Lowe's "Made in USA" Gloves Lawsuit: Are They Really American-Made?

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit has been filed against Lowe's, alleging the company falsely advertised safety gloves as "Made in the USA" when they were actually manufactured in China and India.

Consumers Affected: Consumers who purchased safety gloves from Lowe's that were labeled as "Made in the USA."

Court: U.S. State of Michigan 56th Circuit Judicial Court, Eaton County

Lowe’s Home Centers falsely advertised its safety gloves as being made in the United States when they’re actually made in India and China, misleading consumers and violating federal laws, a new lawsuit claims.

The lawsuit argues that Lowe’s took advantage of the perception US-made safety gloves are of higher quality due to stricter industrial safety standards compared to other countries by falsely labeling the gloves as "Made in the USA", capitalizing on consumers desire to buy US-made goods.

Lowe's Accused Of Falsely Advertising "Made in USA" Safety Gloves

Michigan resident Jason Wawiernia filed the proposed class action lawsuit alleging violations of state business laws and federal warranty protections. He claims he ordered eight pairs of safety gloves from Lowe’s after seeing online advertisements that specifically stated the gloves were made in the United States. When he received the gloves, however, the labels showed they were produced in China and India. 

Jason said in the lawsuit he was misled and believed the US-made gloves would be superior in quality. The lawsuit accuses Lowe’s of unjustly profiting from the alleged lie, as consumers like Wawiernia were willing to pay a premium for what they believed were American-made products.

Lawsuit Claims Lowe's Violated Implied Warranty And Consumer Protection Laws

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, enacted in 1975, protects consumers from misleading warranties on products sold in the U.S. It doesn't require a warranty for every product but ensures that if a product does have a warranty, it must comply with certain standards. The law also covers "implied warranties," which are unwritten guarantees that a product will meet reasonable quality expectations. 

For example, a safety glove marketed as "Made in the USA" would carry the implied warranty that it adheres to U.S. manufacturing standards unless specifically disclaimed. In this case, the lawsuit argues that Lowe’s violated this warranty by misrepresenting the origin of its gloves.

Other Companies Face Heat For Similar Accusations

Lowe’s is not the only company accused of misleading consumers with "Made in the USA" claims. The Federal Trade Commission’s "Made in USA Labeling Rule," adopted in 2021, is designed to combat false advertising. 

Recently, tractor company Kubota was ordered to pay a $2 million civil penalty for falsely labeling replacement parts as U.S.-made. Other brands, including Reynolds for its aluminum foil and Bigelow Teas, are also facing lawsuits over similar allegations. 

Wawiernia wants to represent consumers from across the country in the lawsuit, which alleges violations of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and state consumer laws. He is seeking damages, attorneys fees, costs, and expenses.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Wawiernia v. Lowe’s Home Centers, LLC
• Case Number: 1:24-cv-00801
• Court: U.S. State of Michigan 56th Circuit Judicial Court, Eaton County

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Adam G. Taub (Adam G. Taub & Associates, Consumer Law Group PLC)
• Daniel A. Edelman and Dulijaza (Julie) Clark (Edelman, Combs, Latturna & Goodwin, LLC)

Have you ever been misled by a "Made in the USA" label? Share your experiences in the comments below.