Weight Watchers Granted Temporary Restraining Order Against Jenny Craig
Weight Watchers said Jenny Craig, a unit of Switzerland's Nestle AG, did not in fact conduct a major clinical trial comparing the companies' products and alleged that studies Jenny Craig cited were conducted 10 years apart and not useful in such a comparison.
21 Jan 2010 --- The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York granted Weight Watchers International, Inc. a temporary restraining order in its lawsuit against Jenny Craig, Inc. The order prohibits Jenny Craig from broadcasting, publishing or disseminating claims of superiority over the Weight Watchers program, finding that such claims are not supportable.
On Tuesday, the company filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court saying Jenny Craig falsely claimed in a television commercial that "a major clinical trial" shows its clients on average lost more than twice as much weight as "those on the largest weight loss program," a reference to Weight Watchers.
Weight Watchers said Jenny Craig, a unit of Switzerland's Nestle AG, did not in fact conduct a major clinical trial comparing the companies' products and alleged that studies Jenny Craig cited were conducted 10 years apart and not useful in such a comparison.
"We are extremely pleased with this outcome," said David Kirchhoff, Weight Watchers President and Chief Executive Officer. "The swiftness and strength of the ruling supports our assertion that Jenny Craig is making false and unsupported advertising claims."
