(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today joined the Federal Trade Commission, 43 states, and the District of Columbia in announcing a settlement with Skechers USA, Inc. to resolve claims that Skechers overstated weight-loss benefits in advertisements for its rocker-bottom athletic shoes, including Shape-ups, Tone-ups, and the Skechers Resistance Runner.
Under the settlement, Skechers will allocate up to $40 million for consumers who purchased the shoes and who file a refund claim. Skechers will pay an additional $5 million to the states, of which Ohio will receive $156,050.
“Skechers overstated the benefits of using these shoes for weight loss and other health benefits,” Attorney General DeWine said. “For consumers who purchased these shoes expecting to receive the health benefits that Skechers advertised, this settlement is an opportunity to recoup some of the money they paid.”
Co-led by Ohio and Tennessee, the multi-state working group investigated the health-related claims Skechers made in the marketing, packaging, advertising, offering, and selling of its line of rocker-bottom shoe products. For example, Skechers had claimed that the products would promote weight loss, burn more calories, fight cellulite, improve circulation, and firm muscles in the thigh, buttocks, and back.
In a lawsuit filed today, the Attorney General alleges that the benefits were not adequately substantiated at the time Skechers made the claims. Under the settlement, which will be presented to the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas for approval, Skechers is prohibited from making these claims without adequate substantiation.
Consumers who purchased Shape-Ups, Tone-Ups, or the Skechers Resistance Runner should go to www.ftc.gov/skechers for information about how to obtain a partial refund through this settlement. Consumers also can call 866-325-4186 to learn more on how to file their claims. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will oversee the refund process, which will be handled by an FTC-selected administrator.
Joining Ohio in the settlement are 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, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, as well as the State of Hawaii’s Office of Consumer Protection, and the State of Georgia’s Governor’s Office of Consumer Protection.
Consumers who have complaints about unsubstantiated health or advertising claims or any consumer matter should contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or 800-282-0515.
Media Contacts:
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Eve Mueller: 614-466-3840