In Ohio, Class Action Allowed To Proceed In Target Wipes Case

Last year, Ohio’s Christopher Meta filed a class action lawsuit against Minnesota’s finest, Target. I apologize that we didn’t cover it when the news initially broke, but everyone else is too highbrow, and I was afraid that I would fall victim to an Andy Zaltzman-esque inappropriate pun run (for reference), which would stave off readers and irreparably damage our reputation here at Abnormal Use. Christopher Meta’s class action lawsuit alleges that the Target brand up&up baby wipes, which are labeled as flushable, dispersible, and sewer and septic safe, were none of the above. According to Mr. Meta’s plumber, the flushable wipes had caked together. Meta was charged $210 for the removal of the . . . products.

According to Meta’s Complaint, wipe users everywhere are suffering the same tragic fate. New York has a rather well-documented history of fighting the wipes, even going so far as having its politicians attempt to ban them (probably all Toilet Paper Lobby propaganda).

Earlier this month, an Ohio federal judge denied Target’s motion to dismiss the products liability claims in this matter. (A copy of the order is available to download). Target argued that while some of the class members experienced clogged plumbing, others did not. The district court did rule that Ohio’s Product Liability Act abrogated the plaintiff’s tortious breach of warranty, negligent design, and negligent failure to warn theories of recover. However, the court allowed the plaintiff’s four other causes of action to proceed.

We will do our best to keep abreast of this litigation. In the meantime, if you’re bold, take a gander at the plaintiff’s complaint or the photo from The New Yorker article linked above.

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