P&G Settles Kandoo ‘Flushable’ Wipes Class Action Lawsuit

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Procter & Gamble reportedly agreed to settle a class action lawsuit alleging it falsely marketed Kandoo “flushable” wipes as sewer safe when they actually clog toilets.

On Friday, Judge Mary E. Wiss indicated that she is likely to approve the flushable wipes class action settlement, which would provide up to $50 per household.

The flushable wipes class action lawsuit was initially filed by plaintiff David Machlan in March 2014. P&G sought unsuccessfully to dismiss the case, and ultimately agreed to settle the class action lawsuit to avoid the burden and expense of ongoing litigation.

Machlan asserts that the Procter & Gamble and product licensee Nehemiah Manufacturing Co. marketed their wipes as flushable and sewer safe, when in actuality they do not break down after being flushed, causing clogged pipes and other serious plumbing issues.

According to the flushable wipes class action lawsuit, Machlan paid a premium for Pampers Kandoo flushable wipes because he believed he could flush them without issue. After he flushed them, however, his toilet clogged.

When Machlan unclogged the toilet, he claims to have noticed that the wipes did not disintegrated as promised. He says he stopped using the wipes immediately after the toilet clogged and feared that he would experience expensive plumbing problems if he continued to use them.

Machlan says that the Kandoo flushable wipes do not dissolve or disintegrate even in optimal conditions. Instead of dissolving, the wipes only break down into smaller pieces.

According to the Kandoo class action lawsuit, these wipes are capable of causing significant damage to municipal sewer systems. Reasonable consumers would not pay a premium for the flushable wipes if they knew that they did not actually dissolve as promised, Machlan asserts.

Class Members of the flushable wipes settlement include anyone who purchased P&G flushable wipes on or after Mar. 21, 2010 in California.

Under the terms of the proposed class action settlement, Class Members who submit proof of purchase will be entitled to a payment of up to $50, while Class Members who do not provide proof of purchase will be limited to a maximum payment of $10.

The defendants have also agreed to remove phrases like “sewer safe” and “septic safe” from their labels. They will also add a disclaimer to warn that the wipes should only be flushed one or two at a time, and should only be used in homes that have well-maintained toilets, drains, sewer lines and septic tanks.

Top Class Actions will post updates to this class action settlement as they become available. For the latest updates, keep checking TopClassActions.com or sign up for our free newsletter. You can also receive notifications when this article is updated by using your free Top Class Actions account and clicking the green “Follow Article” button at the top of the post.

Machlan is represented by Adam Gutride of Gudride Safier LLP.

The P&G Flushable Wipes Class Action Lawsuit is David Machlan v. Procter & Gamble Co., et al., Case No. CGC14538168, in the Superior Court of California for the County of San Francisco.

UPDATE: The California Kandoo Flushable Wipes class action settlement is now open! Click here to file a claim.

UPDATE 2: On Aug. 14, 2017, Top Class Actions viewers who filed valid claims for the California Kandoo Flushable Wipes class action settlement are starting to receive checks in the mail.