When a Prada factory in Italy said one of the high-end fashion bags was fake, Joseph Mayo began wondering about the others, according a federal lawsuit he filed this week.
The Paducah doctor filed suit Wednesday against Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the parent company of Sam's Club, alleging that the store in Paducah, a town of about 26,000 on the western edge of Kentucky, sold him phony Prada handbags.
Mayo's attorney, Mark Bryant, said this week that his client bought three handbags in December 2004 thinking they were real and sent one to his sister-in-law, Pia Sandonato, in Italy.
"The purse started falling apart so she took it to the factory," Bryant said. "Then the company called her back and said 'this is fake.'"
Wal-Mart spokesman John Simley would not comment directly about the lawsuit, but said the nation's largest retailer doesn't sell forgeries.
"We are prepared to show that the products we sell are authentic because it's our company policy to sell only authentic brands," he said.
Prada handbags are made of Italian leather, snake skin or other expensive material. They are known for their durability and can cost anywhere from $800 to $1,800.
Bryant said he doesn't know how much his clients paid for their handbags.
Mayo declined to comment and referred questions to Bryant.
Prada officials in Italy said Wal-Mart - known for its rural roots and downscale image - is not a client. The closest authorized Prada carrier near Paducah is a Saks Fifth Avenue in Hazelwood, Mo., while the closest Prada store is in Miami.
Mayo's wife, Rita, shipped the remaining two bags to Italy last month to see if they were fake too, Bryant said. She hasn't heard back.
It was the second lawsuit within a week alleging that Wal-Mart has sold fake designer handbags.
Italian fashion designer Fendi filed suit against the retailer on June 9 alleging that Sam's Club was selling fake handbags, shoulder bags, purses, wallets and key chains.
