Kimberly-Clark Flushable Wipes $20M Settlement, Claims Closed — When Are Payments Coming?

A federal judge granted renewed final approval on March 12, 2026 to the $20 million Kimberly-Clark flushable wipes settlement — ending more than a decade of litigation over claims that Cottonelle, Scott, Huggies Pull-Ups, Poise, and Kotex-branded wipes were misleadingly marketed as safe to flush. The claim deadline closed on August 16, 2022. If you filed a valid claim before that date, this article explains the current payment status and what happens next. If you missed the claim deadline, this article serves as a historical record of the settlement.

Quick Facts

Current Status and What Happens Next

• Finally approved March 12, 2026 — U.S. District Judge Pamela K. Chen granted renewed final approval after the Second Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the earlier approval on July 1, 2025 and sent the case back for additional fairness review.
• Appeals still possible — funds will not distribute until any new appeals are resolved. The appeal period has not yet expired as of the time of this writing. Check flushablewipessettlement.com for payment date updates.
• No new claims accepted — the claim filing deadline closed August 16, 2022. Only consumers who submitted valid claims before that date qualify for a payment.

What Is the Kimberly-Clark Flushable Wipes Lawsuit About?

Plaintiff Kurtz filed the original class action lawsuit against Kimberly-Clark Corporation in 2014 — more than 12 years ago — alleging the company misleadingly labeled and marketed wipes sold under the Cottonelle, Scott, Huggies Pull-Ups, Poise, and Kotex brands as “flushable” and safe for plumbing and septic systems. A second related lawsuit, Honigman v. Kimberly-Clark Corp., was filed in 2015 with identical claims. Plaintiffs in both cases argued the wipes did not break down the way toilet paper does — instead allegedly causing plumbing clogs, sewer system damage, and other problems when flushed.

The core legal theory was straightforward: because the wipes were labeled “flushable,” consumers paid a price premium they would not have paid had they known the products could damage their pipes or septic systems. The lawsuits alleged violations of consumer protection laws across the United States. Kimberly-Clark denied — and continues to deny — any wrongdoing, noting its Cottonelle wipes pass widely accepted flushability specifications and are tested with plumbers.

The two cases were consolidated and litigated together as Kurtz/Honigman v. Kimberly-Clark Corporation, et al., Civil Action No. 1:14-cv-01142-PKC-RML, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

A Long Road to Final Approval — The Settlement Timeline

This case has one of the longest and most complicated settlement histories in recent consumer class action law. Here is what happened:

The Second Circuit’s July 2025 ruling did not find the settlement itself was unfair. Instead, it directed the district court to reconsider whether the $3.16 million attorney fee award was reasonable given that only approximately $1 million was actually claimed by class members — a small fraction of the $20 million fund. On reconsideration, Judge Chen approved the fees again, finding the legal work required across 12 years of complex litigation — including expert testimony on plumbing systems and product design — justified the award.

Who Qualified for a Payment?

The claim period is now closed. For historical reference, class members needed to meet all of the following criteria:

• You qualified if you were 18 years of age or older at the time of purchase.
• You qualified if you purchased any Kimberly-Clark flushable wipes product sold under the Cottonelle, Scott, Huggies Pull-Ups, Poise, or Kotex brands in the United States.
• You qualified if your purchase occurred between February 21, 2008, and May 19, 2022.
• You qualified if you purchased the wipes for personal use — not for resale.
• You did not qualify if you opted out of the settlement before August 17, 2022.
• One claim per household — only one payment per physical address, regardless of how many people lived there.

How Much Did Class Members Receive?

The settlement offered two payout tiers based on whether you had proof of purchase:

Claimants could only select one tier — either with or without proof of purchase, but not both. Despite a $20 million fund being available, only approximately $1 million in claims were actually filed by the August 2022 deadline, leaving the vast majority of the fund unclaimed by eligible consumers.

Why Did It Take So Long? The Appeals Explained

The long delay between the August 2022 claim deadline and the March 2026 final approval came from a series of legal challenges — not from any problem with the settlement terms themselves.

After the district court granted first final approval in June 2023, a class member objected to the attorney fee structure — arguing it was disproportionate for class counsel to receive $3.16 million in fees when class members collectively claimed only $1 million. The objector, represented by prominent class action critic attorney Ted Frank, appealed the approval. The Second Circuit vacated the approval in July 2025 and instructed the district court to apply a more rigorous standard for evaluating whether the fee award was fair relative to actual class recovery.

On reconsideration, Judge Chen again approved the full fee award, finding the 12-year litigation — with its complex expert testimony on plumbing systems and product design — justified the compensation regardless of the low claim rate. The renewed final approval issued on March 12, 2026 now allows distribution to move forward once any new appeals are resolved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still file a claim for the flushable wipes settlement? 

No. The claim filing deadline was August 16, 2022 — nearly four years ago. The settlement administrator, Kroll Settlement Administration LLC, is no longer accepting new claims. Only consumers who submitted valid claims before that date qualify for a payment from the $20 million fund.

Is this Kimberly-Clark flushable wipes settlement legitimate?

 Yes. The settlement, Kurtz/Honigman v. Kimberly-Clark Corporation, et al., Civil Action No. 1:14-cv-01142-PKC-RML, is a court-supervised class action in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. The official settlement website is flushablewipessettlement.com, administered by Kroll Settlement Administration LLC. Contact the administrator at 1-833-620-3583 or [email protected] with any questions.

When will I receive my payment if I already filed a claim? 

The renewed final approval was granted March 12, 2026. Payments cannot distribute until the appeal period expires and any new appeals are resolved. No payment distribution date has been set yet. Check flushablewipessettlement.com regularly for updates, or contact Kroll at 1-833-620-3583 for the latest information on your specific claim.

What if I missed the August 2022 claim deadline?

 Unfortunately there is nothing you can do to receive a payment from this specific settlement. The claims period is permanently closed. You remain bound by the settlement’s release of claims against Kimberly-Clark for the covered products unless you submitted a valid opt-out request before August 17, 2022.

Will this settlement payment affect my taxes? 

Settlement payments of $7 or less are unlikely to trigger a tax reporting obligation for most consumers. If you filed a claim with proof of purchase and receive up to $50.60, consult a qualified tax professional if you are uncertain whether to include this in your taxable income. The settlement administrator will not issue tax forms for small consumer product settlement payments of this nature in most cases.

Why were flushable wipes considered misleadingly labeled? 

The lawsuit alleged Kimberly-Clark’s “flushable” label led consumers to believe the wipes would break down in pipes and sewer systems the same way toilet paper does. Independent testing cited in the litigation found the wipes remained largely intact after flushing — unlike toilet paper, which disintegrates quickly. Plumbers and water utilities have long warned that so-called flushable wipes contribute to pipe blockages and sewer system damage, sometimes costing homeowners and municipalities thousands of dollars in repairs.

Why did so few people actually claim their money? 

Despite a $20 million fund being available, only approximately $1 million in claims were filed by the August 2022 deadline. This pattern is extremely common in consumer product class actions — most eligible consumers never hear about the settlement, forget to file, or decide the payout amount is too small to bother claiming. This case became a landmark example cited by courts evaluating whether attorney fee awards are appropriate when consumer recovery is low.

Are there other flushable wipes settlements I should know about?

 Yes. Kimberly-Clark is not the only company that has faced flushable wipes litigation. Costco settled a separate $2 million lawsuit over Kirkland Signature flushable wipes covering New York state purchasers from 2011–2017. Target and Nice-Pak Products Inc. settled a $2.15 million lawsuit over Up & Up flushable toddler wipes. CVS and other retailers have also faced similar lawsuits. If you currently use flushable wipes from any brand and experienced plumbing issues, separate litigation may cover your situation.

Sources and References

1. Official Settlement Website — flushablewipessettlement.com
2. Settlement Agreement — Kurtz/Honigman v. Kimberly-Clark
3. Second Circuit Appellate Order — July 1, 2026

Consumers who missed this claim deadline may want to check whether they qualify for other currently open false advertising settlements — the Walmart $45 million weighted goods settlement paid claimants who were overcharged for meat and grocery items at Walmart stores. If your personal data was also exposed in a recent corporate breach, the Affirm $3.78 million data breach settlement received final approval December 15, 2025 — check whether your account details were compromised.

Last Updated: March 17, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.

About the Author

Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
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