The Federal Trade Commission announced last week that Skechers had agreed to pay a $40,000,000.00 fine for making representations in their advertising that simply were not true.  For many people seeking a healthier lifestyle or trying to lose weight, the advertisements seemed almost too good to be true - wear Skechers Shape-ups footwear and watch the pounds melt away.  According to a CCN story, at a news conference last Wednesday, the FTC said the shoemaker's claims weren't true and alleged Skechers violated federal law by misleading consumers, consisting of "unfounded claims that Shape-ups would help people lose weight, and strengthen and tone their buttocks, legs and abdominal muscles."

See the CNN news story HERE.

Skechers Shape-ups have been touted as being able to:

1. Promote weight loss,
2. Tone muscles,
3. Improve posture,
4. Reduce stress on knees and ankles,
5. Strengthen and firm the back muscles,
6. Tighten abdominal muscles,
7. Improve blood circulation,
8. Firm leg muscles,
9. Tone and firm thigh muscles,
10. Relieve muscle tension and fatigue, and
11. Allow the wearer to get in shape without setting foot in a gym.

Moved by such claims, consumers purchased the Shape-ups with very high expectations, and they sometimes did not only fail to see the results promised, but they were injured as well.  The Shape-ups shoes are actually designed to be unstable, and this makes them potentially dangerous, especially for those with knee or ankle instability issues.  Older consumers , who are prone to falls in general, can be exposed to an even greater risk of falls and serious injuries because of the shoe instability.  In spite of this, Skechers marketed their well-hyped shoes to everyone, including those at a heightened risk for falls.  Those injured because of being misled and never warned, have the right to bring a products liability action to recover compensation for their injuries and damages.

Compensation for the victims of dangerously defective products, including toning shoes like Skechers Shape-ups, should be an important concern for all Californians.  When an unsafe product, such as a pair of toning shoes, causes severe injuries or death, the manufacturer should be held accountable for the injuries and damages they leave behind.  An Orange County products liability attorney with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims.  Mr. Ralph has 20 years of experience handling personal injury and product liability cases, including just this type.  His office filed the first Orange County lawsuit against Skechers, and he can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Have you or a family member been injured by Skechers Shape-ups or some other toning shoes?

• This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter.  A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.

Just last week, ABC news reported that Consumer Reports released important information about the claims of health benefits by toning shoe manufacturers.  The television commercials for a variety of toning shoes make it look so easy to get in shape.  However, as more of these shoes are purchased, Consumer Reports medical adviser Dr. Orly Avitzur is hearing more frequently about injuries.  According to the doctor and as reported by ABC news, ”An independent study by the American Council on Exercise found no significant difference between exercising in toning sneakers as compared to regular sneakers.”  Beyond what appears to be inflated claims of health benefits, Consumer Reports Health says if you have any balance or medical problems in your legs and feet, avoid toning shoes.

See the ABC news story HERE and the Consumer Reports article HERE.

According to toning shoe manufacturers, in particular Skechers, these shoes are intended to strengthen muscles, promote weight loss and improve posture.  What the shoe manufacturers and retailers don’t tell consumers is that these shoes are designed to be unstable.  People with weak hips, knees and ankles (especially the elderly) are not warned of the potential for falls or other injuries.  To the contrary, toning shoe manufacturers make no distinction between healthy, active members of the general public and those who are at a heightened risk of injury when wearing toning shoes.  Even after a wealth of information regarding the risks of toning shoes has become available to the manufacturers, companies like Skechers have refused to place warnings on their Shape-ip toning shoes.  The Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph is currently litigating an Orange County lawsuit against Skechers for just this reason.

Compensation for the victims of dangerously defective products, including toning shoes like Skechers Shape-ups, should be an important concern for all Californians.  When an unsafe product, such as a pair of toning shoes, causes severe injuries or death, the manufacturer should be held accountable for the injuries and damages they leave behind.  An Orange County personal injury attorney with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims.  Mr. Ralph has 20 years of experience handling personal injury and product liability cases, including just this type.  He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Have you or a family member been injured by toning shoes?

• This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter.  A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.

Toning shoe manufacturers are currently under fire because of safety concerns.  For example, claims and lawsuits have been filed around the country alleging the Skechers Shape-ups are dangerous and are not the product claimed.  Shape-Ups are marketed to consumers as being able to promote weight loss, tone muscles and improve posture, but a hefty number of consumers are claiming they were actually injured (some very badly) by these shoes. 

In spite of the firestorm of criticism, Skechers began marketing their Shape-Ups to girls as young as 7 years old.   A Skechers television advertising campaign targets pre-teen girls (not boys) in an apparent effort to convince these children they need to get in shape by wearing the Skechers shoes.  But some experts have come forward to criticize this marketing strategy as going way too far.  Earlier this week, the Today Show ran a segment on the controversy. 

See the NBC Today coverage HERE.

As mentioned in an earlier post, the marketing strategy of Skechers and the safety of their Shape-up shoes are the subject of a lawsuit filed last month in Orange County by the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph.  That case, apparently the first of its kind in Orange County, is essentially one for products liability and unfair business practices.  That case arises from a fall that occurred when a consumer was wearing Skechers Shape-ups while descending a flight of stairs.  The fall resulted in a very serious ankle fracture for which surgical repair was required.

Compensation for the victims of dangerously defective products, including toning shoes, should be an important concern for all Californians.  When a product is touted as promoting good health, when it is in fact dangerous, the manufacturer and seller should be held accountable for the injuries and damages they cause.  An Orange County injury lawyer with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims.  Mr. Ralph has 20 years of experience handling personal injury and product liability cases, including just this type.  He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Have you or a family member been injured by toning shoes?

• This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter.  A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.

Like most of us, you have probably seen a number of ads for Skechers' Shape-ups.  The company touts these toning shoes as being able to improve the wearer's health in a wide range of ways.  From improving posture to reducing fat, the Skechers' Shape-ups are advertised as seemingly one of the best investments a consumer could make in their health.

However, studies which suggest the shoes provide little to no benefit are pouring in.  Critics, including licensed health care professionals, have linked the shoes to an increased risk of injury and falls. One such study by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) was released in July of last year.  According to ACE, all three toning shoes tested (including Skechers' Shape-ups) showed no statistically significant increases in either exercise response or muscle activation during treadmill trials, when compared to the normal athletic shoes tested.  The researchers found there was simply no evidence to indicate that the toning shoes offer any enhanced fitness benefits over traditional sneakers, despite studies cited by manufacturers seemingly “proving” the toning shoes’ effectiveness.  See the study summary at the ACE website.

As indicated in an earlier post, the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph has filed what appears to be Orange County's  first product liability lawsuit against Skechers, as a result of injuries sustained by a Shape-ups wearer.  Since that time, Mr. Ralph has received consumer reports from as far away as Chicago that they have experienced injuries/pain as a result of wearing Shape-ups.  The product liability action here in Orange County will be moving forward in discovery shortly and informative blog posts should follow.

Compensation for the victims of dangerously defective products, including toning shoes, should be an important concern for all Californians.  When a product, such as toning shoes, causes severe injuries or chronic medical conditions, the manufacturer should be held accountable for the injuries and damages they cause.  An Orange County injury lawyer with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims.  Mr. Ralph has 20 years of experience handling personal injury and product liability cases, including just this type.  He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Have you or a family member been injured by toning shoes?

• This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter.  A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.

SKECHERS Shape-ups, like other toning shoes, have recently come under fire because of safety concerns.  These unstable shoes have reportedly been linked to a number of serious fall accidents, resulting in very severe injuries.  In spite of the inherently unstable design, these shoes are sold by SKECHERS USA, Inc., without any meaningful warning.

Beyond the lack of warning, consumers are enticed to buy these fairly expensive shoes by some rather bold advertising claims.  The ad campaign by SKECHERS includes claims that their Shape-up shoes can:

(1)  Promote weight loss, (2)  Tone muscles, (3)  Improve posture, (4)  Reduce stress on knees and ankles, (5)  Strengthen and firm the back muscles, (6)  Tighten abdominal muscles, (7)  Improve blood circulation, (8)  Firm leg muscles, (9)  Tone and firm thigh muscles, (10)  Relieve muscle tension and fatigue, and (11)   Allow the wearer to get in shape without setting foot in a gym.

Just this week, the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph filed perhaps the first products liability lawsuit in Orange County against SKECHERS because of an accident believed to have been caused by the Shape-up shoes.  In addition to claims for product liability, it is alleged in that case that SKECHERS has engaged in unfair business practices in making essentially unsubstantiated claims regarding the benefits of these shoes and in marketing the Shape-ups to the elderly, without adequate warnings.

Compensation for the victims of dangerously defective products, including toning shoes, should be an important concern for all Californians.  When a product, such as toning shoes, causes severe injuries or death, the manufacturer should be held accountable for the injuries and damages they leave behind.  An Orange County injury lawyer with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims.  Mr. Ralph has 20 years of experience handling personal injury and product liability cases, including just this type.  He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Have you or a family member been injured by toning shoes?

• This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter.  A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.