Athletic KT Tape Class Action Alleges Deceptive Marketing

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KT Health Inc. and its subsidiaries face a potential $5 million class action lawsuit stemming from allegations that the company falsely advertised a fitness tape called Kinesio Tape by claiming the product treats a variety of sports-related injuries.

Alexander Vuckovic of Massachusetts filed the KT Tape class action lawsuit on Friday over claims that the “kinesiology tape” manufacturer deceptively marketed the product to customers by using Olympic athletes and famous sports stars to advertise the so-called pain relieving tape.

According to the false advertising class action lawsuit, KT Tape is made from a bright, stretchy fabric with an adhesive backing that can be applied to skin directly above the injury. Customers are informed on every KT Tape box that the product treats 16 specific injuries including carpal tunnel, runner’s knee, tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, calf strain and shoulder pain.

Vuckovic says that further claims of being able to “stay in place through multiple workouts for up to 3 days, through daily showers, humidity, cold, even in the pool” made the tape a bestselling item among athletic consumers.

Instead of traditional athletic tape that is wound around the body, KT Tape was designed to lift the skin instead of compressing it. Vuckovic says it just doesn’t work for pain relief. According to his KT Tape class action lawsuit, some experts believe there may be a placebo effect when using KT Tape that athletes would find beneficial; however, the packaging of KT Tape does not inform customers that they are limited to the benefits of a placebo effect.

The KT Tape class action lawsuit accuses KT Health of unjust enrichment as both the plaintiff and potential Class Members allegedly paid a premium price for the sports tape. According to Vuckovic, “KT Health has used deceptive claims regarding the purported benefits of KT tape to charge a premium approximately ten times the price of traditional athletic tape, and has achieved massive sales of KT Tape as a result.”

Vuckovic further claims that KT Health used “pseudoscience” along with false and deceptive advertising of so-called health benefits, as well as celebrity athlete endorsement in order to achieve massive sales.

He claims that potential Class Members have been financially injured due to the misleading statements made by KT Health and should be compensated accordingly. The athletic tape class action lawsuit alleges that future Class Members paid more for the product than they should have or would have paid for traditional athletic tape. Vuckovic states that he would not have purchased the product had he known the claims to provide pain relief were false.

If approved, the KT Tape class action lawsuit will be open to all Massachusetts residents who purchased a KT Tape product within the last four years.

Alexander Vuckovic is represented by David Pastor of Pastor Law Office LLP.

The KT Tape False Advertising Class Action Lawsuit is Vuckovic v. KT Health Holdings Inc., et al., Case No. 1:15-cv-13696, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

UPDATE: On May 24, 2017, a $1.75 million preliminary settlement agreement was reached in a class action alleging that an athletic tape manufacturer included false claims on its KT Tape packaging and advertising.

UPDATE 2: On Nov. 17, 2017, the KT Tape false advertising class action settlement is now open. Click here to file a claim.

UPDATE 3: On July 27, 2018, Top Class Actions viewers started receiving KT Tape class action settlement checks in the mail worth as much as $48. 51. Congratulations to everyone who filed a claim and got PAID!