Cree Class Action Challenges Advertised Life of LED Light Bulbs

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Cree Inc. has been hit with a class action lawsuit alleging the company lies to consumers about how long its LED bulbs will last.

Lead plaintiff Jeff Young alleges in his class action lawsuit that Cree claims its LED light bulbs will last 35,000 hours in its advertising.

However, the lights do not last the 15-32 years the company promotes. Further, the plaintiff says consumers pay a premium for the bulbs under the impression they will last much longer than they actually will.

Young alleges that of the three Cree bulbs he purchased at $15 to $20 each, all burned out within months of his purchase.

“Many of Cree’s LED bulbs are sold with packaging which indicates that the product comes with a 10 Year Warranty or ‘100% Satisfaction Guaranteed,’” explains the Cree class action lawsuit. “Furthermore, the packages all contain an estimated lifetime use and energy saving, indicating that the products will save consumers money in the long term despite their high purchase price point. These representations signal to the customer that the useful life of the product will be at least 10 years or more.”

At issue in the class action are three categories of LED bulbs produced by Cree; Standard A-Type, Reflector (Flood/Spot), and Specialty. According to the plaintiff, the Cree website markets the bulbs as “designed to create comfortable living spaces with better colors… [D]esigned to last more than 22 years (25,000 hours), the Cree LED bulb is a worry-free choice backed by a 100% performance satisfaction guarantee.”

Cree manufactures six types of Cree Standard A-Type LED bulbs, according to the class action lawsuit: a 40 Watt Replacement, 60 Watt Replacement, Connected 60 Watt Replacement, 75 Watt Replacement, 100 Watt Replacement, and 3-Way Replacement.

The Cree LED class action alleges that the savings touted by Cree are based on the excessively wasteful amounts of energy that old incandescent light bulbs use in relation to new LED bulbs. However, Young says the bulbs do not last as long as advertised by Cree, nor do they save consumer the amount of money Cree claims they will through reduced energy costs.

“Through the advertisements…Cree represented, directly or indirectly, expressly or by implication, that the LED Lightbulbs would last for specified periods or lifespans,” alleges the Cree class action lawsuit. “These representations are false. The light bulbs do not in fact last for the warranted time or lifespan.”

The plaintiff alleges that other consumers have complained about the limited lifespan of Cree bulbs as well.

Young seeks to represent a California Class of individuals who bought Cree LED light bulbs during the applicable limitations period. Cree is in violation of California business, advertising, and consumer protection laws, committed fraud and is in breach of warranty, according to the class action lawsuit.

The plaintiff is seeking damages as well as attorneys’ fees and costs.

Young is represented by Michael McShane and S. Clinton Woods of Audet & Partners LLP, Charles J. LaDuca and Alexandra C. Warren of Cunero Gilbert & LaDuca LLP, Melissa S. Weiner and Amy E. Boyle of Halunen Law, and Charles E. Schaffer of Levin Sedran & Berman.

The Cree LED Light Bulb Class Action Lawsuit is Young v. Cree Inc., Case No. 3:17-cv-06252, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division.