Sketchers being sued for false advertising about its 'shape-up shoes'

Carol Forsloff - Sketchers is being sued for false advertising and making research claims its "shape'ups" shoes help people get in shape according to court documents filed in the U.S. District Court in California.



Ad by sketchers - youtube



The advertisements have been
numerous, Sketchers claiming folks "can get in shape without setting
foot in a gym and that this is supported by clinical studies.



But the research studies, the class action suit claims, was faulty and didn't use control groups and other methodology to substantiate claims.



Like other class action suits,
there is a named plaintiff.  In this case it is      Venus Morga who
claims claims that Skechers' false ads, in print, TV, and on the
Internet, claimed "that wearing Shape-ups would result in noticeable
physiological benefits to consumers, including improved circulation,
weight loss, better posture and weight loss were not true and that the
company "reaped millions of dollars of profit," without providing any
health benefit to users beyond the ordinary sneaker.  In fact the claim
is Shape-ups have actually injured some customers.



An instructional DVD included with
the shoes tells the consumer, "Congratulations! With Shape-ups you can
finally get in shape, without going to the gym."  The claim of the
company is that the shoes will allow the user to move forward in
walking, shifting the weight to the center of the shoe, reputedly
resulting in "'stronger leg, buttock, back and abdominal muscles as you
stabilize your steps.'"



The lawsuit claims people with
pre-existing hamstring or ankle injuries can be injured by these shoes.
It cites a Wall Street Journal that looked at Skechers claims and
observed that its research was not rigorous and therefore its claims
faulty.



As for benefits, Morga says she "did not experience any of the benefits described in defendant's misleading ad campaign."