LG Class Action Challenges TVs Energy Star Label

Television maker LG Electronics was slammed with a class action lawsuit alleging the company falsely markets its TVs with “Energy Star” labels when the devices actually use twice as much energy as advertised.

Lead plaintiff Veronica Munoz alleges in her class action lawsuit that LG marketed certain TVs as energy efficient by placing an Energy Star label on them.

According to the complaint, Energy Star labels are supposed to indicate that the product meets the highest possible standards for energy efficiency. However, the plaintiff alleges that LG TVs use far more energy than what is advertised once users change the TV settings.

Munoz says she paid a premium for her LG TV because it had an Energy Star label. Additionally, she claims she also paid more for operating the TV because it ended up using more electricity to run than LG advertised.

“LG’s misrepresentation that plaintiff’s television was among the most energy-efficient of televisions was an immediate cause of plaintiff’s decision to purchase its product,” alleges the class action lawsuit. “She would not have agreed to purchase the television, or would have sought materially different terms, had she known that the misrepresentation was false and misleading.”

The Energy Star program is an effort on the part of two U.S. agencies, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, says the class action complaint. Further, the Energy Star designation is meant to notify customers that the products they purchase are energy efficient.

“The promised benefits of efficiency and energy-savings were illusory,” alleges the LG class action. “For class members who purchased LG’s televisions, the promised savings from reduced energy bills never came. Instead, LG deployed firmware to make it all but certain that key energy-saving features would be inactive during normal consumer use.”

The plaintiff alleges that the Natural Resources Defense Council tested LG TVs and found that when consumers adjust default settings, the TVs use more energy, including when the settings are changed to “Standard.”

According to the class action, most consumers would not think that changing LG TV settings in this manner would increase the product’s energy. The plaintiff also alleges that consumers are not informed that changing these settings will decrease the energy efficiency of the TV.

The plaintiff seeks to represent a nationwide Class of consumers who purchased an LG TV with “automatic brightness control” and “motion detection dimming” features, along with a subclass of California residents.

LG violates California laws prohibiting unfair competition and false advertising, the lawsuit states. The plaintiff also alleges LG breached express and implied warranties and contracts to consumers as well as their obligation for good faith and fair dealing.

Munoz further claims LG has been unjustly enriched by the alleged false advertising and has committed fraud.

The plaintiff is seeking recovery of damages as well as injunctive relief along with an order requiring LG to disclose any information on the energy usage of their televisions. The plaintiff is also seeking attorneys’ fees and costs.

Munoz is represented by Trinette G. Kent of Lemberg Law LLC, Betsy C. Manifold, Rachele R. Rickert, Brittany N. DeJong, Thomas H. Burt, Theodore B. Bell and Carl Malmstrom of Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Hertz LLC, Jon Tostrud of Tostrud Law Group PC, and Scott A. Bursor and Tim Fisher of Bursor & Fisher PA.

The LG Energy Star Class Action Lawsuit is Munoz v. LG Electronics USA Inc., Case No. 5:17-cv-01176, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.