Vibram USA, the makers of the glove-like FiveFingers running shoes, has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit against them that alleged they made false and unsubstantiated claims about the health benefits their footwear.
Consumers who purchased a pair of the shoes between March 21, 2009 and the date of the first dissemination of summary settlement notice or class notice, will be eligible for a refund of up to $94 per pair.
Class members can submit a claim for up to two pairs of shoes without any kind of receipt or proof of purchase, though the company can request proof of purchase at any time.
The class-action suit was brought against Vibram in March 2012. Valerie Bezdek filed the complaint in Massachusetts and said that Vibram deceived customers by advertising that their shoes could reduce foot injuries and strengthen foot muscles.
The company has denied any wrongdoing alleged in the suit. They settled to put the matter to rest and avoid any additional legal expenses.
Vibram will deposit $3.75 million into an escrow account to distribute to consumers who make claims.
The company will soon establish a website where consumers can make their claims. The company is also required to post banner ads with the settlement information on a number of websites, including runnersworld.com and Facebook.com, in order to deliver approximately 300,000,000 impressions.
