Karina Basso  |  September 15, 2014

Category: Consumer News

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flushable wipes costcoA New York resident has filed a flushable wipes class action lawsuit against the Costco Wholesale Corporation and its affiliate Kimberly-Clark Corporation for allegedly marketing and selling flushable wipes that cause harm to plumbing and sewer systems.

According to the Costco flushable wipes class action lawsuit, “because flushable wipes do not disintegrate immediately upon flushing, like toilet paper, they cause serious problems for homeowners and municipalities alike.”

“An article in New York Magazine chronicling the problems caused by flushable wipes points out that flushable wipes do not break down as easily as toilet paper, nor can they, if they are to do their job effectively,” the flushable wipes lawsuit states. “To be useful, flushable wipes must be strong enough to do their job effectively, which cannot be done if they disintegrate in water as easily as toilet paper.”

Lead plaintiff Joseph Kurtz filed this Costco flushable wipes class action lawsuit in New York Federal Court earlier this year alleging that in both his New Jersey and New York homes, he experienced plumbing issues directly caused by the supposed flushable wipes.

Kurtz claims that he regularly purchased Cottonelle and Kirkland Signature flushable wipes for personal use in both his permanent New York residence and his rental home in New Jersey.

In February 2013, Kurtz alleges in the flushable wipes class action lawsuit, he “experienced plumbing issues, including clogging of his home plumbing and sewer back-ups. As a result, Plaintiff had to employ the help of professional plumbers to unclog the piping in each home. Plumbers who visited and unclogged the piping in Plaintiff’s homes agreed that the problem was caused by flushing flushable wipes down home toilets.”

Kurtz further alleges that “flushable” wipes cost more than similar products that do not misrepresent the flushability of their non-flushable wipes.

Thus, Kurtz claims that had he and other Class Members been aware that flushable wipes would lead to potential plumbing issues, then they would have opted for a cheaper product that did not misrepresent itself as flushable.

This Costco flushable wipes class action lawsuit seeks to represent a group of nine distinct subclasses, including a three national subclasses that would include, “All persons and entities in the United States who purchased the Cottonelle Flushable Wipes [,Kimberly-Clark Flushable Wipes, and the Kirkland Signature Wipes].”

Kurtz also seeks to certify subclasses for each of these three products in the states of New York and New Jersey.

The Costco Flushable Wipes Class Action Lawsuit is Kurtz v. Kimberly-Clark Corporation et al., Case No. 1:14-cv-01142-JBW-RML, in the United States District Court Eastern District of New York.

UPDATE: On Feb. 3, 2017, a New York federal judge granted Class certification in this flushable wipes class action lawsuit.

Flushable Wipes False Advertising and Misrepresentation

Wet wipes as an industry product generate about $6 billion in revenue for their manufacturers every year and the sales for wet wipes, both flushable and non-flushable, increases every year by five to six percent. The reason for the wet wipes’ popularity is their versatility of use for cleaning babies while changing their diapers or even for adult personal hygiene.

However, while the more expensive, flushable wipes are marketed as safe for disposal in a home toilets, these flushable wipes allegedly do not immediately disintegrate after they are flushed.

According to Consumer Reports, after testing four different flushable wipe brands, it took a stand mixer more than ten minutes to break down the flushable wet wipes into smaller pieces. This strong churning is, of course, not produced by toilets and therefore cannot properly break down in these wipes in order to make them flushable.

As a result of the alleged misrepresentation, false advertisement, and the plumbing and sewer damages caused by flushable wet wipes, many individuals are pursuing flushable wipe class action lawsuits.

Join a Free Flushable Wipes Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you purchased flushable adult wipes, baby wipes or toddler wipes, you may be able to join a free class action lawsuit investigation.

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2 thoughts onCostco, Partner Hit With Flushable Wipes Class Action Lawsuit

  1. Top Class Actions says:

    UPDATE: On Feb. 3, 2017, a New York federal judge granted Class certification in this flushable wipes class action lawsuit.

  2. terrie says:

    i HAVENT HEARD ANYTHING REGARDING THE TURBO TAX INTUIT CASE..

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