Costco Pays $2M to Settle False Advertising Lawsuit, See Who’s Eligible

Costco has settled a $2 million lawsuit, and its consumers have only several weeks to react and get their cut.

Those who purchased Kirkland Signature Moist Flushable Wipes from July 1, 2011, to May 31, 2017, were part of the class action lawsuit. 

The plaintiffs assert that flushing Kirkland wipes caused damage to pipelines, septic systems, sewage lines, and other plumbing, notwithstanding representations to the contrary. According to the company, if customers had known the wipes weren’t really flushable, they would never have bought them.

Costco did not take responsibility for its actions, but it did agree to the $2 million compensation.

Customers can receive $1.30 for every product they buy, with a $7.50 minimum and a $55.90 maximum for as many as 43 items.

The legal business claims that you do not need to provide proof of purchase in order to get your money.

The case in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York is Kurtz v. Kimberly-Clark Corporation, et al.

By August 9th, all forms must be filed in order to be included in the case. On August 30, there will be a final hearing to approve the deal.

Flushable wipes are prevalent in sewers and may create huge difficulties, according to Alexander Kraus, a maintenance worker from Kenosha Water Utility.

He explained that they attach themselves to any little debris or areas where tree roots penetrate the sewage laterals.  A backup is inevitable, particularly in the case of housing complexes.  According to Kraus, cleaning the sewage line may sometimes alleviate clogs caused by wipes, but it takes around an hour. It’s a temporary solution until the next blockage, and then the process starts all over again.

He said that the sewer lateral will need to be excavated and rebuilt at some point.

The settlement website described Costco as stating that it denies the allegations and believes that its product performs as advertised.   The flushable wipes are still for sale.  Product images on its website include packaging that warns against flushing more than a single wipe at a time.