Judge OKs $40 million class-action settlement over Skechers shoes
Written by Jay M. Kelley III in Accident & Injury on May 14, 2013
By Arthur Elk
At Elk & Elk, we’ve been investigating cases involving toning shoes, including Skechers, and false advertising claims made about what the shoes can do. Millions of Americans purchased the shoes, believing that wearing the shoes would firm and sculpt their muscles. Not only were those claims not true, but some customers also suffered injuries as a result of wearing the shoes.
Earlier this week, a federal judge approved a $40 million class-action settlement between Skechers USA Inc. and consumers who bought the company’s toning shoes. The ads made unfounded claims that the footwear would help people lose weight and strengthen muscles.
Those with approved claims will be able to get up to $80 per pair of Shape-Ups, $84 per pair of Resistance Runner shoes; up to $54 per pair of Podded Sole Shoes; and $40 per pair of Tone-Ups.
The deal covers more than 520,000 claims and more than 70 lawsuits from across the country. The lawsuits were consolidated in federal court in Louisville.
The lawsuits were spurred by Skechers’ ads featuring celebrity endorsers such as Kim Kardashian and Brooke Burke. The ads claim that the shoes could increase “muscle activation” by up to 85 percent for posture-related muscles and 71 percent for one of the muscles in the buttocks.
At one time, toning shoes were the fastest-growing segment in the fitness shoe industry, with billions of dollars annually in sales. That means millions of Americans were the victims of shoe companies’ false and misleading advertising, promising quick and easy results that they could not provide. Even worse, many people reported injuries, including broken bones, as the result of wearing toning shoes.
If you or someone you know has injuries consistent with the use of toning shoes, contact Elk & Elk so we can begin work on your case immediately. Just call us at 1-800-ELK-OHIO. You can also schedule a free consultation by contacting us online.
Jay M. Kelley III - Managing Partner
Meet Jay M. Kelley III, a top medical malpractice and catastrophic personal injury attorney in Ohio with over 30 years of experience and a proven track record of securing millions in verdicts and settlements. He leads Elk + Elk’s comprehensive litigation strategy across state, federal, and appellate courts, drawing on a unique background as a former felony prosecutor and hospital defense lawyer. Jay focuses on high-stakes, complex cases, including birth injuries and wrongful death, and is widely recognized by Best Lawyers and ranked among the Super Lawyers Top 10 in Ohio.
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