Skechers Toning Shoe Settlement of $40M Approved for Class Action
On Monday, a federal judge approved a settlement agreement in which Skechers USA Inc. will pay more than $40 million to customers who bought shoes that were designed to tone up muscles and burn fat; claims that a class action lawsuit filed against the company alleged were unfounded.
The Skechers toning shoe lawsuit was filed in March 2012, alleging that Skechers used deceptive advertising and sold its Shape-Up, Tone-Up and Resistance Runner shoe at a premium price, without providing the claimed benefits.
The settlement comes after the Federal Trade Commission pressured the company to reimburse customers for the shoes and to tone down its advertising. The company agreed to the settlement, but has not admitted any wrongdoing.
Did You Know?
Millions of Philips CPAP Machines Recalled
Philips DreamStation, CPAP and BiPAP machines sold in recent years may pose a risk of cancer, lung damage and other injuries.
Learn MoreThe Skechers class action lawsuit settlement will result in approved participants receiving $54 if they purchased Skechers Padded Sole Shoes, $84 if they purchased a pair of Resistance Runner shoes, $80 if they purchased a pair of Shape-Ups, and $40 if they purchased a pair of Tone-Ups. More than 520,000 plaintiffs are expected to receive reimbursements. About 1,000 people opted out of the class action lawsuit, many of whom may be intending to file individual lawsuits alleging that the design of the shoes caused them to suffer various injuries.
Skechers toning shoe injury lawsuits have been filed in a number of courts throughout the country, alleging that the rocker-bottom design caused customers to suffer stress fractures, damage to tendons and ligaments, fractures to the feet, wrists, hips and ankles, as well as head and back injuries.
Skechers introduced the shoes with a pronounced rocker bottom sole. The company promoted the shoes with slogans such as “shape up while you walk,” suggesting that wearing the shoes would promote weight loss, tone muscles, improve posture, tighten abdominals, firm the buttocks, thighs and calves; among other claims. However, the benefits of the design were never tested and a number of users experienced very different effects from the Shape-Up and Tone-Up shoes.
According to allegations raised in the Skechers lawsuits, the manufacturer intentionally misled consumers to believe the shoes were beneficial to their health, claiming that they would improve cardiac function and provide orthopedic benefits, despite any medical proof verifying these claims. In addition, claims indicate that the rocker bottom design actually caused or contributed to serious personal injuries for many consumers.
Get more articles like this sent directly to your inbox.
"*" indicates required fields
3 Comments
CharlotteDecember 19, 2014 at 4:05 pm
I have had a pair of the shape ups for several years. I hadn't wore them for a least that long. Recently my employer changed the color of our uniforms and I had no shoes to properly match. I put on the white shape ups and wore them to work! I work as a nurse 12 hr shifts . The second night I noticed my hip and groin on my right side was becoming intensive until almost unbearable. I had to remove t[Show More]I have had a pair of the shape ups for several years. I hadn't wore them for a least that long. Recently my employer changed the color of our uniforms and I had no shoes to properly match. I put on the white shape ups and wore them to work! I work as a nurse 12 hr shifts . The second night I noticed my hip and groin on my right side was becoming intensive until almost unbearable. I had to remove the shoes and walk in my socks! That has been 22 days ago and I have not been without severe pain since that night I have has to go to the ER twice and had failed injection in my SI joint because it has become unstable! I am now looking to have surgery within the next week to relieve the pain. I never could imagine but I swear it is those damn shoes!
MichelleMarch 19, 2014 at 4:45 pm
I bought the sketcher toning shoe , when they first came out...loved them enough to wear everyday and even purchase a second pair , not any where on the box or instructions, did it say not to wear as a everyday shoe, I wore these shoes everyday for almost 5 yrs.....I started to notice dis color of the foot at first and then the dis color moved up my leg about sock line, my leg started to tingle an[Show More]I bought the sketcher toning shoe , when they first came out...loved them enough to wear everyday and even purchase a second pair , not any where on the box or instructions, did it say not to wear as a everyday shoe, I wore these shoes everyday for almost 5 yrs.....I started to notice dis color of the foot at first and then the dis color moved up my leg about sock line, my leg started to tingle and get numb, today I am being treated for peripheral vascular disease, known as poor circulation, due to the break down of the arterys. I still have the shoes, but do not wear them and I would like to know more about this lawsuit against sketchers
FrancesNovember 5, 2013 at 3:28 pm
I purchased a pair of those sketchers with the intention of losing weight as I excercised and wore them constantly with no weight loss at all and excruciating back pain that had me bed ridden for three weeks and constant back pain ever since. I still own them and would like to know more about this lawsuit against sketchers.