NEW YORK - Starbucks has been sued for a third time by a company that accused the coffee chain of stealing its concept for coffee-flavored lipstick and lip gloss.

Balmuccino, whose leaders have included a sister-in-law of TV doctor Mehmet Oz, filed its complaint on Friday (Aug 16) in Manhattan federal court.

The filing followed a Seattle federal judge's July 2023 dismissal of an earlier version of the lawsuit on procedural grounds, the second such dismissal.

Starbucks, based in Seattle, had no immediate comment.

Balmuccino said it began developing coffee-flavored lip balms in 2016 and pitched them at an October 2018 meeting in Starbucks' New York office, where it provided prototypes and other confidential information.

The Los Angeles-based company said Dr. Oz had brokered the meeting, when he contacted Starbucks Chief Executive Howard Schultz to suggest a possible joint venture.

Balmuccino said Starbucks "stole" its fully developed concept for lip balms by launching its S'mores Frappuccino Sip Kit in April 2019.

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