Woman, 85, settles suit with London Weight Management over $400,000 slimming package

London Weight Management's Ngee Ann City branch. PHOTO: BEAUPASS.COM

SINGAPORE - An 85-year-old woman has settled her lawsuit against a slimming centre in which she sought a full refund and damages over a $400,000 weight-loss package.

In a joint statement to The Straits Times on Wednesday (Sept 21), Madam Gan Siew Hong and London Weight Management said: "We... have amicably resolved all claims and any claims and/or demands between the parties."

Both parties "further unconditionally withdraw all allegations against each other" in the suit, said the statement, sent by Madam Gan's lawyers from Lim & Bangras.

Madam Gan, who was diabetic and had other health conditions, was 82 years old in July 2013 when she, her husband and her son visited the Ngee Ann City branch of the slimming centre after seeing its TV commercial touting a weight-loss trial session for $18.

The family, who live in an HDB flat, eventually paid about $400,000 for weight-loss treatments and products.

In a lawsuit filed in the High Court on Aug 3 this year seeking compensation of close to $450,000, Madam Gan alleged that the treatments not only failed to improve her health, but they also caused her to suffer from diarrhoea, a skin rash and pus discharge.

She claimed that the centre repeatedly pressured her, her son and her husband into signing up for the package.

In its defence, filed on Aug 31, London denied applying pressure on the family. It said it is willing to refund Madam Gan the unused portion of the package amounting to $43,408.15 out of goodwill.

The centre said Madam Gan's family declared only that she had diabetes and that it is not liable for injuries resulting from non-disclosure of medical history.

The centre also said it had advised her to seek medical advice on the suitability of its treatment and products and told her that successful weight loss depended on a balanced diet and regular exercise.

The lawsuit was reported by The Straits Times on Sept 7.

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