 In a complaint filed Wednesday along with the settlement, the FTC
and the states alleged Skechers made deceptive, unsubstantiated
claims in marketing and advertising its line of rocker-bottom
athletic shoes: Shape-ups, Tone-ups and the Skechers Resistance
Runner. Skechers misled consumers to believe wearing the shoes would
cause them to lose weight, burn calories, improve circulation, fight
cellulite and strengthen muscles."Companies that make health
claims without scientific proof to support them are using deceptive
tactics that may unfairly influence consumers' purchasing
decisions," Madigan said.
Under the settlement, Skechers is barred from making health
claims unless it has adequate evidence. Skechers will also pay $40
million back to consumers who bought the shoes and $5 million to the
states for costs of investigation.
Consumers who purchased Shape-ups, Tone-ups or the Skechers
Resistance Runner should visit the FTC website at
www.ftc.gov or call 866-325-4186
for information in obtaining a refund.
[to top of second column] |
Joining Illinois in the settlement were Alabama, Alaska, Arizona,
Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District
of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine,
Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana,
Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina,
North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,
South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia,
Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Hawaii's Office of Consumer
Protection, and Georgia's Governor's Office of Consumer Protection.
Assistant Attorney General Colleen Bisher handled the case for
Madigan's Consumer Fraud Bureau.
[Text from file received from the office
of
Illinois Attorney General Lisa
Madigan] |
