FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : Wednesday, May 16, 2012
CONTACT: Sara Rabern, (605) 773-3215
Attorney General Jackley Joins Multistate Settlement with Skechers USA, Inc.
PIERRE, S.D. – In a coordinated filing, the Federal Trade Commission and the Attorneys General of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, 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, the State of Hawaii’s Office of Consumer Protection, and the State of Georgia’s Governor’s Office of Consumer Protection filed settlements today with Skechers USA, Inc., the makers of Shape-Ups, Tone-Ups, and the Skechers Resistance Runner athletic shoes. Under the settlements, up to $40 million is being allocated for consumer refund money to be paid back to consumers who purchased the shoes. As part of the settlements, Skechers will pay an additional $5 million to the states.
South Dakota will receive $71,625 for costs associated with this settlement agreement. Consumers who purchased Shape-Ups, Tone-Ups, or the Skechers Resistance Runner should go to www.ftc.gov/skechers website or call the toll free number 866-325-4186 for additional settlement information.
“Consumers have the right to assume that manufacturer’s advertising claims are legitimate,” said Jackley. “Overstating health benefits is misleading and violates consumer trust in the marketplace.”
The lawsuit filed today by the Attorney General alleges that the Skechers made health-related claims in the marketing, packaging, advertising, offering, and selling of its line of rocker-bottom shoe products including Shape-ups, Tone-ups, and the Skechers Resistance Runner that were not adequately substantiated at the time the claims were made. The lawsuit alleges that without having adequate support for its claims, Skechers claimed that these rocker-bottom shoe products caused consumers to lose weight, burn calories, improve circulation, fight cellulite, and firm, tone or strengthen thigh, buttock, and back muscles.
Skechers does not admit any wrongdoing and denies the factual allegations asserted in the Attorney General’s complaint.
Consumers who have complaints about unsubstantiated health or advertising claims or any consumer matter should contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 800-300-1986 or at consumerhelp@state.sd.us.
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