Farina v. Nokia Inc., 08-4034

Plaintiff's class action lawsuit against cell phone manufacturers and retailers claiming unsafe exposure to radio frequency radiation dismissed

Farina v. Nokia Inc., 08-4034, concerned a challenge to the district court's dismissal of plaintiff's complaint on the ground that the claims are preempted by regulations promulgated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in a class action lawsuit against various cell phone manufacturers and retailers of wireless handheld telephones, claiming that cell phones, as currently manufactured, are unsafe to be operated without headsets because they may expose the user to dangerous amounts of radio frequency (RF) radiation.

In affirming, the court held that federal jurisdiction exists over the case whether or not plaintiff is correct that the third amended complaint relates back to the second amended complaint.  The court also held that plaintiff's claims are preempted by the FCC's RF regulations as allowing juries to determine instead whether those regulations are adequate to protect the public would stand as an obstacle to the accomplishment and execution of the full purposes and objectives of Congress.

Related Link:

• Read the Third Circuit's Full Decision in Farina v. Nokia Inc., 08-4034