UPDATE: A federal judge granted final approval to the Skechers Toning Shoe Class Action Lawsuit Settlement on May 13, 2013. Payments will be issued late summer, according to the Settlement Administrator.

 

The Federal Trade Commission has just announced that Skechers will pay $40 million to settle charges it misled consumers into believing its “toning shoes” would help people lose weight and tone their buttocks, legs and abdominal muscles, without ever setting foot in the gym. If you bought Skechers Shape-ups, Resistant Runners, Shape-ups toners/Trainers or Tone-ups since August 1, 2008, you can file a claim to receive a refund either directly from the FTC or through a court-approved class action lawsuit settlement.

The Skechers settlement will resolve a class action lawsuit, entitled Grabowski v. Skechers U.S.A., Inc., that alleges Skechers violated state laws and consumer protection statutes by misrepresenting the benefits of wearing Skechers toning shoes, and that the shoes did not provide the benefits claimed.

“Skechers’ unfounded claims went beyond stronger and more toned muscles. The company even made claims about weight loss and cardiovascular health,” said David Vladeck, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The FTC’s message, for Skechers and other national advertisers, is to shape up your substantiation or tone down your claims.”

Skechers denies any wrongdoing, but has agreed to establish a $40 million class action lawsuit settlement fund to resolve the litigation. The announcement comes just two months after the FTC announced its investigation into the alleged false claims, and eight months after Reebok settled similar FTC charges for $25 million. The Skechers class action lawsuit settlement is reportedly the FTC’s largest ever involving consumer refunds, and is larger than the Reebok settlement, in part, because Skechers has more market share in toning sneakers.

Under the FTC’s toning shoe settlement, Skechers is barred from making claims about strengthening, weight loss, and other health and fitness-related claims for its toning shoes unless they are true and backed by scientific evidence. The Skechers class action settlement also bars the company from misrepresenting any tests, studies or research results regarding toning shoes.

Skechers has also agreed to provide refunds to consumers who bought the following Eligible Shoes as new since August 1, 2008:

Skechers Shape-ups rocker bottom shoes
Skechers Resistance Runner rocker bottom shoes
Skechers Shape-ups Toners/Trainers
Skechers Tone-ups with podded outsoles
Skechers Tone-ups non-podded sandals
Skechers boots
Skechers clogs
Skechers trainers (Tone-ups, non-podded sole)

The total refund you can receive from the Skechers shape-ups class action lawsuit settlement will depend on how many Eligible Shoes you purchased since August 1, 2008, as well as the total number of valid claim forms submitted by other Class Members. However, it’s estimated that Class Members will receive between:
 
$40 - $80 for Shape-ups;
$27 - $50 for podded sole shoes;
$20 - $40 for Tone-ups (non-podded sole); and
$42 - $80 for Resistance Runners

To apply for a refund from the Skechers FTC Settlement go to http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/cases/skechers/index.shtm. Further details on your rights in the Skechers Class Action Lawsuit Settlement as well as the ability to submit a claim separately in the class action settlement can be found at www.SkechersSettlement.com.

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