Anna Bradley-Smith  |  October 15, 2021

Category: Legal News

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soclean lawsuit cpap cleaning device
(Photo Credit: bw18/Shutterstock)

SoClean Lawsuit Overview: 

  • Who: SoClean has been hit with another class action lawsuit for allegedly misrepresenting the safety of its CPAP cleaning devices.
  • What: Consumers say the company falsely says its CPAP cleaning devices are “safe” and “healthy” when they emit the toxic gas ozone at levels unsafe to humans.
  • Where: The new class action was filed on behalf of Arkansas consumers.

SoClean falsely tells customers its CPAP cleaning devices are “safe” and “healthy” when they emit the toxic gas ozone at levels unsafe to humans, a new class action lawsuit alleges.

The SoClean lawsuit was filed in Arkansas on October 12 by lead plaintiff Steve Landers, who alleges that the company violates federal law by failing to disclose its devices emit ozone and by falsely representing that its devices use “activated oxygen” to clean CPAP cleaning machines.

It is the latest in a string of SoClean lawsuits filed against the company over the use of ozone in the CPAP cleaning devices, which Landers says in his claim, to be effective as a germicide, must be present in a concentration far greater than can be safely tolerated by people or animals.

SoClean Lawsuit Claims Consumers Misled About Safety of CPAP Cleaning Device

The company makes the SoClean 2 CPAP Sanitizing Machine and the SoClean 2 Go CPAP Sanitizing Machine that work by generating ozone to sterilize and deodorize the devices. However, ozone is an unstable toxic gas with a pungent characteristic odor — sometimes described as “clean” smelling — that can kill bacteria and viruses, the claim explains.

According to the SoClean lawsuit, the company’s representations are designed to mislead consumers into believing that the machine uses a benign form of oxygen to clean CPAP machines rather than a harsh gas that is generally only suitable for commercial sanitization under highly controlled conditions.

“SoClean’s marketing materials fail to disclose that its devices emit ozone, which is a longstanding requirement of federal law,” Landers says.

“Instead, SoClean falsely represents that its devices use ‘activated oxygen’ to clean CPAP machines. SoClean markets the devices as ‘safe’ and  ‘healthy,; which is false give that they generate toxic ozone gas at levels that substantially exceed federal regulations.”

Additionally, Lander says, SoClean falsely claims that its devices are “sealed” so that “activated oxygen” (i.e. ozone) does not escape the devices.

“SoClean devices are so dangerous and destructive that several of the largest manufacturers of CPAP machines in the United States require purchasers to acknowledge that they have been informed that if the purchaser uses a SoClean device to clean their CPAP machine, the warranty of their CPAP machine will be voided,” he points out in the claim.

Landers’ SoClean lawsuit comes as more than 90 lawsuits filed against Koninklijke Philips for its allegedly toxic sleep apnea devices have been consolidated into a multi district litigation and sent to a Pittsburgh federal court for litigation.

The lawsuits followed a recall notice for the devices said that they could cause skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritation, an inflammatory response, headaches, asthma, adverse effects to other organs (e.g. kidneys and liver), and toxic carcinogenic effects, due to contain polyester-based polyurethane sound abatement foam, or PEPUR foam, which the claims all say can degrade and release toxins into users’ airways.

Landers is looking to represent anyone in Arkansas who purchased or used a SoClean device to clean and sanitize their CPAP, BiPAP or Mechanical Ventilation machine.

He is suing for breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty of merchantability, fraudulent misrepresentation, fraud by omission, negligent misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, and more. He seeks certification of the Class, damages, interest, legal fees and costs, and a jury trial.

Have you ever used a SoClean device to clean a CPAP? Let us know your experience in the comments section!

Landers is represented by Thomas P. Thrash and Will T. Crowder of Thrash Law Firm, P.A.; John M. Deakle, Russell L. Johnson, and Ronald V. Johnson of Deakle-Johnson Law Firm, PLLC; and Patrick W. Pendley and Andrea Barient, of Pendley, Baudin & Coffin.

The SoClean Toxic CPAP Cleaning Device Class Action Lawsuit is Landers v. SoClean, Inc., Case No. 4:21-cv-00919-BSM in the Circuit Court of Pulaski County, Arkansas, 17th Division.


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59 thoughts onSoClean Lawsuit Allege Toxins in CPAP Cleaning Devices, Class Actions Mount

  1. Brandon Rea says:

    Add me. An please reach out. I have been using SoClean2 for about 6 months and have regular breathing issues now that were not before. i have been using my cpap for about 2 years prior to SoClean and never any issue until i started using the Soclean. My equipment is brown from the ozone and i am very disappointed that this can progress to severe health issues

  2. karri bell says:

    I have been using my soclean for about 8 years. My breathing has progressively gotten worse thru this time. I do have asthma and other breathing problems. Please reach out to me.

  3. Lenda Shirley Hammond says:

    Both my husband and I have used a So Clean machine. We never received any notice of dangers of using the machine. My CPap machine failed after I used it for a few months. The company that recently replaced it told me about the problems with SoClean and to not use it any more. I have recentl recently experienced lots of fatigue, symptoms similar to a head cold, and increased allergy type symptoms.
    My husband used his longer than I did. He began to experience lots of sinus type symptoms, breathing problems, fatigue, sleepliness, and a recurrance of his prostate cancer. He died July 11 afterbeing treated for pneumonia at a local ER.
    It is unconscionable that this company did not notify its customers of a possible health hazard with their product. I now have two expensive SoClean units setting in my storage closet reminding me that one of them may have contributed to my husband’s unexpected death. I am thankful that my CPap machine failed not too long after I purchased it so I could not use the SoClean while awaiting another CPap to be available for me. It probably saved my life.

  4. Kevin Marchand says:

    Ive been using the So Clean Machine sense it came out, recently i machine failed and i sent it to be repaired and was told that the So Clean Machine was the course if the failure. Blower motor and seals destroyed.
    cost me $500 to repair my machine and i was told my the company to make contact to see if i qualify for reimbursement. As for my health from the So Clean itself, respiratory problems from the use if the machine.

  5. Clayton says:

    I have used one for 6 years. Please add me.

  6. Gary Norman says:

    I’ve had a SoClean for 5 years. Since that time I’ve developed intermitent depth of breathing issues, concentration issues, fatigue. More so during times of high heat and humidity so I’ve blamed it on that until I heard about this. Before I had the SoClean these issues didn’t exist. I’ve even went to a doctor and as soon as I told them I was having Breathing issues they immediately sent me to the emergency room where they ran all kinds of tests but couldn’t find anything wrong. Yes the SoClean does produce a strong odor in the mask which takes 15-20 minutes to clear out when I put it on.

  7. Maggie Shelton says:

    Please Add Me

  8. karri bell says:

    Please add me. I have breathing issues which I believe are the result of using my so clean machine.

  9. Carol McBride says:

    I have purchased a SoClean device also. It leaves a horrible smell and taste. It was over 300 dollars. Please include me

  10. Carol McBride says:

    I have purchased a SoClean device also. It leaves a horrible smell and taste. It was over 300 dollars.

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