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Molekule Inc. has been hit with a class action lawsuit by a consumer claiming the company’s air purifier does not “destroy” germs or “eliminate” pollution.
Paul Lepore says Molekule’s claims that the product eliminates dust, pollen and other contaminants are false. He alleges that Molekule claims its air purifiers are superior to High Efficiency Particulate Arresting (HEPA) air purifiers for removing allergens from the home.
Lepore states that indoor air pollution and air quality are important to consumers, especially those with severe allergies or asthma. He claims that the defendant markets and sells the products as being highly effective at combating indoor air pollution and improving indoor air quality.
The defendant also maintains that their product will destroy 3.4 million black mold spores in 50 minutes, 1 million allergens in 4 minutes, 3.4 million ms2 viruses in 2 minutes, and 3.7 million bacteria in 5 minutes, according to the Molekule class action.
However, the plaintiff avers that the defendant’s product does not remove impurities from the air to the extent advertised and fails to perform as represented. Lepore says the defendant’s branding, advertising and packaging of the product is designed to deceive, mislead and defraud customers.
“Defendant has sold more of the Products and at higher prices per unit than it would have in the absence of this misconduct, resulting in additional profits at the expense of consumers,” the Molekule class action lawsuit goes on to state.
The marketing of the air purifier saying that it is able to “destroy” pollutants has a material bearing on price because consumers are willing to pay more for such products, the plaintiff argues. He says the value of the product was materially less than its value as represented by the manufacturer.
Lepore says had he known the truth, he would not have purchased the product or would have paid much less for them. As a result of the false and misleading labeling, the product is sold at a premium price, says Lepore. He allegedly paid $799 for the Molekule Air Filter, which is a higher price when compared to other similar products represented in a non-misleading way.
The defendant advertised and represented to consumers that the products were more effective at eliminating airborne pollutants and allergens than the products actually were, according to Lepore.
“Plaintiff relied on the statements, omissions and representations of defendant, and defendant knew or should have known the falsity of same,” the Molekule class action lawsuit states.
The plaintiff asserts that Molekule had a duty to disclose and provide non-deceptive marketing of the product and knew or should have known that their statements were misleading.
Lepore goes on to state that the false representations made by the defendant took advantage of consumers’ belief in scientific claims and their inability to cut through the data to get to the truth. He says he reasonably and justifiably relied on the misleading and negligent claims, which served to induce the purchase of the air purifier.
The Molekule class action lawsuit says the defendant received notice and should have been aware of misrepresentations due to numerous complaints by consumers to its office over the years.
The plaintiff also maintains that the defendant advertised and represented to consumers that the products were more effective at eliminating airborne pollutants and allergens than they actually were.
“Defendant obtained benefits and monies because the Product was not as represented and expected, to the detriment and impoverishment of plaintiff and class members, who seek restitution and disgorgement of inequitably obtained profits,” the Molekule air purifier class action lawsuit states.
A New York Times article published in February 2020 points to National Advertising Division (NAD) opinion which found that Molekule’s advertising claims were instantiated. Allegedly, air purifier Dyson had challenged many of Molekule’s claims and the NAD found that all 26 claims from Molekule did not hold weight.
As per the recommendation of the NAD, Molekule has agreed to withdraw its pollution elimination claims, which means that it no longer stands by the numbers that it has touted as proof that the air purifiers eliminate biological particles.
Consumer Reports also reviewed the Molekule air purifiers in December 2019 and put the products through a standard battery of tests and found that it almost failed. It found that if the air purifier isn’t taking in enough air, it will struggle to clean the air at any scale.
Prospective Class Members include: “all purchasers of the Product in New York and the other forty-nine (49) states during the applicable statutes of limitations and a national class where applicable.”
Did you purchase a Molekule Air Purifier and discovered it doesn’t work as advertised? Leave a message in the comments section below.
The plaintiff is represented by Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates and Michael R. Reese of Reese LLP.
The Molekule Air Purifier Class Action Lawsuit is Paul Lepore v. Molekule Inc., Case No. 2:20-cv-02571, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
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29 thoughts onMolekule Class Action Says Air Purifier Does Not Kill Germs
Yes I’d like to be added to this class action lawsuit. This company is fraudulent and The people in charge deserve to go to jail!
I have asthma and my mom has pulmonary issues and we were misled by this fraudulent product.
Please add me as well. I purchase three of them, and began to research them after two years of feeling like they didn’t do anything. Now I know I was duped!
Please add me as well. Bought into they hype and fraudulent advertising.
I purchased 2 Molekuke HEPA devices because I have and autoimmune disorder and I also have two disabled children, a 100-%VA rated husband; and. A family history of multiple family members with multiple alaphlactic airborne allergies as well as breath f issues like asthma and chronic beonchitis, along with king malformations that make a quality filtration system ideal. I bought into the hype because it seemed perfect for our family’s needs, getting one for the first floor and one for the second floor.
I was advised that if we had carpeting upstairs, this would be very helpful in eliminating dander and other particles. The combination of a closed circulatory HEPA based vacuum system upstairs and downstairs, smaller filters in each room, and these larger items I purchased for way more the. I could afford (I got one for each floor at the advice of my allergist after he had heard positive feedback.
Within a week, I noticed the units always had a horrible metallic smell that came from them. There were never any indications of anything being wrong but the air even tasted different. It became hard to breathe and when I had my electrician come in; he examined all of our filters and all other sneaker and larger emerge orevebtiob devices – coming to the quick conclusion that it was the two Nolekuke units that were upstairs and downstairs that had not only caused my worsening symptoms, but my children were hit with runny noses and sneezing, itchy noses and every symptom they’d had before we ever began using HEOA devxes years ago: my kids got sick because of the two Molekuke devices I purchased tutor believing from their clever and extensively persuasive – and the company’s very own advertising as well as the recommendation by the allergist who said they had got some good feedback from users… they would help protect my children at the advice of a medical Doctor.
Once the two devices were removed from my house. My children’s health went back to normal immediately. My primary care doctor warned me about hoaxes and showed me an article that this wasn’t all it was claimed to be. We live on disability income, so tonorey with overpriced machinery on these populations is disgusting: I would like the money unpaid for both of the room sized options I purchased. I had to put them out in boxes in the garage, but I’ll happily send them back if you provide a return label and refund my money in full so I can buy quality items that will work as HEPA filters are intended to work for my family. This was the most Terrifying, scary (hiw would you feel if you woke to your throat closing with no ability to inhale fresh air? Thankfully we have oxygen in hand. I won’t even go into how much money these two huge and ineffective units cost us, and Money May be what this company was all about at the health expense of their customers, but most of us can’t afford to just throw money away on quack salesman products that don’t work yet they’ll still try to sell them to us because they say “HEPA” and that can be a filtration system meaning the difference between life and death for those that friend in these companies to be true to their word. I was down for days with the inability to breathe beyond shallow intake, and my children were both bedridden with issues ranging from being unable to breathe to having no energy from lack of extiende intake to complaints for a week that the entire house had a very wrong-feeling smell to it, and after examination by multiple people, these Nolekuke units that we had purchased to help our family was actually hurting them. One of the “HEPA” filters had metal particles in between the little folds where the contaminants are supposed to be caught.
I want my money back. The store I purchased them from said I had to go to the company, but when I did they either hung up directly once I mentioned the device and harm or they told mine they’d have a supervisor call me as soon as done was available. I’m still waiting. I want the retail price I paid for two units to be refunded to me. Companies shouldn’t get away with poisoning us using cheap gimmicks and even cheaper products while charging the consumer for something they believe to be therapeutic or high quality. The two units I purchased cost a proverbial fortune compared to our usual household expenses and I’d like to have them take responsibility y refunding the money that we paid for the two largest devices they sold at the time. Shame on Molekuke.. Even a refund wit take the pain of those weeks away or the money we’ve spent that week didn’t have available in spades…it would be nice to have that money back so we can buy two new units that actually work, I can’t believe companies get away with these things.
Please add me to the class. I purchased a Molekule early on, paid $799.
Please add me I have purchase a Molekule Air Purifier and discovered it doesn’t work as advertised
Add me
I bought one because our new apartment is particularly dusty, and my husband was exhibiting constant allergy symptoms. We still have the dust and he is still sniffling and sneezing after three months of having this air filter purifier in our small living room.
I purchased four of these as my children and one of my grand’s has serious allergies. One severe.
Two of them and grand seemed to have no effect. I am sure this is why. I am very disappointed after paying so much. I wish I could find receipts. I was out of town when purchased and had three sent over with other items.
I’m definitely searching for receipt.
I purchased 2 molekules for my house because my daughter has severe allergies. It advertised that it killed more and was better than the other air filters which is Why I purchased them. Then when COVID happened it stayed that the purifier killed virus the same size as the COVID virus so I bought another one for the waiting room of my office. I am not happy to hear I spent a lot of money because I was fooled by their advertising!