Carovillano v. Sirius XM Radio, Inc.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

CHRISTOPHER CAROVILLANO and STEVEN BRANDT, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, 23 Civ. 4723 (PAE) Plaintiffs, OPINION & ORDER -v- SIRIUS XM RADIO INC., Defendant.

PAUL A. ENGELMAYER, District Judge: In this putative class action, plaintiffs allege that defendant Sirius XM Radio Inc. (“Sirius XM”) promises its telephonic subscribers a particular monthly price, only to charge them an undisclosed 21.4% fee (the “U.S. Royalty Fee” or the “Fee”) on top of the agreed-upon price.

Dkt. 1 (“Compl.”) ¶¶ 1, 42–43. Plaintiffs allege that such conduct violates New York General Business Law (“GBL”) §§ 349 and 350, breaches the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and unjustly enriches Sirius XM. Id. ¶¶ 96–137. Sirius XM counters that the Fee is “clearly disclose[d]” in its online materials, such that no “reasonable consumer[]” would be “misled.” Dkt. 10 (“Def. Br.”) at 7, 19.

Pending now is Sirius XM’s motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ Complaint. The Complaint centrally alleges that Sirius XM fails to inform subscribers who sign up by telephone of the Fee before their purchase, and that Sirius XM only references the Fee in obscure and inadequate terms on its website. At this stage, accepting the Complaint’s well-pled factual allegations as true, the Court finds that these plausibly allege that Sirius XM’s disclosures about the Fee were misleading, in violation of GBL §§ 349 and 350. As a result, the Court denies Sirius XM’s motion in substantial part, granting it only as to the Complaint’s unjust-enrichment claims and claims for injunctive relief.

I. Background A. Factual Background1 1. The Parties Plaintiff Christopher Carovillano is a former Sirius XM subscriber. Compl. ¶¶ 13, 68–69.

Plaintiff Steven Brandt is a current Sirius XM subscriber. Id. ¶ 14. Both plaintiffs are citizens of New York. Id. ¶¶ 14–15. Both plaintiffs signed up for their respective Sirius XM music plan

2. Sirius XM’s Subscription Plans Once a new-car buyer’s free trial ends, he is “inundate[d]” by Sirius XM with “marketing emails, direct mailers, and telemarketing calls” encouraging him to sign up for one of its paid plans. Id. ¶ 28. The plans differ in several respects. Each plan includes a different selection of over 425 channels, ranging from “[a]d-free music” channels to “[n]ews & issues” channels to “Howard Stern Channels.” Id. ¶ 49. The plans are advertised at different rates—ranging from its most expensive, “Platinum,” to its most affordable, “Music Showcase.” Id. Often, Sirius XM will offer a promotional price (for instance, “3 mos. for $1 then $23.99/mo.”) to encourage former Sirius XM users to return to the fold with an automatically renewing subscription. Id. ¶¶ 32, 49.

As alleged, these headline rates, however, do not take into account an additional charge.

Since 2009, Sirius XM has charged what it calls the “U.S. Music Royalty Fee” (the “Fee”), a flat-rate charge imposed at Sirius XM’s sole discretion. Id. ¶ 30. The Fee has increased over time. Id. At present, the Fee is a “uniform additional 21.4% charge” included “over and above the advertised and quote price of each music plan.” Id. (Thus, a customer promised “3 mos. for $1” will, in fact, pay $1.21 per month. And once that customer’s three-month promotional rate expires, he will not pay $23.99 per month, but instead $29.12 per month.) The Fee is a key profit center for Sirius XM. See id. ¶¶ 7, 31, 56, 62. In 2022, the Fee was responsible for $1.36 billion in revenue—122% of Sirius XM’s net profits for the year. Id. ¶¶ 7, 31.

3. Sirius XM’s Promotional Materials The Complaint alleges that Sirius XM fails to adequately disclose the Fee in its written promotional materials.

A standard Sirius XM mailer, with a prominently displayed promotional rate, appears below: ((‘Siriusxim))) ACT NOW TRIAL ENDS.

0002 X341_ 198711 T39 35 a Get 12 Months for $5/Month le with the Music & Entertainment Plan. es Subscribe at siriusxm.com/MySXM5 ee or call 1-866-816-4423 Trial end date: 12/11/22 — Radio ID (ESN): The SiriusXM trial that came with your Account #: HE si)! expire on December 11, 2022. But with this great offer on our most popular plan, you can keep listening to the variety you want without interruption. KEEP LISTENING TO SIRIUSXM 400+ channels, including 155+ in your ee ./ [ERR plus stream on your phone, online and og a i at home with the SXM App teas tii ./ Ad-free music from every genre and decade, j a plus original talk, sports, comedy, and news “Exclusive artist-created channels and shows Peay) GET EVEN MORE ON THE SXM APP ms “240+ more ad-free music channels a bidet The best collection of podcasts including a ‘wSiriusXM originals ees “On-demand shows, interviews, and performances Turn over to see our channel lineup. leer (eae Vale) a ao (ei mee ka sia ACT NOW: CJ 0 SCAN fel with your er □□ INN) You have 3 fast and ONLINE PHONE phone's camera □□ cles es easy ways to subscribe. siriusxm.com/MySXM5 1-866-816-4423 learey If you've already contacted us to subscribe, thank you! Please disregard this letter OFFER DETAILS: Activate a Music & Entertainment subscription plan and pay $4.99/month for your first 12 months, plus get free activation (an additional $15 value).

Fees and taxes apply. A credit card is required on this offer. Service will automatically renew thereafter every month and you will be charged at then-current rates (currently, $17.99/month). Please see our Customer Agreement at www.siriusxm.com for complete terms and how to cancel, which includes online methods or calling us at 1-866-635-2349, All fees, content and features are subject to change. This offer cannot be combined with any other and may be modified or terminated at any time. Offer is good only on qualifying ESN/Device IDs as determined solely by SiriusXM. Channel lineup varies by package. © 2022 Sirus XM Radio Inc. SinusXM, Pandora, Stitcher and ail related logos are trademarks of Sirius 0M Radio inc. and its respective subsidianes. (ther marks. channel names and logos are the property of reir respective owners. All rights reserved ‘SXM-CAM-LH-PRE4-512-PL- 10-22 M_NEW._PRE4_Sf OEM_GEN_PRE4_512-PL-1 Compl. § 41. The mailer does not expressly refer to the Fee. See id. It does, however, state— within the paragraph at the end of the mailer that begins with the words “OFFER DETAILS”— that “[flees and taxes apply.” /d. (emphasis in original). That paragraph includes the statement: “Please see our Customer Agreement at www.siriusxm.com for complete terms.” Id. (emphasis in original).

In relevant part, the Customer Agreement provides: 4. Fees: We may charge you one or more of the following fees, all of which are subject to change without notice: . . .

U.S. Music Royalty Fee: Packages which include music channels may be charged a U.S. Music Royalty Fee. See www.siriusxm.com/usmusicroyalty.

Stephens Decl., Ex. 1 (“Customer Agreement”) at 8 (emphasis in original).

In relevant part, the hyperlinked webpage (www.siriusxm.com/usmusicroyalty) provides: The current U.S. Music Royalty Fee is 21.4% of the price of satellite plans* that include music channels.

. . .

4. How is the U.S. Music Royalty Fee calculated?

The U.S. Music Royalty Fee is based on the entire subscription price of the plan you purchase that includes musical performances.

Id., Ex. 2 (“U.S. Music Royalty Webpage”) at 1 (emphasis omitted).

Sirius XM also sends out promotional emails. A standard such email appears below: SiriusXM <[email protected]> Fri, Feb 10, 2023 at 7:28 PM Reply-To: SiriusXM <[email protected]> aU dag hie ole -Melal-1e) | Com-1—1- MaMa -s-t-t- (eM elle iM (oa alim cleared (em) ole) a Maat a aad C0 =) □□ Ly | AD | pane fe ul ai ants =~ ys Pee eS mn i Foi A => CollU IA ale daw AoA ce)anl alel-1alb@- mane) Experience hits, the halftime show & Big Game on this special channel Head to Phoenix Compl. § 44. Like the mailer, the email does not expressly refer to the Fee. See id. § 45. Unlike the mailer, it does not anywhere mention the existence of fees at all. /d. The phrase “See Offer Details” (rendered in white text against a pink backdrop) is a hyperlink. /d. A customer who clicks that link 1s taken to the following webpage: ((Siriusxnm)) Your Vehicle: 2023 SirilusXM Music & Entertainment $5/mo for 12 months Then $18.99/mo. Fees & taxes apply. See Offer Details below.

SiriusXM Music & Entertainment Includes: ~ 400+ channels, including 155+ in your car, plus even more to stream on your devices ¥ Ad-free music for every genre & decade plus artist- created channels ¥ Original talk, podcasts, exclusive comedy & news from every angle ~“ NHL play-by-play, NASCAR", plus the biggest names in sports talk ¥ SiriusXM video library of in-studio shows & performances Hide « feted man. hel OFFER DETAILS: Activate a Music & Entertainment subscription and pay $4.99/month for your first 12 months, plus get free activation (a $15 savings). Fees and taxes apply. A credit card is required on this offer. Service will automatically renew thereafter every month and you will be charged at then-current rates (currently, $18.99/month). Please see our Customer Agreement at www.siriusxm.com for complete terms and how to cancel, which includes using our online chat feature or calling us at 1-866-635-2349. fees, content and features are subject to change. This offer cannot be combined with any other and may be modified or terminated at any time. Offer good only on currently inactive radios. Channel lineup varies by package.

Website Terms | Customer Agreement | Privacy Policy | Return Policy © 2023 Sirius XM Radio Inc. Your Privacy Choices (vy | Your Ad Choices | FCC Public File | FCC Info Id. This page, like the mailer, does not expressly refer to the Fee, but it does state that “Fees & taxes apply,” and it directs customers to “our Customer Agreement,” as quoted above. Id. 4. The Sign-Up Process To subscribe, a prospective customer may either call Sirius XM or sign up online. See id. ¶¶ 51–52, 57. The two plaintiffs here, Carivallano and Brandt, seek to represent a putative class of subscribers who signed up by telephone. Id. ¶¶ 84–85. For such subscribers, the Complaint alleges, Sirius XM never “disclose[s] . . . , at any time before or when they signed up, that it [will] charge them a U.S. Music Royalty Fee in addition to the advertised and promised price.”

Id. ¶ 72. Instead, customer-service agents “present telephone customers with the advertised flat periodic prices for its music plans without disclosing the U.S. Music Royalty Fee.” Id. ¶ 57. “At most, agents may say the cost is the advertised or quoted price plus unspecified ‘fees and taxes.’”

Id. All new subscribers receive a confirmation email from Sirius XM. See id. ¶¶ 58–60.

That, the Complaint alleges, is the “sole billing document” a subscriber “may ever receive which mentions the existence of the U.S. Music Royalty Fee.” Id. ¶ 60. An excerpt of the standard confirmation email appears below: This email confirms your recent SiriusXM account transaction.

Thank you for activating a SiriusXM subscription. summary of your activity for MM/DD/YYYY is below. If your radio isn't receiving service, please click here to refresh your signal. To begin streaming online, click here and input your SiriusXM username listed below.

Account Details SiriusXM Account Number SAMPLE SiriusKM Username SAMPLE Radio ID/ESN SAMPLE Streaming Username SAMPLE Credit/Debit Card SAMPLE Today's Transaction Details Package/Plan Subscription Term Charges Sirius Music & Entertainment MM/DD/YYVY - $5.99 ($5.99/Month for 12 Months) MM/DD/YYYY , SiriusXM Video (1 Month) MM/DD/YYVY - $0.00 MM/DD/YYYY U.S. Music Royalty Fee $1.28 State & Local Taxes $0.36 Current Charges $7.63 Previous Balance/Adjustments ($7.63) Total Charges $0.00 Ending Account Balance $0.00 Weiss Decl., Ex. 1 at 1. Because Sirtus XM does not send any “periodic billing notices or invoices to its subscribers,” plaintiffs allege that its subscribers often learn of Sirtus XM’s hidden fees by inspecting their “bank or credit card billing statement.” Compl. ¶¶ 65–66. The Complaint alleges that Sirius XM customer-service agents are instructed to tell those subscribers who do find out about the Fee “that the Fee is a government-related fee and/or that [it] is outside of Sirius XM’s control.” Id. ¶ 67.

B. Allegations and Procedural History of This Case On June 5, 2023, plaintiffs Carovillano and Brandt filed this action, asserting subject matter jurisdiction based on the Class Action Fairness Act (“CAFA”), 28 U.S.C. § 1332(d). Dkt.

1 (“Compl.”). Plaintiffs allege that Sirius XM’s disclosures (or lack thereof) with respect to the Fee violate New York General Business Law (“GBL”) §§ 349 and 350, breach the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and unjustly enrich Sirius XM. Id. ¶¶ 96–137. Plaintiffs seek to represent a “nationwide class” (excluding California, New Jersey, and Washington residents) of “[a]ll current and former Sirius XM subscribers in the United States who signed up for a music plan on the phone” and paid the Fee “within the applicable statute of limitations.” Id. ¶ 84. They also seek to represent a “New York subclass” of “[a]ll current and former Sirius XM subscribers in New York who signed up for a music plan on the phone” and paid the Fee during the same period. Id. ¶ 85. Plaintiffs seek monetary damages and injunctive relief. See id. at 41– 42.

On August 18, 2023, Sirius XM moved to dismiss the Complaint. Dkt. 9. Sirius moved to dismiss all claims for failure to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6) and moved to dismiss the claims for injunctive relief for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under Rule 12(b)(1). Sirius XM filed a memorandum of law in support, Dkt. 10 (“Def. Br.”), as well as three declarations, each with several exhibits, Dkts. 11 (“Cristofaro Decl.”), 12 (“Weiss Decl.”), 13 (“Stephens Decl.”).

On August 21, 2023, the Court directed plaintiffs to either amend the Complaint or oppose the motion to dismiss by September 8, 2023, Dkt. 14, a deadline later extended to October 16, 2023.

Dkt. 16. On October 16, 2023, plaintiffs filed a memorandum of law in opposition to the motion to dismiss. Dkt. 17 (“Pl. Br.”). On November 7, 2023, Sirius XM filed its reply. Dkt. 18 (“Def.

Reply Br.”).

II. Applicable Legal Standards A. Rule 12(b)(6) To survive a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), a complaint must plead “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). A claim is facially plausible “when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). A complaint is properly dismissed where “the allegations in a complaint, however true, could not raise a claim of entitlement to relief.”

Twombly, 550 U.S. at 558. When resolving a motion to dismiss, the Court must assume all well- pleaded facts to be true, “drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of the plaintiff.” Koch v. Christie’s Int’l PLC, 699 F.3d 141, 145 (2d Cir. 2012). That tenet, however, does not apply to legal conclusions. See Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. Pleadings that offer only “labels and conclusions” or “a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555.

B. Rule 12(b)(1) In resolving a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under Rule 12(b)(1), the Court “must take all facts alleged in the complaint as true and draw all reasonable inferences in favor of plaintiff.” Nat. Res. Def. Council v. Johnson, 461 F.3d 164, 171 (2d Cir. 2006). Once subject matter jurisdiction is challenged, “[a] plaintiff asserting subject matter jurisdiction has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that jurisdiction exists.” Giammatteo v. Newton, 452 F. App’x 24, 27 (2d Cir. 2011) (citing Makarova v. United States, 201 F.3d 110, 113 (2d Cir. 2000)). A district court may consider evidence outside the pleadings, such as affidavits and exhibits. See Makarova, 201 F.3d at 113; see also Amidax Trading Grp. v. S.W.I.F.T. SCRL, 671 F.3d 140, 145 (2d Cir. 2011).

III. Discussion A. GBL §§ 349 and 350 Claims Sirius XM moves to dismiss, for failure to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6), plaintiffs’ claims for deceptive and unfair trade practices under GBL §§ 349 and 350.

1. Applicable Legal Principles GBL § 349 prohibits “[d]eceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any business, trade or commerce or in the furnishing of any service” in New York State. N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 349(a). Section 350 prohibits “[f]alse advertising in the conduct of any business, trade or commerce or in the furnishing of any service” in the state. Id. § 350.

To state a claim under GBL § 349, a plaintiff must allege that “(1) the defendant’s deceptive acts were directed at consumers, (2) the acts are misleading in a material way, and (3) the plaintiff has been injured as a result.” Maurizio v. Goldsmith, 230 F.3d 518, 521 (2d Cir. 2000) (per curiam). “The standard for recovery under [GBL] § 350, while specific to false advertising, is otherwise identical to [§] 349.” Goshen v. Mut. Life Ins. Co. of N.Y., 98 N.Y.2d 314, 324 n.1 (2002). Given this overlap, “courts have found that the scope of § 350 is as broad as that of § 349, and that its essential elements are the same.” Braynina v. TJX Cos., No. 15 Civ. 5897 (KPF), 2016 WL 5374134, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 26, 2016) (cleaned up); see also Orlander v. Staples, Inc., 802 F.3d 289, 300 (2d Cir. 2015) (treating the causes of action as identical); Koch v. Acker, Merrall & Condit Co., 18 N.Y.3d 940, 941 (2012) (same).2 2. Application Sirius XM argues that the Complaint fails to plead the last two elements of §§ 349 and 350: that Sirius’ marketing was materially misleading and that the plaintiffs were injured as a result. a. Materially misleading Whether an act is “materially misleading” under New York law is an objective inquiry.

Orlander, 802 F.3d at 300. The decisive question is whether the act is “likely to mislead a reasonable consumer acting reasonably under the circumstances.” Fink v. Time Warner Cable, 714 F.3d 739, 741 (2d Cir. 2013); see also Oswego Laborers’ Local 214 Pension Fund v. Marine Midland Bank, N.A., 85 N.Y.2d 20, 26 (1995). Although “a court may determine as a matter of law that an allegedly deceptive advertisement would not have misled a reasonable consumer,” Fink, 714 F.3d at 741, how a hypothetical “reasonable consumer” would react to an advertisement “is generally a question of fact not suited for resolution at the motion to dismiss stage,” Duran v. Henkel of Am., Inc., 450 F. Supp. 3d 337, 346 (S.D.N.Y. 2020) (collecting cases); see also Buonasera v. Honest Co., Inc., 208 F. Supp. 3d 555, 566 (S.D.N.Y. 2016); Dunham v. Sherwin-Williams Co., 636 F. Supp. 3d 308, 315 (N.D.N.Y. 2022); cf., e.g., Hana Fin., Inc. v. Hana Bank, 574 U.S. 418, 422 (2015) (“[W]hen the relevant question is how an ordinary person or community would make an assessment, the jury is generally the decisionmaker that ought to provide the fact-intensive answer.”).

Supp. 3d 226, 239–40 (S.D.N.Y. 2020).

Sirius XM argues that, as a matter of law, its advertising is not materially misleading, because it “fully disclosed” the Fee to consumers. Def. Br. at 9–16. Sirius notes that its mailer discloses that “‘[f]ees and taxes apply’ and instructs would-be purchasers to consult the ‘Customer Agreement at www.SiriusXM.com for complete terms.’” Id. at 3 (quoting Compl.

¶ 41). And, it notes, its promotional email includes a “bold hyperlink” “which, if clicked, leads to page twice noting ‘[f]ees and taxes apply’ and again points consumers to the Customer Agreement.” Id. (quoting Compl. ¶¶ 44–45). On this basis, Sirius argues, it gave plaintiffs “all of the information necessary to understand the practice and its consequences.” Id. at 9 (quoting Rodriguez v. Cheesecake Factory Inc., No. 16 Civ. 2006 (JMA) (AKT), 2017 WL 6541439, at *3 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 11, 2017)). Its “‘complete . . . disclosure’ is not misleading,” Sirius argues, “even if that disclosure is ‘arguably confusing.’” Def. Reply Br. at 1 (alteration in original) (quoting Beth Israel Med. Ctr. v. Verizon Bus. Network Servs., Inc., No. 11 Civ. 4509 (RJS), 2013 WL 1385210, at *8 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 18, 2013)). That plaintiffs “refused to examine the information put right before their eyes and easily available at their fingertips,” Sirius contends, is fatal to their case. Def. Br. at 13.

Sirius XM’s argument fails to secure dismissal on the pleadings. New York courts have rejected the argument that a generalized disclaimer as to “additional fees” bars claims asserting the non-disclosure of fees that a reasonable consumer would not expect. See, e.g., Watts v. Jackson Hewitt Tax Serv. Inc., 579 F. Supp. 2d 334, 348 (E.D.N.Y. 2008) (complaint stated a claim despite disclaimer that “fees vary,” where tax-preparation business failed to disclose 15% fee applied to customers’ final invoices); Lonner v. Simon Prop. Grp., Inc., 866 N.Y.S.2d 239, (2d Dep’t 2008) (same, despite disclaimer of a “dormancy fee,” where defendant “failed to clearly and conspicuously disclose” the fee and mentioned it only in fine print); Relativity Travel, Ltd. v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, No. 601075/05, 2006 WL 2918081, at *2–3 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2006) (same, despite disclaimer that additional fees may be charged, where bank’s website, ATMs, and other materials failed to list the particular surcharge and bank mentioned it only in its “extremely long” and “prolix” deposit agreement); Sims v. First Consumers Nat’l Bank, 758 N.Y.S.2d 284, 286 (1st Dep’t 2003) (same, despite disclaimer that additional fees may be charged, where “an average reader could not readily locate the disclosures within the material provided” due to the “typeface and location of the fee disclosures”). Courts in other states have similarly applied their like statutes.3 See, e.g., New Vision Unlimited, LLC v. Glasses USA, Inc., No. 22 Civ. 22534 (RNS), 2023 WL 3535386, at *3–5 (S.D. Fla. May 18, 2023) (complaint stated a claim despite disclaimer that a “processing fee” applied, where online retailer advertised an artificially low price and the fee “nearly doubl[ed] [that] price”); Schnall v. Hertz Corp., 78 Cal. App. 4th 1144, 1150 n.2, 1163–70 (1st Dist. 2000) (same, despite disclaimer in rental agreement that car-rental company will charge “for fuel and the service of refueling at the applicable rate,” where that rate was “not forthrightly provided” and was specified only in a “separate document” full of “indecipherable abbreviations”). Sirius XM cannot secure dismissal on the pleadings on plaintiffs’ GBL §§ 349 and 350 claims based on its shorthand and inconspicuous disclosure that “fees and taxes apply.”4 The Second Circuit has recognized that most state consumer-law statutes are “governed by substantially the same reasonable consumer test.” Baines v. Nature’s Bounty (NY), Inc., No. 23 Civ. 710, 2023 WL 8538172, at *2 (2d Cir. Dec. 11, 2023) (summary order); see also Bell v. Publix Super Mkts., Inc., 982 F.3d 468, 474–75 & 474 n.1 (7th Cir. 2020) (noting that the “core prohibitions” of the consumer laws of California, New York, Florida, and other states “are interpreted for the most part interchangeably,” in particular as to the bar on “advertising that is likely to deceive a substantial proportion of reasonable consumers”).

(2012) (complaint stated a claim despite fine-print disclaimer that wine is sold “as is” where defendant prominently advertised that the wine was rare and valuable: “disclaimers . . . do not establish a defense as a matter of law” and must be viewed in context (quoting Goshen, 98 N.Y.2d at 326)). above cases, Sirius XM’s generality that “fees and taxes apply” is notably less conspicuous and complete.

Also off the mark is Sirius XM’s defense that, by furnishing customers with its Customer Agreement and identifying via hyperlink its U.S. Music Royalty Webpage, which was available online, it, as a matter of law, gave plaintiffs the tools “necessary to understand” the Fee. Def.

Reply Br. at 3 (quoting Rodriguez, 2017 WL 6541439, at *3). There are cases that have upheld as non-misleading fees and charges that were ascertainable in such fashion. But these involved fees so commonplace or small that the reviewing court held that a reasonable consumer would not have been surprised to first learn of them by reviewing the final receipt. Cf., e.g., Estrella- Rosales v. Taco Bell Corp., No. 19 Civ. 18192 (WJM), 2020 WL 1685617, at *3 (D.N.J. Apr. 7, 2020) (permissible to advertise fast-food prices exclusive of state sales tax); see also Tillage v. Comcast Corp., No. 17 Civ. 6477 (VC), 2021 WL 2177225, at *1 (N.D. Cal. May 28, 2021) [“Tillage I”] (“any reasonable consumer might expect” that a business will not include generally applicable “government taxes and surcharges” in its advertised price). That cannot be said here.

At least based on the Complaint, the existence of a 21.4% U.S. Royalty Fee would not inherently have been expected by a reasonable consumer, in the manner of a state sales tax or government surcharge. On the pleadings, the Fee presents as more akin to the fees and charges that have formed the basis for other inadequate pre-purchase disclosure claims—and have survived motions to dismiss. See, e.g., Sherwin-Williams Co., 636 F. Supp. 3d at 314 (claim stated based on failure to disclose 4% “Supply Chain” surcharge); Watts, 579 F. Supp. 2d at 348 (same for 15% “Tax Preparation Fee”); Relativity Travel, 2006 WL 2918081, at *2–3 (same for 3.5% foreign-currency surcharge).

In so holding, the Court has found particularly instructive the recent decision from the United States District Court in the Northern District of California in Tillage v. Comcast Corp., No. 17 Civ. 6477 (VC), 2021 WL 3417940 (N.D. Cal. July 16, 2021) [“Tillage II”], applying a like California statute. Plaintiffs there claimed that Comcast had “promis[ed] a flat-rate price for cable and internet services up front but fail[ed] to disclose certain fees” (in particular, the so- called “Broadcast TV Fees” and “Regional Sports Fees”). Tillage I, 2021 WL 2177225, at *1.

In moving to dismiss, Comcast argued that it had fully disclosed the existence of such fees in its solicitations, such that no reasonable consumer could have been misled. See id. at *2–3. Judge Chhabria rejected that argument. “Merely noti[ng] that th[e] [advertised] price d[oes] not include ‘fees’ without further specification . . . would likely be deceptive,” he held, “because the Broadcast TV Fees and Regional Sports Fees are not the types of fees that an ordinary consumer would expect to be added to the base price (in contrast to the more typical government-imposed fees).” Tillage II, 2021 WL 3417940, at *1. To be sure, had Comcast’s customer-service agents “explained specifically that the Broadcast TV Fees and Regional Sports Fees would be charged on top of” the advertised price prior to purchase, such a disclosure would “cure[] the otherwise potentially deceptive nature of the advertisement.” Id. But whether that had occurred could be answered only upon a developed record—one that elucidated what Comcast’s agents had told the plaintiffs before purchase—and not on a motion to dismiss. Id.; see also Adkins v. Comcast Corp., No. 16 Civ. 5969 (VC), 2017 WL 3491973, at *2 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 1, 2017).

As in Tillage, the extent to which the allegedly undisclosed fee was in fact disclosed to any particular customer is incapable of pre-discovery resolution. Sirius XM suggests that the “live conversations” customers, including plaintiffs, had with customer-service agents invariably included some discussion of applicable fees and taxes. Def. Reply Br. at 3. But the Complaint and incorporated materials do not admit that. The extent and content of any such oral communications thus cannot be resolved on the pleadings, making it premature to decide whether and “when the allegedly deceptive practice was fully disclosed.” Chufen Chen v. Dunkin’ Brands, Inc., 954 F.3d 492, 501 (2d Cir. 2020); see also Tillage II, 2021 WL 3417940, at *1; Sherwin-Williams Co., 636 F. Supp. 3d at 315.

The Complaint, in sum, plausibly alleges that Sirius XM’s advertisements misled the consumers whom §§ 349 and 350 “were enacted to safeguard”: persons who “do not stop to analyze but are governed by appearances and general impressions.” Guggenheimer v. Ginzburg, 43 N.Y.2d 268, 273 (1977). The Court cannot find Sirius XM’s marketing non-misleading as a matter of law.5 In reaching this conclusion, the Court has also found informative the Second Circuit’s recent decisions addressing an area of contract law: when a party can be found to have been on inquiry notice of claimed terms during contract formation. In both doctrinal areas—there, whether and on what terms a contract has been formed, and, here, whether a practice was

Compare, e.g., Edmundson v. Klarna, Inc., 85 F 4th 695, 704 (2d Cir. 2023) (so framing contract formation inquiry), with, e.g., Oswego Labors’ Local 214 Pension Fund, 85 N.Y .2d at 27 (asking, in consumer-protection context, “whether plaintiffs possessed or could reasonably have obtained the relevant information” so as “to have been informed . . . about the” allegedly misleading conduct). Two Second Circuit decisions in the contract formation context shed light here.

At issue in Soliman v. Subway Franchisee Advertising Fund Trust, Ltd., 999 F.3d 828 (2d Cir. 2021), as here, was a hard-copy advertisement, excerpted below: WANT SUBWAY*® DEALS SENT DIRECTLY TO YOUR PHONE?

TEXT OFFERS TO 7829293 TT (SUBWAY) TO START . hn Lirnéted Tine Only. Message and data rates may apply, Max}Omeqs/mo-Msgs may be autodialed from SU erie tmp be grt and onan x aymot/ Terms se aspx subwa yroot, PrrvacyPoalicy-| SUBW, Sata EDP 4a PERSGR, ope ee, occ OP to PUBS. Valet peeidpotiog oreurians Aadietone ee and deluxe, Plus tax. nee ONiibea tia SUBWAY" a Regrstered Trademark of IP tx. ©2016 Subway IP inc. sutbarual 26184 Id. at 832. The question presented was whether the advertisement—which offered a “free sub sandwich” to all those who texted a keyword to a phone-number and thereby signed up for Subway’s “weekly offers”—put a “reasonably prudent” person on inquiry notice of the “[t]erms and conditions” mentioned in the fine print. See id. at 830–83. The Circuit held that a “reasonable consumer” would not be on notice of such terms, given that the “small-print disclaimer” was “dwarfed by the surrounding colorful text and imagery.” Id. at 836 (citation omitted). Relevant here, one reason the Circuit found Subway’s disclaimer inconspicuous was its “mixed-media incorporation of contractual terms” requiring a consumer to go from a print advertisement to a website. Id. at 839. “When a person is invited to click on a conspicuous hyperlink,” the Circuit explained, she “may do so with ease.” Id. (citing Meyer v. Uber Techs., Inc., 868 F.3d 66, 75 (2d Cir. 2017)). “By contrast, when a consumer must type in a thirty- seven-character URL to their cellphone or computer, it is more difficult to navigate to the terms of use in order to confirm” just what she has been asked to agree to. Id. At issue in Nicosia v. Amazon.com, Inc., 834 F.3d 220 (2d Cir. 2016), was whether a consumer had “reasonable notice” of Amazon’s terms and conditions when placing an order.

See id. at 235. The order page looked as follows: 9/22/2014 Place Your Order - Amazon.com Checkout amazoncom - —__< ew? PLACE ORDER Review your order By placing your order, you agree to Amazon.com's privacy notice and conditions of use Shipping address Change Payment method Change Gift cards & promotional codes Place your order es [ im Card Enter Code Apply sift Card _! Order Summary Sere Billing address Change =e = Total before tax _ oe □□ ; ae a Estimated tax to be collected i mn FREE Two-Day Shipping on this Order a you can save Order total: i: $5.48 on this order by selecting "FREE Two-Day Shipping with a free trial of Amazon Prime” below » Sign up for a free trial eee Estimated delivery: Sept. 25, 2014 - Sept. 26, 2014 Choose a delivery option: © FREE Two-Day Shipping with a free trial of OQ One-Day Shipping —get it tomorrow, Sept © Two-Day Shipping —get it Wednesday, Sept @ Standard Shipping ~get it Sept 25 - 2¢ O FREE Shipping --get it Sept ct "Why has sales tax been applied? See tax and seller nformatior Do you need help? Explore our Help pages or contact u For an tem d by Amazor m: Wher i click the “Place your order” button, we'll send you an email message ackr edging receipt of your order. Your contract to purchase an iter not be complete until end you an email notifying you that the tem has been shipped Colorado, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Vermont Purchasers: Important information regarding sales tax you may owe in your State Within 30 days of delivery, you may return new, unopened merchandise in its onginal condition. Exceptions and restnctions apply. See Amazon.com's Returns Poli Go to the Amazon.com homepage without completing your order ‘onditions of Use | Prv acy Notice © 1996-2014, Amazon.com, In https /Awww.amazon.com/gp/buy/spenandlers/display html ?hasWorkingJavascript=1 Id. at 241. Whether Amazon provided sufficient notice, the Circuit held, could not be resolved as a matter of law. Id. at 238. It noted that the key “message itself—‘By placing your order, you agree to Amazon.com’s . . . conditions of use’—is not bold, capitalized, or conspicuous in light of the whole webpage.” Id. It observed that the webpage’s many links, in “different colors, fonts, and locations,” “generally obscure” the notification that Amazon’s terms and conditions apply to the transaction. Id. at 237. “Given the breadth of the range of technological savvy of online purchasers,” the Circuit stated, “consumers cannot be expected to ferret out hyperlinks to terms and conditions to which they have no reason to suspect they will be bound.” Id. (quoting Nguyen v. Barnes & Noble Inc., 763 F.3d 1171, 1179 (9th Cir. 2014)); see also Starke v. SquareTrade, Inc., 913 F.3d 279, 295 (2d Cir. 2019).

The Circuit’s rationale in these cases counsels against dismissal here. On the pleadings, a reasonable factfinder could find that, as in Soliman, Sirius XM’s “mixed-media incorporation of contractual terms” in its mailer—requiring a prospective customer to “type in” a “URL to their cellphone or computer” and then navigate through at least three webpages to determine the amount of the additional fee—“obscure[d] th[at] message” so as not to give a reasonably prudent consumer notice of it. 999 F.3d at 836–39. And such a factfinder could find that, as in Nicosia, Sirius XM’s disclaimer about other “[f]ees & taxes” was “not bold, capitalized, or conspicuous in light of the whole” mailer, and was “generally obscure[d]” by other “distracting” elements such as the prominently touted sticker price of “$5/month.” 834 F.3d at 237. As the Circuit has emphasized, that a consumer has a “duty to read” terms properly “called to [his] attention” does not imply a “duty to ferret out contract provisions . . . contained in inconspicuous hyperlinks.”

Starke, 913 F.3d at 295 (citation omitted); see also Danone, U.S., LLC v. Chobani, LLC, 362 F. Supp. 3d 109, 123 (S.D.N.Y. 2019). And a reasonable consumer is not “expected to look beyond misleading representations” in one part of an advertisement “to discover the truth . . . in small print” online. Mantikas v. Kellogg Co., 910 F.3d 633, 637 (2d Cir. 2018) (quoting Williams v. Gerber Prods. Co., 552 F.3d 934, 939 (9th Cir. 2008)); see also Bober v. Glaxo Wellcome PLC, 246 F.3d 934, 944 (7th Cir. 2001) (Wood, J., concurring) (rejecting that consumers have “an unbounded duty of inquiry”).

Here, on the limited facts cognizable at this stage, “reasonable minds could disagree on the reasonableness of [the] notice” of the U.S. Royalty Fee that Sirius XM provided in its promotional advertisements. Nicosia, 834 F.3d at 238. It awaits discovery whether and how other disclosures, including telephonically by customer service agents, might have shaped the understandings of reasonable consumers. b. Injury Sirius XM alternatively argues that the Complaint does not adequately allege injury, the final element of §§ 349 and 350 claims. Def. Br. at 16–18; Def. Reply Br. at 8–9. Plaintiffs counter that the Complaint alleges that, had they known of the Fee, “they would not have been willing to pay as much for their music plans” or “would not have purchased music plans at all.”

Compl. ¶ 80; see also Pl. Br. at 24–25. Plaintiffs are correct: that allegation plausibly alleges injury.

Sirius XM contends that a plaintiff bringing claims under §§ 349 and 350 must “allege that, on account of a materially misleading practice, [the plaintiff] purchased a product and did not receive the full value of [the] purchase.” Def. Br. at 16 (quoting Orlander, 802 F.3d at 302).

It argues that “[w]here a plaintiff merely ‘believes she was deceived into purchasing the product and spending what she did,’ and there are no allegations ‘related to the value or the purchased product, or how the product fell short of what it purported to be,’” her GBL §§ 349 and 350 claims must fail. Id. (quoting DaCorta v. AM Retail Grp., Inc., No. 16 Civ. 1748 (NSR), 2018 WL 557909, at *8 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 23, 2018)). Here, Sirius XM argues, “the alleged deception . . . is identical to the pleaded injury,” requiring dismissal. Id. at 17.

Sirius XM is mistaken. That a plaintiff has “not receive[d] the full value of [the] purchase” is one way of establishing injury. Orlander, 802 F.3d at 302. It is not the only way.

A consumer who agreed to pay a certain sum for a product (say, $10) but was forced to pay more than he bargained for (say, $100) has also suffered an injury. See, e.g., Sherwin-Williams Co., F. Supp. 3d at 316 (plaintiff suffered injury when charged a hidden fee); Watts, 579 F. Supp. 2d at 349 (same); Relativity Travel, 2006 WL 2918081, at *3 (same). This theory of injury reflects an opportunity cost. The consumer may fairly argue that, had he known ex ante that he would have to pay $100 for a product instead of $10, he would have taken his business elsewhere or declined to purchase that product at all; on that view, the deceptive practice cost him $90.

See, e.g., Peloton Interactive, Inc., 2020 WL 6564755, at *11. That suffices to establish injury for plaintiff Carovillano, who alleges he “cancel[ed] his subscription after he learned about the existence of the U.S. Music Royalty Fee” and demanded a “refund[].” Compl. ¶ 68.6 Plaintiff Brandt, however, cannot plead injury on that theory. He remains a Sirius XM subscriber and continues to pay the Fee, Compl. ¶ 73, and thus cannot plausibly claim that he would not have subscribed had he known about the Fee in advance. But he claims injury by

That customer is surely “aggrieved,” even though the misrepresentation was irrelevant to the customer’s decision to purchase the pen. But for the misrepresentation, the price of the pen may have been lower, and the customer would have paid less for it.

In re AXA Equitable Life Ins. Co. COI Litig., No. 16 Civ. 740 (JMF), 2020 WL 4694172, at *10 n.7 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 13, 2020).

Although this case is unlike most involving a price premium, the Court cannot say as a matter of law that a price-premium theory is unavailable here. In the paradigm price-premium case, a plaintiff alleges that a company marketed a product as having a “unique quality,” permitting it a charge a price premium from customers who later learned the product lacked the marketed quality. See, e.g., Duran, 450 F. Supp. 3d at 347 (price premium based on hair gel’s promise of “no flakes”); Weisblum v. Prophase Labs, Inc., 88 F. Supp. 3d 283, 292–93 (S.D.N.Y. 2015) (price premium based on lozenges’ advertised effectiveness in reducing cold symptoms); Goldemberg v. Johnson & Johnson Consumer Cos., Inc., 8 F. Supp. 3d 457, 480–82 (S.D.N.Y. 2014) (price premium based on “Active Natural” labeling of personal-care products).

Here, the product’s advertised unique quality is the low price itself. But, under the case law, that does not foreclose a price-premium theory. Consider again a product advertised for $10 where the merchant surreptitiously charges $100. Assume that other stores sell the same (or similar) products for $15. If the merchant is forced to advertise his real price, there is little reason to think his pricing behavior will remain static—instead, he will have to adjust his real price downwards from $100 to account for the market price of $15. See, e.g., Sherwin-Williams Co., F. Supp. 3d at 316–17; Peloton Interactive, Inc., 620 F. Supp. 3d at 94–95; In re Amla Litig., 282 F. Supp. 3d 751, 768 (S.D.N.Y. 2017). Here, as Brandt alleges, had Sirius XM revealed the all-in price of its subscriptions, it would have faced downward price pressure from competitors, such as “Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, [and] Google Play Music,” all of which offer similar music-streaming services but do not “charge any separate music royalty fee.” Compl. ¶ 34.7 On the pleadings, that theory of price injury is plausible.

The Court thus denies Sirius XM’s Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ claims under GBL §§ 349 and 350.

B. GBL §§ 349 and 350 Claims for Injunctive Relief As to plaintiffs’ GBL §§ 349 and 350 claims, Sirius XM separately moves to dismiss the Complaint’s bid for injunctive relief under Rule 12(b)(1) for lack of standing. It argues that the Complaint does not allege a real or immediate threat of future injury. On this point, the Court holds with Sirius XM.

Liab. Litig., No. 16 MDL 2695 (JB) (LF), 2023 WL 6121894, at *124–25 (D.N.M. Sept. 19, 2023) (utilizing a complex multiphase simulation to examine the price-competitive effects of the defendant’s misleading statement).

1. Applicable Legal Principles Because “standing is not dispensed in gross,” Article III requires that a plaintiff “demonstrate standing separately for each form of relief sought.” Friends of the Earth, Inc. v. Laidlaw Env’t Servs. (TOC), Inc., 528 U.S. 167, 185 (2000). As a result, a plaintiff who pursues injunctive relief must demonstrate “the three familiar elements of standing: injury in fact, causation, and redressability.” Cacchillo v. Insmed, Inc., 638 F.3d 401, 404 (2d Cir. 2011).

“Plaintiffs lack standing to pursue injunctive relief where they are unable to establish a ‘real or immediate threat’ of injury.” Nicosia v. Amazon.com, Inc., 834 F.3d 220, 239 (2d Cir. 2016) (quoting City of Los Angeles v. Lyons, 461 U.S. 95, 111–12 (1983)). Neither “allegations of possible future injury” nor “past exposure to illegal conduct” is sufficient to clear this bar.

Nicholas v. Trump, 433 F. Supp. 3d 581, 587 (S.D.N.Y. 2020) (cleaned up).

2. Application Plaintiffs pursue one theory of standing. Terming themselves “private attorneys general,” they argue that they are acting to “protect the general public by putting an end to SiriusXM’s unlawful advertising and overcharging scheme.” Compl. ¶ 10. The legislative intent behind New York’s consumer protection statute, they argue, and the fact that they propose to pursue relief on behalf of a class, supports their standing to play this role. Pl. Br. at 24.

Plaintiffs’ analysis is flawed. Whether a party has Article III standing to pursue relief in federal court presents a question of federal constitutional law. It is well settled under that law that, although past injuries may supply standing to seek money damages, such “do not confer standing to seek injunctive relief unless the plaintiff can demonstrate that she is likely to be harmed again in the future in a similar way.” Nicosia, 834 F.3d at 239. And as the case law reflects, for multiple reasons, the “past purchasers of a product . . . are not likely to encounter future harm of the kind that makes injunctive relief appropriate.” Berni v. Barilla S.p.A., 964 F.3d 141, 147 (2d Cir. 2020). “In the first place, past purchasers are not bound to purchase a product again—meaning that once they become aware they have been deceived, that will often be the last time they will buy that item.” Id. Second, “even if they do purchase it again, there is no reason to believe that” they “will incur a harm anew,” id., given that they are now “keenly aware” of the allegedly deceptive practice at issue, Vaccariello v. XM Satellite Radio, Inc., 295 F.R.D. 62, 68 (S.D.N.Y. 2013). Further, “[t]here is no exception to demonstrating future injury when the plaintiff is pursuing a class action.” Buonasera, 208 F. Supp. at 564. The “named plaintiffs must have standing in order to seek injunctive relief on behalf of the class.” Id. In light of these principles, neither plaintiff has standing to seek injunctive relief. Each is a past purchaser. And given their pleadings, each today necessarily is alert to Sirius XM’s pricing, including the U.S. Royalty Fee that they contend was inadequately disclosed at the time of their initial subscription. These plaintiffs cannot credibly claim that a future subscription on their part to Sirius XM’s streaming services would reflect deception on that point. See, e.g., Quintanilla v. WW Int'l, Inc., 541 F. Supp. 3d 331, 343 (S.D.N.Y. 2021) (no standing to seek injunctive relief where plaintiff had become aware of allegedly deceptive practice and chose to continue her subscription); see also Campbell v. Whole Foods Mkt. Grp., Inc., 516 F. Supp. 3d 370, 395 (S.D.N.Y. 2021) (collecting cases). 8

The Court thus dismisses, for want of Article III standing, the Complaint’s claims for injunctive relief based on violations of §§ 349 and 350. That dismissal is without prejudice to the right of plaintiffs, or others, to pursue the same or similar relief in state court.9 C. Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing Sirius XM next moves to dismiss, under Rule 12(b)(6), the Complaint’s claims of breaches of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

1. Applicable Legal Principles “Under New York law, parties to an express contract are bound by an implied duty of good faith.” Fasolino Foods Co. v. Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, 961 F.2d 1052, 1056 (2d Cir. 1992); see also New Harris v. Provident Life & Acc. Ins. Co., 310 F.3d 73, 80 (2d Cir. 2002).

The implied covenant is “breached when a party acts in a manner that, although not expressly forbidden by any contractual provision, would deprive the other party of the right to receive the benefits under their agreement.” Skillgames, LLC v. Brody, 767 N.Y.S.2d 418, 423 (1st Dep’t 2003) (citation and quotation marks omitted); see also Moran v. Erk, 11 N.Y.3d 452, 456 (2008)

2. Discussion Sirius XM argues that the implied-covenant claim fails because the parties’ contract did not impose a disclosure obligation on Sirius XM. Def. Br. at 20. On the contrary, it argues, the Customer Agreement “makes clear” that Sirius XM “may charge” the U.S. Royalty Fee. Id. To imply a duty “that would prohibit Sirius XM” from charging the Fee, Sirius XM argues, would “conflict with the provision . . . authorizing [it] to do just that.” Id. (alterations in original) (quoting Quintanilla, 541 F. Supp. 3d at 351).

That argument does not support dismissal, because it assumes a disputed conclusion: that there is a binding enforceable contract between Sirius XM and the plaintiffs that encompasses a customer obligation to pay the U.S. Royalty Fee. The premise of plaintiffs’ lawsuit is that they were not on inquiry notice of, and not bound by, that term, and that in imposing that fee, Sirius XM violated New York law, to wit, GBL §§ 349 and 350. Plaintiffs have plausibly pled that Sirius XM’s imposition of this fee was not adequately disclosed or consented to. Under these circumstances, it is premature to conclude that a binding agreement between the parties exists so as to leave no room for plaintiffs to recover in quasi-contract. See, e.g., Stanley v. Direct Energy Servs., LLC, 466 F. Supp. 3d 415, 429–30 (S.D.N.Y. 2020) (denying motion to dismiss implied- covenant claim where scope of contract unclear); Hoover v. HSBC Mortg. Corp. (USA), 9 F. Supp. 3d 223, 249 (N.D.N.Y. 2014) (denying motion to dismiss implied-covenant claim where contract ambiguous); E*Trade Fin. Corp. v. Deutsche Bank AG, No. 05 Civ. 902 (RWS), 2008 WL 2428225, at *26 (S.D.N.Y. June 13, 2008) (same).

The Court accordingly denies the motion to dismiss the implied-covenant claim, without prejudice to Sirius XM’s ability to move against this claim later in this litigation.

D. Unjust Enrichment Sirius XM next moves under Rule 12(b)(6) to dismiss plaintiffs’ claim that the Fee has unjustly enriched Sirius XM.

1. Applicable Legal Principles “Unjust enrichment is not a catchall cause of action to be used when others fail.”

Corsello v. Verizon N.Y., Inc., 18 N.Y.3d 777, 790 (2012). “An unjust enrichment claim is not available where it simply duplicates, or replaces, a conventional contract or tort claim.” Id. Rather, it “is available only in unusual situations when, though the defendant has not breached a contract nor committed a recognized tort, circumstances create an equitable obligation running from the defendant to the plaintiff.” Id. “To establish unjust enrichment, the plaintiff must show ‘(1) the other party was enriched, (2) at the other party’s expense, and (3) that it is against equity and good conscience to permit the other party to retain what is sought to be recovered.’” Hesse v. Godiva Chocolatier, Inc., 463 F. Supp. 3d 453, 473 (S.D.N.Y. 2020) (quoting Buonasera, 208 F. Supp. 3d at 567).

Courts in this Circuit “have consistently held that unjust enrichment claims are duplicative of GBL claims.” Barton v. Pret A Manger (USA) Ltd., 535 F. Supp. 3d 225, 249 (S.D.N.Y. 2021); see also, e.g., NetJets Aviation, Inc. v. LHC Commc’ns, LLC, 537 F.3d 168, 175 (2d Cir. 2008) (“Two claims are duplicative of one another if they arise from the same facts . . . and do not allege distinct damages.”). Where an “unjust enrichment claim is premised on the same factual allegations as those supporting [a plaintiff’s] other claims, and [a plaintiff] ha[s] not alleged distinct damages with respect to this claim,” an unjust enrichment claim will be dismissed. Cooper v. Anheuser-Busch, LLC, 553 F. Supp. 3d 83, 115 (S.D.N.Y. 2021).

2. Discussion Sirius XM argues that the Complaint’s unjust-enrichment claim is “impermissibly duplicative” of their GBL claims. Def. Br. at 21. That is correct, and plaintiffs have not identified any basis to distinguish the two. Plaintiffs note that in general, plaintiffs may plead claims in the alternative. Contra Pl. Br. at 22–23. But that general proposition does not carry the day here, because, “even pleaded in the alternative, claims for unjust enrichment will not survive a motion to dismiss where plaintiffs fail to explain how their unjust enrichment claim is not merely duplicative of their other causes of action.” Nelson v. MillerCoors, LLC, 246 F. Supp. 3d 666, 679 (E.D.N.Y. 2017). That claim here clearly is duplicative of the §§ 349 and claims. It is based on the same factual allegations and seeks the same damages. See Compl.

¶¶ 131–37; see also, e.g., Patellos, 523 F. Supp. 3d at 537 (dismissing unjust-enrichment claim as “coterminous” with plaintiffs’ GBL claims); Dwyer v. Allbirds, Inc., No. 21 Civ. 5238 (CS), 2022 WL 1136799, at *11 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 18, 2022) (same); Alce v. Wise Foods, Inc., No. 17 Civ. 2402 (NRB), 2018 WL 1737750, at *12 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 27, 2018) (same). The Court therefore dismisses the unjust-enrichment claim.

CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, the Court grants in part and denies in part Sirius XM’s motion to dismiss. The Court dismisses the Complaint’s (1) claims for injunctive relief on its GBL §§ 349 and 350 claims, without prejudice to plaintiffs’ right to pursue such relief in state court; and (2) unjust-enrichment claims, with prejudice. The Court otherwise denies the motion to dismiss.

Sirius XM must answer the Complaint by February 20, 2024. By separate order, the □ Court will schedule an initial pretrial conference. The Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to terminate all pending motions.

SO ORDERED.

Paul A. Engelmayer : United States District Judge Dated: February 6, 2024 New York, New York