If you purchased New Balance Toning Shoes, your rights may be affected by a proposed class action settlement.

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LOS ANGELES, Aug. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement is being issued by Ahdoot & Wolfson, P.C. regarding the New Balance Toning Shoes Settlement.

A proposed class action settlement has been reached involving New Balance Toning Shoes.

ARE YOU AFFECTED?

You may be a Class Member if you purchased the Toning Shoes listed below from New Balance and/or its authorized retailers from January 1, 2010 until August 29, 2012.

Toning Shoes:

Rock&Tone, TrueBalance, Aravon Ria, Aravon Riley and Aravon Quinn

WHAT IS THIS CASE ABOUT?

The lawsuit claims that New Balance violated certain state laws regarding the marketing and sale of its Toning Shoes.  New Balance denies it did anything wrong.  The Court did not decide which side was right.  Instead, the parties have decided to settle. 

WHAT DOES THIS SETTLEMENT PROVIDE?

A settlement fund of $2.3 million has been set up to pay (i) claims to eligible Class Members, (ii) a portion of the costs of Settlement Notice and administration, and (iii) incentive payments to the named plaintiffs.  New Balance is also agreeing to refrain from certain practices and separately pay attorneys' fees and costs, and the other portion of the costs for Settlement notice and administration.  Full details about the Settlement are on the website below.

HOW DO YOU ASK FOR A PAYMENT?

To get money, eligible Class Members must submit a Claim Form online no later than February 25, 2013 or by mail postmarked no later than February 25, 2013.  Payments could be up to $100 for each pair of Toning Shoes purchased, but will vary depending upon the number of claims submitted by all Class Members and the amount of the fees, costs, and payments specified in the Settlement Agreement.

WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS?

If you are a Class Member, you may (1) do nothing; (2) exclude yourself; (3) send in a Claim Form; and/or (4) object to the Settlement.

If you don't want to be bound by the Settlement, you must exclude yourself by letter postmarked by November 26, 2012.  If you exclude yourself, you can't get a payment, but you can sue New Balance for these claims.  If you stay in the Class, you may submit a Claim Form and/or object to the Settlement.  Claim Forms must be submitted by February 25, 2013.  Objections must be filed with the Court by November 26, 2012.

Please See The Detailed Notice at www.NewBalanceSettlement.com or call 866-893-0232 for complete instructions on how to file a claim, object, or exclude yourself and other important information.

The Court will hold a hearing in this case on January 28, 2013 at 3:00 pm in the Federal Courthouse, Courtroom 24, located at 1 Courthouse Way, Boston, MA 02210, to consider final approval of the Settlement, payment of attorneys' fees and expenses of up to $950,000 to lawyers for the Class (Ahdoot & Wolfson, P.C. of Los Angeles, California), and payments of up to $5,000 for each of the three named plaintiffs, and related issues.  The motion(s) by Class Counsel for those fees, costs and incentive awards will be available on the Settlement website after they are filed, and no later than 14 days before the objection deadline.  The Court has appointed Robert Ahdoot and Tina Wolfson of Ahdoot & Wolfson, P.C. to represent the Class.  You may appear at the hearing, but you don't have to.

HOW CAN YOU GET MORE INFORMATION?

Visit www.NewBalanceSettlement.com or call, 866-893-0232, or write to New Balance Settlement, c/o GCG, P.O. Box 9903, Dublin, OH 43017-5803. You may also visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NewBalanceSettlement.

SOURCE GCG, Inc.