A federal judge in Oregon dismissed a class-action lawsuit against On Holding that alleged that the brand’s signature CloudTec cushioning technology produced an “embarrassing and loud squeaking sound” during standard use.
In the class action lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in Oregon, plaintiffs argued that the Swiss-based company’s shoes produce a “noisy and embarrassing squeak” not covered by the company’s warranty.
On CloudTec’s technology platform features hexagonal or, in some cases, octagonal or oval holes in the sole. The lawsuit’s plaintiffs allege that the sneakers are so noisy that they are unwearable without “significant DIY modifications.”
“No reasonable customer would purchase shoes as highly priced as Defendant’s—or paid as much for them as they did—if they needed to make DIY alterations to make the products wearable, or cease wearing them completely due to the squeaky noise defect,” the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit included statements by plaintiffs saying they could no longer use the shoes out of “embarrassment and annoyance.” Court documents also pointed to several Reddit threads calling out the issue.
On’s lawyers argued, according to Portland Business Journal, that rubber-soled shoe squeaking is a commonplace occurrence across the footwear industry, noting that competitors like Nike offer troubleshooting tips for noisy shoes.
Portland Business Journal noted that the U.S. District Court in Oregon dismissed the case without prejudice, meaning the plaintiffs from New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts could potentially refile in their home states.
Image courtesy On Holdings
