Last month, New Balance Inc. agreed to pay up to $3.75 million to settle a class action lawsuit claiming that the company falsely advertised their toning shoes. Plaintiffs claimed that New Balance, in connection with the marketing and sale of Toning Shoes, misrepresented the benefits of wearing Toning Shoes to consumers. Plaintiffs further claimed that Toning Shoes did not provide the benefits to consumers claimed by New Balance. In settling this case New Balance denies any and all claims of wrongdoing and does not admit any fault, wrongdoing or liability.
The civil lawsuit was filed on January 3, 2011, in federal court in Massachusetts. The lawsuit was brought by the California law firm of Ahdoot & Wolfson, PC, with our firm as local counsel. After a hearing on August 22, 2012, Judge Leo Sorokin approved the settlement. New Balance agreed to set up a $2.3 million settlement fund to pay the class members. New Balance will also pay $500,000 for the cost of notifying class members and administering the settlement, as well as up to $950,000 for the attorneys’ fees and costs.
Class members are people who purchased toning shoes from January 1, 2010, through August 29, 2012. Each class member could receive up to $100 for each pair of shoes purchased. Class members must fill out a claim form in order to participate in the settlement.
For more information, or to fill out a claim form, visit http://www.newbalancesettlement.com/.