The Biggest Lawsuit: Jillian Michaels Sued Over Diet Pills

Of course you can lose all the weight you want by taking a pill. That's why the contestants on NBC's successful show, The Biggest Loser, sweat, cry, crawl, run, bleed...you get the picture. So why is mega-trainer Jillian Michaels of Loser fame touting a diet pill? It should come as no surprise to anyone who has tried to lose a few pounds that Ms. Michaels and the companies behind the miracle pill "Jillian Michaels Maximum Strength Calorie Control" are being sued in a California court for false advertising, unfair and deceptive business practices  ... you get the picture.

According to a report in the San Jose Mercury News, in a suit filed in Los Angeles on Tuesday, plaintiff Christie Christensen is seeking class action status for her suit against Michaels, Thin Care International and Basic Research, LLC. Simply put in her Complaint, Christensen who "has struggled with weight loss her entire life," (Complaint p.4) purchased the product and took it "as directed." She failed to lose weight. On behalf of herself and a class of plaintiffs who also purchased this product, Christensen is seeking to stop the sale of the product as well as monetary damages, including attorney's fees.

The product and website advertising do include the claim, "Two Capsules Before Main Meals and You Lose Weight... That's It!" The Complaint responds, "Ms. Michaels knows better --taking two pills before eating does not miraculously cause weight loss." However, it seems that the plaintiff did not know better, so she claims she relied on Michaels' representation that the pills would help her lose weight. 

The Jillian Michaels website does indeed make the claim that the pill will "make you lose weight." However, it also says, "Use in conjunction with any sensible diet and exercise program." Although the plaintiff claims that she went to the website, reviewed the claims and took the pill as directed, the pill did not work. The defendants will most likely question whether she did actually use the pill as directed -- with the sensible diet and exercise program. If she had, would she have lost weight?

In any case, if a pill like this actually worked, Jillian would be out of a job.

Related Resources:

• Jillian Michaels sued over diet supplement (San Jose Mercury News)
• Complaint, Christensen v. Michaels (TMZ)
• What is false advertising? (FindLaw)