Vibram Racks up 155,000 Lawsuit Claims

National

According to court documents reviewed by Runner’s World Newswire, 154,927 claims were received in the class-action lawsuit against Vibram USA, representing 279,570 pairs of FiveFingers.

The lawsuit, filed two years ago and recently settled, alleged Vibram used unsubstantiated claims about the health benefits of running in its FiveFingers shoes to increase sales.

As reported, Vibram settled the suit for $3.75 million in May. The suit applied to anyone who purchased FiveFingers in the U.S. from March 21, 2009, to May 27, 2014.

Of the multi-million settlement fund, class members will split $2,262,726, according to the Newswire report. Assuming valid claims for 268,570 pairs of shoes, each claimants will be reimbursed $8.44 per pair. About 4-5 percent of claims are expected to be rejected.

Initially, the proposed settlement filed with the court noted that, based on similar settlements, it was reasonable for class members to expect to receive $20-50 per pair.

According to court documents, Vibram denied any wrongdoing in the case but settled “to avoid substantial expense, burdens, and uncertainties associated with the continued litigation of these claims and cases.”

To read more about the lawsuit, go to: http://www.runnersworld.com/minimalist-shoes/more-than-150000-claims-filed-in-vibram-class-action-suit

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