37 Plaintiffs File Mass Tort Lawsuit Against Skechers Inc. for Shape-ups Injuries
On Monday, San Diego based product liability firm, Estey Bomberger, LLP filed a mass tort lawsuit against Skechers USA, Inc. on behalf of 37 plaintiffs who had been seriously injured as a result of wearing the heavily marketed Skechers Shape-ups. The shoe manufacturer advertised the Shape-ups as a "toning shoe," the unstable, two inch, rocker bottom sole designed to cause "micro instability," which manufacturers claimed would increase the physical fitness of the wearer by simply walking. However, for many consumers the shoes' "micro instability" was in fact, too unstable, causing a variety of different injuries and pain to the wearer's ankles, knees, hips, and back.
Types of Skechers Injuries
The rocker bottom soles featured in Skechers Shape-ups and similar toning shoes force the wearer to roll their feet from toe to ankle on an unstable, elevated sole. Continued use of the shoes have caused fall accidents, strained the wearer's muscles and placed unusually intense pressure on hip and ankle bones. Some of the injuries that have been reported on Safer Products.gov (a reporting system under the Consumer Product Safety Commission) include:
Consumer Reports discouraged anyone with a bone condition or balance problems from using the toning shoes, and likened the experience of walking in a pair of Shape-ups to "walking on a flimsy suspension bridge." The American Council of Exercise conducted independent studies on toning shoes, and raised concerns that the "extended use of these toning shoes may alter the walking gait mechanics of wearers."
Skechers Shape-ups Defectively Designed
In their book Therapeutic Footwear, foot experts Wendy Tyrell and Gwenda Carter suggested rocker bottom shoes be carefully prescribed for certain foot conditions. But Skechers mass-produced what was previously a prescription-only shoe and mass distributed the dangerous shoes. Despite the statement from Skechers that millions of people use Shape-ups without experiencing any serious injuries, dozens of injuries are being reported. Skechers Shape-ups can cause serious injuries not only to the elderly, but young and physically fit people as well. Nearly 140 reports of Skechers Shape-ups related injuries have been reported on Safer Products.gov by people of all ages.
Consult a San Diego Skechers Shape-ups Injury Lawyer Today
If you have been harmed as a result of walking or standing in a pair of Skechers Shape-ups, please consult a professional Skechers Shape-ups injury lawyer before the statute of limitations governing your potential case expires. A professional San Diego product liability lawyer can help you determine your eligibility to recover damages for:
