9th Cir. Defines What Is Recoverable under California’s UCL

Wendy Chowning appeals the district court’s grant of summary judgment to Kohl’s Department Stores, Inc. and Kohl’s Corporation (collectively “Kohl’s”) in her putative class action regarding alleged advertising misrepresentations. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.   California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL)¹ “is equitable in nature; damages cannot be recovered.” Korea Supply Co. v. Lockheed Martin Corp., 29 Cal.4th 1134, 131 Cal.Rptr.2d 29, 63 P.3d 937, 943 (Cal. 2003). Remedies are “generally limited to injunctive relief and restitution.” Id. (quoting Cel-Tech Commc’ns, Inc. v. L.A. Cellular Tel. Co., 20 Cal.4th 163, 83 Cal.Rptr.2d 548, 973 P.2d 527, 539 (1999) ). Though restitution is possible, “[i]njunctions are ‘the primary form of relief available under the UCL to protect consumers from unfair business practices,’ while restitution is a type of ‘ancillary relief.’ ” Kwikset Corp. v. Superior Court, 51 Cal.4th 310, 120 Cal.Rptr.3d 741, 246 P.3d 877, 895 (2011) (quoting In re Tobacco II Cases, 46 Cal.4th 298, 93 Cal.Rptr.3d 559, 207 P.3d 20, 34 (2009) ).  The proper calculation of restitution in this case is price paid versus value received. Under California law, where a plaintiff obtains value from the product, the proper measure of restitution is “[t]he difference between what the plaintiff paid and the value of what the plaintiff received.” In re Vioxx Class Cases, 180 Cal.App.4th 116, 103 Cal.Rptr.3d 83, 96 (2009); see also In re Tobacco Cases II, 192 Cal.Rptr.3d at 894.³ Here, Chowning admits that she received value. Therefore, the appropriate calculation for restitution is the price Chowning paid for the articles versus the value of the articles she received. . . . Here, Chowning failed to meet her burden to prove she was entitled to restitution. First, Chowning’s expert testified that he was not expressing an opinion on retail value. Second, Chowning introduced no competent evidence regarding the value of articles of clothing of similar style, quality, etc. Restitution requires that the “value of what the plaintiff received” was more than what the “plaintiff paid.” In re Vioxx Class Cases, 103 Cal.Rptr.3d at 96; see also In re Tobacco Cases II, 192 Cal.Rptr.3d at 894. Without evidence of the “value … received,” that calculation is impossible. Therefore, Kohl’s is entitled to summary judgment.  Rescission or “full refund” is unavailable in this case. “A full refund may be available in a UCL case when the plaintiffs prove the product had no value to them.” In re Tobacco Cases II, 192 Cal.Rptr.3d at 895; see also Cortez, 96 Cal.Rptr.2d 518, 999 P.2d at 713 (holding restitution is “the return of the excess of what the plaintiff gave the defendant over the value of what the plaintiff received”). If the product is truly valueless, then the “price paid minus the value actually received equals the price paid.” In re Tobacco Cases II, 192 Cal.Rptr.3d at 895. Chowning admits that she received some value from the articles of clothing and, thus, rescission is not available.  Disgorgement is unavailable in this case. Under California law, there are two forms of disgorgement: “restitutionary disgorgement, which focuses on the plaintiff’s loss, and nonrestitutionary disgorgement, which focuses on the defendant’s unjust enrichment.” In re Tobacco Cases II, 192 Cal.Rptr.3d at 899 (quoting Meister v. Mensinger, 230 Cal.App.4th 381, 178 Cal.Rptr.3d 604, 618 (2014) ). Nonrestitutionary disgorgement is unavailable in UCL actions. Id. (citations omitted). Therefore, since the focus is on Chowning’s loss, the appropriate calculation for restitution is the traditional restitution formula articulated supra.   Transaction percentage or “actual discount” is not available as a method for calculating restitution. First, this measure would effectively seek damages sounding in contract, not equity. “A UCL action is equitable in nature; damages cannot be recovered.” Korea Supply, 131 Cal.Rptr.2d 29, 63 P.3d at 943. Second, Chowning’s argument for this form of restitution is based on standing cases. See, e.g., Hinojos v. Kohl’s Corp., 718 F.3d 1098, 1103 (9th Cir. 2013). Standing and the calculation of restitution have different standards. Kwikset, 120 Cal.Rptr.3d 741, 246 P.3d at 894 (holding “the standards for establishing standing under section 17204 and eligibility for restitution under section 17203 are wholly distinct”).