Montenegro, et al. v. CVS Pharmacy, Inc., et al. — 9th Cir. (argued September 2, 2026)
The Ninth Circuit hears three consolidated appeals over benzoyl peroxide, or BPO, acne products. Consumers allege that the defendants' products contain or degrade into benzene and are adulterated or misbranded under federal law. The district court dismissed the suits as preempted. Preemption asks whether federal law displaces state-law claims. R. Brent Wisner of Wisner Baum will represent the consumers. He will ask the court to revive the claims and allow discovery, arguing that state law merely enforces the same federal bans on adulterated and misbranded drugs.
Montenegro, et al. v. CVS Pharmacy, Inc., et al. (No. 24-6404 / 24-6431 / 24-6684) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued September 2, 2026.
Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/media/2026/09/02/24-6404.mp3
Argument record — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/streams-videos/archive?case=24-6404&hearingDate=2026-09-02
Argument calendar — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/calendar/calendar-day/?date=2026-09-02&loc=SF
Consolidated-case calendar data — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://n76qzwo6zclpoahpmjr4buzwf40yjjly.lambda-url.us-west-2.on.aws/?date=2026-09-02&loc=SF
Consolidated-case captions and defense position — filed Chamber brief:https://www.uschamber.com/assets/documents/U.S.-Chamber-Amicus-Brief-Montenegro-v.-CVS-Pharmacy-Inc.-Ninth-Circuit.pdf
District-court dismissal order — filed copy:https://s3.amazonaws.com/jnswire/jns-media/0d/ed/18433564/SOCAL_Acne_medications_dismiss_9-19-24.pdf
Lead appeal docket — Justia:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/24-6404
RB Health appeal docket — Justia:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/24-6684
FDA over-the-counter acne-drug monograph:https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/omuf/Order/Final%20Administrative%20Order%20OTC000013_M006-Topical%20Acne%20drug%20products%20for%20OTC%20Human%20Use.pdf
21 U.S.C. § 379r — U.S. House Office of the Law Revision Counsel:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title21-section379r&num=0&edition=prelim
Preemption — Cornell Legal Information Institute:https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/preemption
21 U.S.C. § 351 — U.S. House Office of the Law Revision Counsel:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title21-section351&num=0&edition=prelim
Current good manufacturing practice — U.S. Food and Drug Administration:https://www.fda.gov/drugs/pharmaceutical-quality-resources/facts-about-current-good-manufacturing-practice-cgmp
R. Brent Wisner — Wisner Baum:https://www.wisnerbaum.com/attorneys/r-brent-wisner/
R. Brent Wisner court record — GovInfo:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-njd-3_24-cv-08571/pdf/USCOURTS-njd-3_24-cv-08571-0.pdf
David M. Zionts — Covington & Burling:https://www.cov.com/en/professionals/z/david-zionts
David M. Zionts court record — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ca9-18-56256/pdf/USCOURTS-ca9-18-56256-0.pdf
Opinion search — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://rf9ecr1p0i.execute-api.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod/opinions/search?q=24-6404
Memorandum search — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://xcglumg9bj.execute-api.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod/memoranda/search?q=24-6404
- 0:00Introduction
- 1:56Current good manufacturing practice
- 15:00David M. Zionts — Defendants