Sportswear and equipment manufacturer Nike is facing legal actions after a Los Angeles woman sustained significant injuries while participating in a Nike "dream run" adventure in Iceland back in November 2013.
Kate Freeman, a professional long distance runner and a running coach, filed a lawsuit last Friday at Multnomah County circuit court against the Beaverton, Oregon-based company. Freeman is asking for $1.3 million.
Freeman claimed in her lawsuit that the trail was hazardous and that the sponsoring company did not provide participants with adequate equipment to ensure their safety and well-being, The Guardian reports.
"During the second leg, participants encountered snow and ice on mountain trails in dark conditions. Participants did not have necessary running and safety equipment. The guides became disoriented and lost ... during the run," Freeman said in her lawsuit.
The Iceland Dream Run was organized by Nike to promote its latest apparel and footwear technology such as Nike Aeroloft Vest, Dri-FIT Wool and Nike Shield Flash Pack. According to the sportwear giant, these products were designed to protect runners from cold weather and harsh elements.
Freeman detailed that running through the snowy and slippery mountain trails wearing only Nike products resulted in her losing her footing, which then led to the dislocation of her ankle and fracture of her leg. The injuries she sustained required multiple injuries, which Freeman said resulted in the "loss of life enjoyment."
Runners who participated in the event ran 21 miles (34 km), which included "glacier lagoons, black sand beaches and volcanic wonders of the country," according to a 2003 Nike press release. The sportswear company has not yet commented on the issue.
This isn't the first time that Nike products were blamed for causing injuries to professional athletes, directly or in part. An article by Elite Daily enumerates players in the MLB, NFL, and NBA who have sustained serious injuries while wearing Nike footwear.
Even Nike rival Adidas also received flak for what the public perceived as poorly designed footwear that puts its wearers at risk. According to Sole Collector, an episode of ESPN's hour-long debate program "His & Hers" showed sports anchor Sarah Spain relating Derrick Rose's hamstring strain to his Adidas-sponsored sneakers.
