MEMORANDUM

YOHN, District Judge.

Plaintiff, Deborah Osness, filed this putative class-action lawsuit individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated who purchased certain box fans manufactured by defendant, Lasko Products, Inc. ("Lasko"). The fans at issue were subject to voluntary recalls announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, after Lasko had received reports of fires allegedly caused by electrical failures in the fans' motors. Plaintiff does not allege that her fan caused a fire or that this defect has otherwise manifested itself in her fan. But, alleging that Lasko knew of the defect and failed to disclose it to consumers, she asserts claims under state consumer-fraud statutes as well as for breach of express warranty, breach of the implied warranty of merchantability, and unjust enrichment. Currently before me is Lasko's motion to dismiss the complaint under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). For the reasons set forth below, I will grant Lasko's motion.

I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY1

On February 8, 2006, after reports of fires allegedly caused by electrical failures in the motors of Lasko fans, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of several models of Lasko fans. (Compl. ¶ 14, Press Release, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Lasko Recalls Box and Pivoting Floor Fans Posing Fire Hazard (Feb. 8, 2006) ("2006 Recall Notice").2) The recall covered approximately 5.6 million fans manufactured by Lasko between January 1999 and July 2001 and sold to consumers between September 2000 and February 2004 for $10 to $25. (2006 Recall Notice.)

According to plaintiff, Lasko's continued manufacturing of defective fans led to further incidents of fires involving Lasko fans. (Compl. ¶ 23.) As a result, on March 24, 2011, the Consumer Product Safety Commission again announced a voluntary recall of Lasko fans. (Id.; Press Release, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Lasko Recalls Box Fans Due to Fire Hazard (Mar. 24, 2011) ("2011 Recall Notice").3) This second recall covered approximately 4.8 million fans manufactured by Lasko between 2002 and 2004 and sold to consumers between July 2002 and December 2005 for $12 to $25. (2011 Recall Notice.) Plaintiff alleges that the defect in the fans that were recalled in 2011 is the same as or is similar to the defect in the fans that were recalled in 2006. She specifies that the fans, "due to a design defect, can in normal use, overheat, smoke, and catch fire." (Compl. ¶ 1.)

The fans that were recalled in 2006 and 2011 were covered by a two-year express warranty.4 (Id. ¶ 29.) But, apparently because the recalls were announced after this two-year warranty had expired, Lasko has allegedly refused to refund the purchase price of the fans or to replace the defective fans. (Id.) Plaintiff alleges that "Lasko had received reports of the fires and other facts supporting the mandated recall," but "did not act to remediate in any manner the defect in the fans prior to the mandated recall," delaying notice of the defect to avoid its obligations under its two-year warranty. (Id. ¶¶ 17-18; see also id. ¶ 27.) Instead of repairing or replacing the allegedly defective fans, Lasko has provided a "fan protection cord adapter" that eliminates the risk of fire but, according to plaintiff, does not eliminate the underlying defect in the fans. (Id. ¶ 30.) Plaintiff describes the adapter as a "short extension cord with a wall plug on one end and a locking receptacle on the other with a safety fuse installed between the two." (Id.) Plaintiff alleges that the underlying defect in the fans can "blow[] the fuse" in the adapter. (Id. ¶ 31.) Because the adapter cannot be removed once it is installed and the adapter's safety fuse cannot be replaced, such a blown fuse permanently disables the fan. (Id.) Plaintiff alleges that "Lasko will not replace or repair even those fans that are permanently disabled because the fuse within the `fan protection cord adapter' is blown." (Id. ¶ 32.)

Plaintiff alleges that she purchased a Lasko fan that was recalled (id. ¶ 7), although she does not state when or where she purchased it, and does not specify the model number of the fan or whether it was subject to the 2006 recall or to the 2011 recall. Nor does plaintiff allege that the defect has manifested itself in her fan or caused any injury or damage, or that her fan has otherwise failed to perform properly.

Nonetheless, on June 13, 2011, plaintiff filed this putative class-action lawsuit against Lasko, asserting five counts individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated. She alleges that Lasko knew of the defect in the fans (although she does not say when) and fraudulently concealed the presence of the defect from consumers, in violation of state consumer-fraud statutes (count I). She also alleges that Lasko breached the implied warranty of merchantability (count II) and that Lasko breached its express two-year warranty by refusing either to repair the defect in the fans or to replace the defective fans (count IV). Contending that Lasko knew of the defect when it warranted the fans at the time of sale and that Lasko delayed announcing the recalls and the existence of the defect to avoid its obligations under its two-year warranty, plaintiff seeks a declaration that the two-year limitation on the warranty is unenforceable (count III). Finally, plaintiff asserts a claim for unjust enrichment, alleging that Lasko's retention of certain amounts that consumers paid for the fans is unjust under the circumstances (count V).

Lasko has now filed a motion to dismiss the complaint under Rule 12(b)(6).

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

"To survive a motion to dismiss [under Rule 12(b)(6)], a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to `state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.'" Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1949 (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007)). Factual allegations "that are `merely consistent with' a defendant's liability," or that permit the court to infer no more than "the mere possibility of misconduct" are not enough. Id. at 1949-50 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 557, 127 S.Ct. 1955). Rather, the plaintiff must plead "factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged." Id. at 1949. When a court evaluates a motion to dismiss, "the factual and legal elements of a claim should be separated." Fowler v. UPMC Shadyside, 578 F.3d 203, 210 (3d Cir.2009). The court "must accept all of the complaint's well-pleaded facts as true, but may disregard any legal conclusions." Id. at 210-11; see also Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1950 (asserting that a court should assume the veracity of well-pleaded factual allegations, but legal conclusions "are not entitled to the assumption of truth"). And the court must draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the plaintiff. See McTernan v. City of York, 577 F.3d 521, 526 (3d Cir.2009).

III. DISCUSSION

Before turning to the merits of plaintiff's claims, I must address the choice-of-law issue presented by this case. Plaintiff is a resident of Illinois; Lasko is a Pennsylvania corporation with its headquarters also in Pennsylvania. Thus the question is whether Pennsylvania law or Illinois law governs plaintiff's claims.

A federal court exercising diversity jurisdiction must apply the choice-of-law rules of the forum state, in this case, Pennsylvania. See Kruzits v. Okuma Mach. Tool, Inc., 40 F.3d 52, 55 (3d Cir. 1994) (citing Klaxon Co. v. Stentor Electric Mfg. Co., 313 U.S. 487, 497, 61 S.Ct. 1020, 85 L.Ed. 1477 (1941)). Pennsylvania has adopted a flexible choice-of-law rule, under which "courts are to apply the law of the forum with the `most interest in the problem.'" Hammersmith v. TIG Ins. Co., 480 F.3d 220, 227 (3d Cir.2007) (quoting Griffith v. United Air Lines, Inc., 416 Pa. 1, 203 A.2d 796, 806 (1964)). The first step of the analysis is to determine whether "an actual or real conflict [exists] between the potentially applicable laws." Id. at 230. If an actual conflict exists, that is, if there are relevant differences between the laws, then the court should examine the governmental policies underlying each law and classify the conflict as true where application of either state's law would impair the other state's policy, or as false where only one state's policy would be impaired by application of the other's law. Id. at 230. A deeper choice-of-law analysis is required only when there is a true conflict. Id. Because choice-of-law analysis "is issue-specific, different states' laws may apply to different issues in a single case, a principle known as `depecage.'" Berg Chilling Sys., Inc. v. Hull Corp., 435 F.3d 455, 462 (3d Cir.2006).

Plaintiff's first claim alleges violations of the consumer-fraud statutes of all the states in which members of the putative class reside. Only plaintiff's individual claim is at issue here, however. The parties agree that, because plaintiff is an Illinois resident, she may pursue a claim under the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act (the "Illinois Consumer Fraud Act"), 815 Ill. Comp. Stat. 505/1 et seq. In addition, plaintiff contends that she may also seek relief under the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (the "UTPCPL"), 73 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 201-1 et seq., and asserts that there are no conflicts that require a choice-of-law analysis at this stage of the proceedings, although she has suggested that it would be more appropriate to apply the Illinois statute.5 As I explain below, I conclude that plaintiff has failed to state a claim under either statute. For ease of discussion, however, I analyze her claim under the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act.

With respect to plaintiff's breach-of-warranty claims, the parties both assert that there is no conflict between Illinois and Pennsylvania law and contend that to the extent a conflict does exist, Pennsylvania law should apply. While I am not entirely convinced by their analysis, because the parties are in agreement as to the application of Pennsylvania law, I will apply Pennsylvania law for purposes of this motion to dismiss. In any event, as I note below, I conclude that plaintiff's breach-of-warranty claims fail under both Pennsylvania and Illinois law.

Finally, with respect to her unjust-enrichment claim, plaintiff contends that there is no conflict between Pennsylvania and Illinois law and that to the extent any conflict exists, Pennsylvania law should apply. Lasko contends that plaintiff's claims fail under the law of either state. Lasko does, however, suggest a potential conflict, asserting that Illinois courts are split as to whether Illinois law recognizes unjust enrichment as an independent cause of action or whether unjust enrichment must be tied to another claim in tort, contract, or statute. But Lasko contends that I need not reach this question because, to the extent that Illinois law does recognize an independent cause of action for unjust enrichment, plaintiff's allegations are insufficient to state a claim under either Pennsylvania or Illinois law. I agree with Lasko, although for ease of discussion I analyze plaintiff's claim under Pennsylvania law.

A. The Illinois Consumer Fraud Act

The Illinois Consumer Fraud Act makes unlawful "[u]nfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices," including the omission or concealment of a material fact, in the conduct of trade or commerce, 815 Ill. Comp. Stat. 505/2,6 and provides a private cause of action for a person who suffers "actual damage" as a result of a violation of the act, id. 505/10a(a). In asserting a claim under the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act, plaintiff alleges that Lasko knew of the defect in the fans and fraudulently concealed the presence of the defect from consumers.

Lasko argues that plaintiff has failed to state a claim under the act because she has not sustained "actual damage" and because she has failed to plead her claim with the required specificity. Because I agree that plaintiff's complaint lacks the particularity and specificity required to state a claim under the act, I will grant Lasko's motion to dismiss this claim.7

"When a plaintiff in federal court alleges fraud under the [Illinois Consumer Fraud Act], the heightened pleading standard of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b) applies." Pirelli Armstrong Tire Corp. Retiree Med. Benefits Trust v. Walgreen Co., 631 F.3d 436, 441 (7th Cir.2011); see also Connick v. Suzuki Motor Co., 174 Ill.2d 482, 221 Ill.Dec. 389, 675 N.E.2d 584, 593 (1996) (stating that violation of the consumer-fraud statute must be pleaded "with the same particularity and specificity" as that required for common-law fraud). Under Rule 9(b), a party alleging fraud or mistake "must state with particularity the circumstances constituting fraud or mistake." Fed.R.Civ.P. 9(b). In explaining Rule 9(b)'s particularity requirement, courts have stated that a plaintiff generally must "plead the who, what, when, where and how: the first paragraph of any newspaper story," Institutional Investors Group v. Avaya, Inc., 564 F.3d 242, 253 (3d Cir.2009) (internal quotation marks omitted), or "otherwise inject precision or some measure of substantiation into a fraud allegation," Frederico v. Home Depot, 507 F.3d 188, 200 (3d Cir.2007).

Here, plaintiff's theory of liability is premised on her claim that Lasko knew of the defect and failed to disclose it to consumers. But plaintiff's conclusory allegations that Lasko knew of the defect are not sufficient to state a claim under the heightened pleading standard of Rule 9(b) — and indeed fail to satisfy even the more liberal pleading standards of Rule 8. Plaintiff alleges that, despite the 2006 recall and Lasko's "direct knowledge" of the defect that led to the recall, Lasko continued to manufacture fans with the same or a similar defect and failed to disclose the defect to consumers. (Compl. ¶¶ 20-21.) She alleges that the fans subject to the 2011 recall were "manufactured with a similar or the same defect as the fans recalled [in] 2006," and thus claims that Lasko knew of the defect in the fans subject to the 2011 recall at the time of their sale to consumers. (Id. ¶¶ 25-26.) She further alleges that in the case of both the 2006 and the 2011 recalls, "Lasko had received reports of the fires and other facts supporting the mandated recall, and had reason to know or knew about the defect in its fans before the mandated recall" but "did not act to remediate in any manner the defect in the fans prior to the mandated recall." (Compl. ¶ 17; see also id. ¶ 27.) She claims that Lasko delayed announcing the existence of the defect and recalling the fans to avoid its obligations under its express two-year warranty. (Id. ¶¶ 18, 27.)

But plaintiff does not specify when or how Lasko learned of the defect; nor does she allege when she purchased her fan. And her failure to plead such facts is fatal to her claim. Contrary to plaintiff's suggestion, the fact that Lasko knew of the defect at the time of the 2006 recall is not sufficient to establish that Lasko knew of the defect when it sold the fans that were subject to the 2011 recall. The fans subject to the second recall were sold to consumers between July 2002 and December 2005 — before the first recall in February 2006. Moreover, even if Lasko was aware of the defect when other consumers purchased their fans, to state a claim plaintiff must allege that Lasko knew of the defect when she purchased her fan. And in the absence of allegations as to when she purchased her fan (it is not even clear from the complaint whether plaintiff's fan was subject to the 2006 recall or to the 2011 recall), her complaint provides no basis for inferring that Lasko knew of the defect when plaintiff purchased her fan. Similarly, beyond plaintiff's conclusory allegations that Lasko knew about the defect before the recall and delayed announcing the recall to avoid its warranty obligations, plaintiff has alleged no facts from which it can be inferred that Lasko knew of the defect before the warranty on her fan expired.

Because plaintiff has failed to plead her claim with the particularity and specificity required under the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act, I will grant Lasko's motion to dismiss this claim.8

B. Breach of Express Warranty

Plaintiff alleges that Lasko breached its express warranty by refusing to repair or replace the defective fans and by instead providing the "fan protection adapter," which, according to plaintiff, eliminates the risk of fire but does not eliminate the underlying defect in the fans.

Lasko does not dispute that the fans were covered by a two-year express warranty. But Lasko argues that plaintiff has failed to state a claim because she has not alleged that she discovered a defect in her fan within the two-year warranty period. I agree.

The general rule is that "`defects discovered after the term of the warranty are not actionable.'" Duquesne Light Co. v. Westinghouse Electric Corp., 66 F.3d 604, 616 (3d Cir.1995) (quoting Abraham v. Volkswagen of Am., Inc., 795 F.2d 238, 250 (2d Cir.1986)). Contrary to plaintiff's suggestion, this rule applies even where the defect may have existed at the time of purchase but did not manifest itself until after the expiration of the warranty period. See id. at 616. Because plaintiff has not even alleged that her fan malfunctioned or that she otherwise discovered a defect in her fan within the two-year warranty period beginning on the undisclosed date of purchase, she cannot state a claim for breach of express warranty.9

Plaintiff contends, however, that the two-year limitation on Lasko's warranty should not be enforced here. She argues that the limitation is unconscionable because Lasko knew of the alleged defect when it sold the fans and concealed the defect from consumers in order to avoid its obligations under its warranty. But plaintiff has failed to allege sufficient facts to support such a claim.

Under Pennsylvania law, a finding of "[u]nconscionability requires a two-fold determination: that the contractual terms are unreasonably favorable to the drafter and that there is no meaningful choice on the part of the other party regarding acceptance of the provisions." Harris v. Green Tree Fin. Corp., 183 F.3d 173, 181 (3d Cir.1999) (internal quotation marks omitted).

Applying a similar test in Carlson v. General Motors Corp., 883 F.2d 287 (4th Cir.1989), the Fourth Circuit concluded that the plaintiffs' allegations of unconscionability were sufficient to withstand a motion to dismiss where they alleged that a durational limitation on General Motors' ("GM's") implied warranty of merchantability was unconscionable because GM knew of and failed to disclose inherent defects. The court reasoned that "[w]hen a manufacturer is aware that its product is inherently defective, but the buyer has `no notice of [or] ability to detect' the problem, there is perforce a substantial disparity in the parties' relative bargaining power," and "[i]n such a case, the presumption is that the buyer's acceptance of limitations on his contractual remedies — including of course any warranty disclaimers — was neither `knowing' nor `voluntary,' thereby rendering such limitations unconscionable and ineffective." Id. at 296 (quoting Martin v. Joseph Harris Co., 767 F.2d 296, 301-02 (6th Cir.1985)).

Of course in Carlson, the plaintiffs alleged ten reasons why the limitation on the implied warranty of merchantability was unconscionable.10 Id. at 294. Although the court found most significant and focused most of its analysis on the allegation that GM knew of the defect when it sold the cars to the plaintiffs, it is not clear whether the court would have found this allegation alone sufficient to withstand a motion to dismiss.

Nonetheless, assuming (without deciding) that such an allegation of knowledge is sufficient to state a claim of unconscionability for purposes of withstanding a motion to dismiss, plaintiff has not sufficiently alleged unconscionability here. As discussed above, plaintiff has not sufficiently pleaded that Lasko knew of the alleged defect when it sold the fan at issue here. Plaintiff's complaint does not specify when or how Lasko allegedly learned of the defect; nor does it specify when she purchased a fan. In short, beyond her conclusory allegation that Lasko knew of the defect when it sold the fans, plaintiff has alleged no facts that would support an inference that Lasko knew of the defect when she purchased her fan. Accordingly, plaintiff's claim that the two-year limitation on Lasko's warranty is unconscionable fails here, and I will grant Lasko's motion to dismiss plaintiff's claim for breach of express warranty.11,12

C. Breach of Implied Warranty

Plaintiff also alleges that Lasko breached the implied warranty of merchantability. The implied warranty of merchantability arises by operation of law under the UCC. See 13 Pa. Cons.Stat. Ann. § 2314. Under section 2314, "a warranty that the goods shall be merchantable is implied in a contract for their sale if the seller is a merchant with respect to goods of that kind." Id. § 2314(a). In order to be "merchantable," goods "must be at least such as ... are fit for the ordinary purposes for which such goods are used." Id. § 2314(b).

Lasko argues that plaintiff has failed to state a claim for this implied warranty of merchantability because she has not alleged that her fan has malfunctioned or otherwise failed to do what it was supposed to do. I agree.13

The implied warranty of merchantability "serve[s] to protect buyers from loss where goods purchased are below commercial standards." Turney Media Fuel, Inc. v. Toll Bros., Inc., 725 A.2d 836, 840 (Pa.Super.Ct.1999). "The concept of `merchantability' does not require that the goods be the best quality, or the best obtainable, but it does require that they have an inherent soundness which makes them suitable for the purpose for which they are designed, that they be free from significant defects, that they perform in the way that goods of that kind should perform, and that they be of reasonable quality within expected variations and for the ordinary purpose for which they are used." Gall v. Allegheny County Health Dep't, 521 Pa. 68, 555 A.2d 786, 789-90 (1989) (citations omitted).

Here, plaintiff has not alleged any facts suggesting that her fan was not merchantable. Plaintiff contends that the alleged defect in the motor causes the premature failure of the fans and that the "fan protection adapter" provided by Lasko does not eliminate the defect and only hastens the failure of the fans. As a result, plaintiff contends, the fans are "subject to being rendered useless far before a reasonable period of use." (Compl. ¶ 12.) But beyond these conclusory allegations, she has not pleaded any facts to support an inference that her fan was not "fit for the ordinary purpose[]" for which it is used. While plaintiff does not allege when she purchased her fan, the fans subject to the recalls were last sold in 2005, more than five years before plaintiff filed her complaint in this action on June 13, 2011. Plaintiff has not alleged that her fan has ever malfunctioned during this five-year (or potentially longer) period or that she has otherwise been unable to use her fan. In light of this, I see no basis in plaintiff's complaint for finding that the fan she purchased was not "merchantable."

I thus conclude that plaintiff has failed to state a claim for breach of the implied warranty of merchantability, and I will grant Lasko's motion to dismiss this claim.14,15

D. Unjust Enrichment

Finally, and in the alternative, plaintiff asserts a claim for unjust enrichment. Plaintiff claims that Lasko, having failed to disclose the defect in the fans, has been unjustly enriched by the "premium" she paid for her fan.

In seeking dismissal of this claim, Lasko argues that plaintiff has failed to plead sufficient facts to state a claim for unjust enrichment. I agree.

Under Pennsylvania law, the elements of a claim for unjust enrichment are (1) benefits conferred on the defendant by the plaintiff; (2) appreciation of such benefits by the defendant; and (3) acceptance and retention of these benefits under such circumstances that it would be inequitable for the defendant to retain the benefits without payment of value. See Sovereign Bank v. BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc., 533 F.3d 162, 180 (3d Cir.2008) (citing Limbach Co. v. City of Philadelphia, 905 A.2d 567, 575 (Pa.Commw.Ct.2006)). "When considering the validity of a claim for unjust enrichment, [a court] must focus on whether the enrichment of the defendant is unjust." Wiernik v. PHH U.S. Mortg. Corp., 736 A.2d 616, 622 (Pa.Super.Ct.1999) (internal quotation marks omitted).

Here, plaintiff's complaint contains no facts to support an inference that the enrichment of Lasko was unjust. Plaintiff's unjust-enrichment theory rests on her claim that Lasko knew of the defect in the fans and failed to disclose it to consumers — under such circumstances, plaintiff contends, it would be unjust for Lasko to retain any benefit conferred by the purchase of its fans. But the problem, as discussed above, is that plaintiff has not sufficiently pleaded that Lasko knew of the alleged defect when it sold the fan at issue here. Simply put, plaintiff has not alleged any facts to support an inference that Lasko's retention of any benefits received from her purchase of a fan would be unjust. Accordingly, I will grant Lasko's motion to dismiss this claim.16

IV. CONCLUSION

For the reasons set forth above, I will grant Lasko's motion to dismiss plaintiff's complaint without prejudice to plaintiff's right to file an amended complaint, if she can do so in compliance with the limits of Rule 11, within 20 days. Otherwise, I will dismiss the complaint with prejudice after the 20-day period has expired. An appropriate order accompanies this memorandum.