Florsheim Sued Over Magnet Insoles
Florsheim Group Inc. has been accused in a consumer lawsuit of falsely claiming that its magnetic-insole shoes provide wearers relief from pain.
The suit, filed this week in Orange County Superior Court against one of the biggest U.S. makers of men’s dress shoes, seeks a court order to stop Florsheim from selling its MagneForce shoes and to offer refunds to customers.
Florsheim executives were at a trade show in Las Vegas and not immediately available for comment.
In its advertising, Florsheim claims the shoes provide “natural pain relief,” improve energy, increase circulation and reduce foot, leg and back fatigue.
“There is competent and reliable scientific evidence that magnets in shoes do not provide any pain relief or additional energy, or any other benefit,” the suit alleges. The action was filed by the nonprofit Consumer Justice Center on behalf of a man who purchased a pair of $122 MagneForce shoes last month.
The suit cites a 1997 article in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Assn. that held that magnetic insoles offer “no advantage over the plain insole.”
Florsheim shares gained 3 cents to close at $1 on Nasdaq. Apollo Advisors, a New York investment company headed by Leon Black, and its affiliates own two-thirds of Florsheim’s stock, or 5.6 million shares.
Florsheim’s shoe magnets are provided by Magnetherapy Inc. of West Palm Beach, Fla.
In 1997, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning letter to Magnetherapy, saying it was making improper medical claims for its Tectonic brand magnets and said the products could be seized if the company continued selling them.
Chicago-based Florsheim sells footwear through 271 company-operated or licensed stores, and its products are distributed worldwide by 6,000 department and specialty stores, including Sears, Nordstrom and JCPenney.
