Illinois Lawsuit Alleges Skechers Kids’ Light-Up Sneakers Cause Burns

Chicago, IL (Law Firm Newswire) May 23, 2019 – An Illinois woman filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against Skechers USA Inc. alleging that its popular children’s light-up sneakers were dangerous, defective and prone to exploding.

Rikki Guajardo claimed her 6-year-old son suffered burns, swelling, blistering and pain while wearing Skechers light-up shoes she purchased in 2018. She alleged that the injuries occurred because the sneakers contained “a number of design or manufacturing flaws” including a “dangerous and defective” battery-powered electrical system.

The lawsuit accused the footwear brand of negligence and breach of contract. It alleged that Skechers had been aware of the defects associated with the shoes, citing two similar complaints from parents in July and November 2018. However, the company “actively concealed and failed to disclose” the alleged flaws instead of addressing them or taking steps to protect children from potential harm.

“Products that are designed or manufactured incorrectly can cause serious injuries to their users,” commented Paul Greenberg, a personal injury attorney with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, who is not involved with the case. “Consumers have a reasonable expectation that what they are buying is safe. If you or your loved one has been hurt by a defective product, you have the right to recover damages and hold the responsible company accountable for their negligence.”

The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois on behalf of all similarly affected consumers whose children were injured by the shoes. The lawsuit argued that numerous other children have also suffered chemical burns from several types of Skechers footwear with the light-up feature including Energy Lights, S-Lights, Twinkle Toes and Shopkins.

Guajardo said she contacted Skechers to inform them about her child’s injuries. However, the company allegedly did not take any action besides telling her to return the sneakers to the store where they were purchased.

Guajardo noted the lack of a label on the shoes warning about the potentially defective battery or the risk of harm to children. According to the complaint, the battery can short circuit if the shoes come into contact with moisture during the course of normal use. Skechers released a statement maintaining that it conducted rigorous safety tests on all of its footwear per industry standards.

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