “distinguish ] between misrepresentations made by an adversary in a sales transaction and by one who holds out to the general public that he or she supplies information” and suggested’ the latter may have a duty to avoid, making negligent misrepresentations. 315 Or. at 162, 843 P.2d 890. In Conway, however, the court explained a nongratuitous supplier of information who may have a duty to avoid making negligent misrepresentations “is someone in the business of supplying information for a fee.” 324 Or. at 243, 924 P.2d 818. Plaintiff does not allege any facts in its First Amended Complaint from which the Court could plausibly conclude Defendant was in the business of supplying information for a fee.
The Court, therefore, concludes Plaintiff has not stated a claim for negligent misrepresentation.
III. Plaintiffs Fraud Claim (Fifth Claim)
Plaintiff alleges in its Fifth Claim for fraud that Defendant knew its products “were not acceptable for use in potable water systems such as the potable water system in the condominium” because they would fail when exposed to temperatures less than 230 degrees and/or to chlora-mines. First Am. Compl. at ¶¶ 75, 77-78. Plaintiff further alleges
Defendant moves to dismiss Plaintiffs fraud ‘claim on the ground that Plaintiff has not pled facts sufficient to establish the reliance element of fraud.
A. Pleading Standard
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a) provides: A pleading that sets forth a claim must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing the pleader is entitled to relief.” “Rule 8’s liberal notice pleading standard ... requires that the allegations in the complaint give the defendant fair notice of what the plaintiffs claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.” Tribble v. Raytheon Co., 414 Fed.Appx. 98, 100 (9th Cir.2011). With respect to allegations of fraud, however, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b) requires all allegations of fraud to be stated “with particularity.” In order to satisfy the additional burdens imposed by Rule 9(b), the plaintiff must allege, at a minimum, “the time, place and nature of the alleged fraudulent activities.” Tok Cha Kim v. CB Richard Ellis Haw., Inc., 288 Fed.Appx. 312, 315 (9th Cir.2008) (citation omitted). “Rule 9(b) demands that the circumstances constituting the alleged fraud ‘be specific enough to give defendants notice of the particular misconduct ... so that they can defend against the charge and not just deny that they have done anything wrong.’ ” Kearns v. Ford Motor Co., 567 F.3d 1120, 1124 (9th Cir.2009) (quoting Bly-Magee v. Cal., 236 F.3d 1014, 1019 (9th Cir.2001)). “ ‘Averments of fraud must be accompanied by ‘the who, what, when, where, and how1 of the misconduct charged.” Id. (quoting Vess v. Ciba-Geigy Corp. USA, 317 F.3d 1097, 1106 (9th Cir.2003)). “A party alleging fraud must set forth more than the neutral facts necessary to identify the transaction.” Id. (quotation omitted).
B. Fraud Standard
To state a claim for fraud under Oregon common law a plaintiff must allege:
“(1) a representation; (2) its falsity; (3) its materiality; (4) the speaker’s knowledge of its falsity or ignorance of its truth; (5) his intent that it should be acted on by the person and in the manner reasonably contemplated; (6) the hearer’s ignorance of its falsity; (7) his*1021 reliance on its truth; (8) his right to rely-thereon; and (9) his consequent and proximate injury.”
Burgdorf v. Weston, 259 Or.App. 755, 771, 316 P.3d 303 (2013)(quoting Webb v. Clark, 274 Or. 387, 391, 546 P.2d 1078 (1976)).
C. Analysis
Although Plaintiff agrees it must plead every element of fraud “with ultimate facts,” Plaintiff contends “reliance is not required in this case because the basis of Plaintiffs claim is that [Defendant] knew its products would deteriorate and degrade ... and actively concealed this information from the public, including Plaintiff.” PL’s Mem. in Opp’n at 6. Plaintiff states “[t]his is a classic failure to disclose case.” To, support its assertion that reliance is not required, Plaintiff relies on two Oregon UTPA cases: Sanders v. Francis, 277 Or. 593, 561 P.2d 1003 (1977), and State ex rel. Redden v. Discount Fabrics, Inc., 289 Or. 375, 615 P.2d 1034 (1980). In Sanders the Oregon Supreme Court held Oregon UTPA § 646.608(2) does not require reliance as an element of causation. In Redden, however, the Oregon Supreme Court specifically distinguished the elements of a UTPA claim under § 646.608(2) from those in a common-law fraud claim:
The elements of common law fraud are distinct and separate from the elements of a cause of action under the Unlawful Trade Practices Act, and a violation of the [UTPA] is more easily shown.
A review of the UTPA reveals that not all of these elements are required in order to recover under the act. For example, the element of reliance is notably different.
289 Or. at 383-84, 615 P.2d 1034 (emphasis added)(quotation omitted). The Court, therefore, finds the analysis and conclusion in Sanders is of limited relevance to the analysis of Plaintiffs fraud claim in this matter.
Plaintiff also relies on Caldwell v. Pop’s Homes, Inc., in which the court held “[silence or nondisclosure can be the basis for a fraud action. A party need not make an affirmative statement to be liable in fraud.” 54 Or.App. 104, 113, 634 P.2d 471 (1981). In Caldwell the plaintiff, the buyer of a mobile home, brought, among other things, a fraud claim alleging the seller on consignment (the defendant) failed to advise the plaintiff that-the park in.which the home was located was bein^ sold and the home would have to be removed. The court held when “fraud is. based on actual concealment, as opposed to simple nondisclosure” a plaintiff need not' establish the defendant had “a duty to speak.” Id. The court, however, did not hold that a plaintiff is not required to plead or to prove reliance in a failure-to-disclose fraud 'claim. In fact, the plaintiffs reliance on the defendant’s alleged failure to disclose was not at issue in Caldwell because, as the Oregon Court of Appeals specifically noted, “[t]here was evidence that plaintiff purchased [a mobile home] in reliance on the fact that the mobile home was ready for occupancy in a park.” Id. at 111-12, 634 P.2d 471.
According to Defendant, Plaintiff has merely recast the traditional fraud claim asserted in its original Complaint as a failure-to-disclose fraud claim in its First Amended Complaint. Defendant asserts Plaintiffs fraud claim is the kind of failure-to-disclose fraud claim that requires an allegation of reliance. In its original Complaint Plaintiff alleged with respect to its fraud claim that Defendant “expressly represented and/or implied (through affirmative statements or failures to disclose)”:
a. That the Victaulic products’ characteristics created a permanent, leak-tight triple seal on a variety of pip*1022 ing materials including steel, stainless steel, aluminum, PVC, ductile iron and copper;
b. That VICTAULIC’s grade E EPDM gasket material is UL classified in accordance with ANSI/NSF 61 for cold ( + 86°F/+30°C) and hot ( + 180°F/+82°C) potable water service;
c. That the grade E gaskets are recommended for hot water service within a specified temperature range of - 30°F/-34°C to +230°F/+110°C;
d. That the grade E gaskets are compatible with a variety of dilute acids, oil-free air and many chemical services; and
e. That the Victaulic products were warranted to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal conditions of use and service.
Compl. at ¶¶ 28, 70. Plaintiff also alleged Defendant’s representations were false, that Defendant knew or should have known they were false, that Defendant intended customers to rely on its representations, that Plaintiff justifiably relied on the representations, that Plaintiff had a right to rely on the representations, and that the representations were material “to the determination as to whether to use [Defendant’s] products in” the Condominium. Compl. at ¶¶ 71-78. At the January 6, 2014, hearing, Judge Mosman concluded Plaintiff failed’ to plead fraud with sufficient specificity as required under Rule 9(b). In particular, Judge Mosman noted Plaintiff failed to allege to whom the alleged misrepresentations were made, to allege facts underlying Plaintiffs assertion that it justifiably relied on Defendant’s alleged misrepresentations, and to allege facts to support its assertion that the alleged misrepresentations were material.
In its First Amended Complaint Plaintiff alleges Defendant “represented in its Seal Selection Guides, Field Installation Handbooks, Design and Installation Manual and Product Catalogs” that its Grade E gaskets were “recommended for hot water service” up to 230 degrees. First Am. Compl. at ¶ 13. Plaintiff also alleges Defendant’s Seal Selection Guides, Field Installation Handbooks, Design and Installation Manual and Product Catalogs “were published by [Defendant] prior to construction of the condominium and disseminated on the internet through [Defendant’s] website” and that Defendant “provided a copy of [its publications] to any person or entity upon request.”
In Pearson v. Philip Morris, Inc., the Oregon Court of Appeals addressed allegations of failure-to-disclose fraud in a similar context. In Pearson the plaintiffs brought a class action against a cigarette manufacturer and asserted the defendant violated the UTPA when it, among other things, “both affirmatively misrepresented that its light cigarettes would inherently
Regarding causation, plaintiffs argued that they did not have to prove that they and the putative class members had relied on defendant’s representations that Marlboro Lights were “Lights” and had “Lowered Tar & Nicotine” because the representations were half-truths.... According to plaintiffs, “[t]he half-truth case involves a failure to disclose, and [a UTPA] plaintiff need not establish reliance when [the defendant] failfed] to disclose information.” Relying on Sanders v. Francis, 277 Or. 593, 598, 561 P.2d 1003 (1977) ... plaintiffs argued that they did not need to prove that they and the putative class members had relied on defendant’s representations.
Id. at 128, 306 P.3d 665. Although the reliance element under the UTPA differs from that in fraud, the Pearson court’s analysis of half-truths, failure to disclose, and generic fraud is instructive. The trial court held the plaintiffs would have to prove they had relied on the defendant’s representations in order “to prove that they had suffered ascertainable losses as a result of defendant’s representations.” Id. at 130, 306 P.3d 665. The trial court also concluded
this case does not involve the type of ‘failure to disclose’ misrepresentation the Sanders court referred to when it said that in some UTPA cases reliance is not an element of causation. Plaintiffs allege here that the statement lowered tar and nicotine’ was misleading because it was a half-truth. They contend that it was false because it did not explain that the statement was true if the cigarettes were smoked in a certain fashion by a machine, but not necessarily if they were smoked by a human being. Plaintiffs’ theory is that if the full truth had been told, they would not have bought the cigarettes at all, or would not have paid as much as they did for them. Instead, being lulled by the half-truth, they bought Marlboro Lights. The theory still boils down to an assertion that what defendant did say was false. Such a theory requires proof of reliance.
Id. at 130, 306 P.3d 665 (emphasis in original). The Oregon Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s ruling related to reliance and distinguished the case from Sanders as follows:
The distinction between misleading actions and misleading omissions is not always clear and may be malleable. As another court has recognized in the fraud context, “[e]very fraud case based on material misrepresentation [can] be turned facilely into a material omissions case[.]” Beck v. Cantor, Fitzgerald & Co., Inc., 621 F.Supp. 1547, 1556 (N.D.Ill.1985)(quoted in State Treasurer v. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., 241 Or.App. 107, 119, 250 P.3d 371 (2011)).... Plaintiffs allege that defendant’s representations caused them to believe something that was not true and that they acted on that belief. For that type of allegation, proof of reliance is required.
Id. at 143-44, 306 P.3d 665 (citations omitted).
Here Plaintiff has alleged Defendant made affirmative misrepresentations related to the temperature at which its products could operate without defect as well as representations that its products were approved for potable water systems. Plaintiff, in effect, alleges Defendant told half-truths about its products and failed to tell the entire truth about the ability of its products to operate at lower temperatures
Accordingly, the Court grants Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs Fifth Claim for fraud. In addition, because Plaintiff has already been given the opportunity to amend its fraud claim, the Court declines to grant Plaintiff leave to amend its Complaint a second time as to this issue.
IV. Punitive Damages
Defendant also moves to strike Plaintiffs request for punitive damages on the ground that punitive damages are available only for Plaintiffs claims for fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and violation of the UTPA. Plaintiff concedes it may not recover punitive damages on its claims for negligence and strict liability.
Because the Court grants Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs claims for fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and violation of the UTPA, the Court also strikes Plaintiffs claim for punitive damages on the ground that Plaintiff may not recover punitive damages for negligence or strict liability.
CONCLUSION
For these reasons, the Court GRANTS Defendant Victaulic Company’s Motion (# 85) to Dismiss Claims for Fraud [Fifth Claim], Negligent Misrepresentation [Sixth Claim], and Violation of the UTPA [Fourth Claim] and GRANTS Defendant’s Motion (# 85) to Strike Punitive Damages.
Thus, this matter will proceed only as to Plaintiffs First Claim for strict liability and Second Claim for negligence according to the ease-management schedule previously set by the Court.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
. Judge Mosman denied the Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss in the Edge Lofts action as moot because it raised the same grounds for dismissal of the plaintiff's UTPA, fraud, and negligent misrepresentation claims as the Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment.
. The regulations interpreting the Magnuson-Moss Act were promulgated by the Federal Trade Commission (the agency responsible for implementing the Act) after a notice-and-comment period.
. The Court notes Judges Mosman and Simon also dismissed the portion of the plaintiffs’ negligent-misrepresentation claims in the Edge Lofts and Benson actions based on the same facts as those alleged by Plaintiff in this matter. Judges Mosman and Simon did not dismiss the portions of the plaintiffs' negligent-misrepresentation claims in those actions that were based on warranty claims made by the plaintiffs to Defendant. Here, however, Plaintiff specifically alleges it did not make any warranty claims.
. Plaintiff also makes allegations related to "when consumers submitted warranty claims.” As noted, however, Plaintiff specifi-' cally alleges neither it nor the Owners made any warranty claims. The Court, therefore, concludes Plaintiff cannot base its fraud claims on warranty issues.
. Plaintiff does not, however, allege it or the Owners requested or received any of Defendant's publications.
. Judges Mosman and Simon did not dismiss the portion of the plaintiffs’ fraud claims related to the plaintiffs’ warranty claims. As noted, however, here Plaintiff specifically alleges it and the Owners did not submit any warranty claims to Defendant.