Vi-Jon Exits Hand Sanitizer ’99.99%' Germ-Killing Deception Suit

Vi-Jon LLC defeated a proposed class suit alleging it deceptively overstated its hand sanitizer’s capabilities by claiming it “kills 99.99% of germs,” although the plaintiff indicated he’ll appeal his loss.

Lead plaintiff Anthony Moreno’s fifth attempt to raise a viable consumer deception claim was rejected Tuesday by the US District Court for the Southern District of California.

Moreno didn’t heed an appeals court’s pleading instructions to allege the product was ineffective against germs commonly found on the hands, as opposed to all germs, and consumers wouldn’t reasonably think the hand sanitizer could kill all germs, the district court said.

As ...