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You’ve seen the commercials for Skechers “Shape-ups” shoes, where people such as former NFL quarterback Joe Montana claim wearing the rocker-bottom shoes gets them in shape “without setting foot in a gym.” But are these shoes really all they’re cracked up to be? Not according to a federal class action lawsuit, which claims that not only does Skechers falsely advertise the health benefits of its Shape-Ups shoes, but that the shoes can actually cause injury.
Skechers claims in its advertisements that wearing Shape-Ups can result in noticeable physiological improvements, including weight loss, firmer and stronger muscles, reduced cellulite, improved circulation, and improved posture. These claims, Skechers says, are based on results shown in four clinical studies. According to the class action lawsuit, however, these claims are false.
“Shape-ups provide no health benefit to users beyond what any other ordinary sneaker provides. Worse, Shape-ups have actually injured some consumers,” the lawsuit says. “[Skechers’] false and misleading advertising campaign has allowed it to reap millions of dollars of profit at the expense of the consumers it has mislead.”
The lawsuit alleges the four clinical studies Skechers uses as evidence of Shape-ups’ health benefits are “medically, statistically and scientifically unsound,” and that they are “nothing more than marketing tools.” Studies on Shape-ups and similarly designed rocker-bottom shoes performed by objective third parties have found these types of shoes do not have the benefits that Skechers claims.
“Not only do Shape-ups not provide the benefits as claimed, they have significant drawbacks which Skechers has omitted from its advertising.” The class action lawsuit cites several doctors’ comments published in news reports that state rocker-bottom shoes such as Shape-ups can cause injuries, because they change the person’s walk or gait and are unstable for users who have flat feet or those who have pre-existing difficulties maintaining their balance. They also allegedly can cause injuries in areas that are responsible for maintaining balance, such as the hamstring or ankle.
If certified, the class action lawsuit will seek damages and refunds for consumers who purchased Shape-ups. A copy of the Skechers Shape-ups Class Action Lawsuit can be read here.
NEW DETAILS ON HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR CLAIM IN THE SKECHERS FTC AND CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SETTLEMENTS IS AT http://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/1881-skechers-toning-shoe-class-action-lawsuit-settlement
Updated May 17th, 2012
All class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Lawsuit News section of Top Class Actions
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386 thoughts onSkechers Shape-Ups Class Action
judge granted final approval today
claims are closed as of 4/18/13. And from the website “Claims will not be paid until the settlement is given final approval by the Court. Final approval won’t happen until end of March, 2013 at the earliest. Then it will take a number of months to review claims and get checks into the mail. Payment may be further delayed by appeals. It will likely be late summer before checks are issued. Please check back for updates.” http://www.skecherssettlement.com/
Janis, it takes time after the filing deadline passes…. and there is the waiting period after settlement to ensure no appeals… go to http://www.skecherssettlement.com/ and contact them there: Class action is just a newsletter, not the attorneys not claims administrator in the matter.
I sent in all the correct information and receive an acknowledgement for the lawsuit settlement. You made a promise that this matter would be taken care of by April of 2013.
I have had NO response from Skecher in a year.
What are you doing about this.
Janis E Sing
Tempe, AZ.
New Address: 1535 N. Scottsdale Road, Apt 1113
Tempe, AZ 85281
Old Address: 3999 S. Dobson Road, Apt 1160
Chandler, AZ 85248
I wore these shoes for three hours walking for a week and I lost my balance a few times, end up with pain from my hips down to my feet. I stop wearing them and I am hoping to get a refund.
zzevx
I guess I am a lil late to this party! Anyways I started wearing my shape ups for my ex-stern-ship from medical assisting well knowing I would be on my feet al day friends said they were great well they LIED I have MS not frrom the shoes however they help me NONE but fall and be very sore (more then usual) balance is a joke in them were do I sign for the recall or law suite!!
This class action is taking forever to settle…please do what you got to do to expedite this issue.
The time to file has not closed yet, plus the time period to file an appeal after judgment has been rendered has to pass as well ( usually 60 days) before any disbursement of claim funds can be made. Plus I am sure there wil be a verification phase as well.
with all the good things that were being said about these shoes i decided to buy a pair hoping that they would help my lower back and my knees. well that didnt happen my lower back and my knees now are way far gone. i am in constant pain all the time now. like right now my back and my knees hurt so bad that i am almost in tears. i also wonder if the person who invented these shoes also wear them and how do they feel, hopefully the same way everyone else feels.these shoes are no good and they dont help at all.they do more damage.
I have 2 pair of sketchers shape ups and a pair of boots. I too stopped wearing the shoes because of hip problems still have pain in his but, not as often. They did not help me lose weight either. I agree on the false advertisement.