Herbalife distributors claim in $1 billion lawsuit that 'success' events were a sham

Some distributors who claim they were duped by Herbalife's promises they'd get rich selling health and personal care products are suing the company for as much as $1bn (about R13.30bn at current exchange rates) in damages.

The distributors contend in a federal lawsuit in Miami, in the US, they were coerced into attending dozens of Herbalife's "Circle of Success" events around the country that cost them thousands of dollars. And they say none of the events lived up to their billing as the secret to wealth.

Los Angeles-based Herbalife has been sued before, and in 2016 settled a Federal Trade Commission action over its business practices for $200m. A company spokeswoman declines comment on this latest lawsuit, although company lawyers are trying to get it dismissed.

On its website, Herbalife says it has about 2.3 million distributors.