Target Fights Ohio Flushable Wipes Class Action Lawsuit

Target Corp. has filed a motion to dismiss a flushable wipes class action lawsuit filed against the company alleging Target brand flushable baby wipes caused sewer and septic system damages.

The Target flushable wipes class action lawsuit was filed in April by plaintiff Christopher Meta, an Ohio man who allegedly purchased Target up&up baby wipes to aid in his daughter’s potty training. Meta claims that he specifically bought the Target brand baby wipes because they were labeled “flushable,” “dispersible,” and “sewer and septic safe.”

However, it was allegedly discovered that in Meta’s Ohio house, the plumbing and septic system had become clogged by the wipes, which according to his plumber had “caked together.” Meta’s home is not the only home experiencing these plumbing issues, as many consumers across the nation have reported similar septic problems allegedly resulting from the use of flushable wipes.

The plaintiff alleges that none of the Target baby wipe marketing claims are true and that Target as the designer, manufacturer, and seller of the flushable baby wipes knew these claims of flushability were false. Meta alleges that this knowledge of the flushable wipes defect makes Target liable for breach of warranty, failure to warn, unjust enrichment, and also suggests that they violated Ohio consumer protection laws.

Target has filed a motion to dismiss a majority of the flushable wipes class action lawsuit claims lodged against the company. For example, Target contends that Meta’s allegations of economic damages and loss has no evidence to back this claim. Additionally, Target claims that the fraud and unjust enrichment allegations are too general to meet pleading standards in court. More importantly, Target is fighting the Class definition in this lawsuit, which according to its motion of dismissal, would include customers who have not suffered economic damages or loss.

The Target Flushable Wipes Class Action Lawsuit is Meta v. Target Corp., Case No. 4:2014cv00832, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

UPDATE: On Sept. 20, 2016, an Ohio federal judge certified a Class of consumers bringing breach of warranty claims against Target over flushable wipes that allegedly do not disperse after flushing and instead result in clogged sewer lines and septic systems, causing sewage backups and even flooding.

UPDATE 2: May 2018, the Target flushable wipes class action settlement is now open. Click here to file a claim.

UPDATE 3: On May 11, 2019, Top Class Actions viewers started receiving checks in the mail worth as much as $27 from the Target flushable wipes class action settlement. Congratulations to everyone who filed a claim and got PAID!

Flushable Wipes False Advertising and Misrepresentation

The wet wipe industry, on average, makes about $6 billion a year in sales each year by selling flushable and non-flushable wet-wipes, with a predicted increasing profit margin of 5-6 percent yearly.

Flushable wipes, in general, are sold at a higher price than their non-flushable counterparts, because they are marketed as safely disposable in toilet systems. However, recent consumer reports and research studies have found that flushable wipes do not immediately disintegrate after they are flushed.

According to a 2013 story in Consumer Reports, scientists tested four distinct flushable wipe brands for levels of flushability by putting each one though a stand mixer. The study concluded that it took more than 10 minutes on average to break down the flushable wipes into smaller, flushable pieces. Since the average toilet is not capable of producing the strong churning need to break down the baby wipes properly, the study concluded that personal wipe products in general are not flushable.

Some familiar brand flushable wipe products named in various lawsuits may include:

• up & up flushable wipes by Target
• Kandoo flushable wipes by Pampers
• Charmin Freshmates
• Cottonelle flushable wipes
• Wet Ones flushable wipes
• Equate flushable wipes by Wal-Mart
• Walgreens flushable wipes
• Total Home flushable wipes by CVS
• Scott flushable wipes

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.