 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.
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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] |
