Dec 9, 2007 9:59 pm US/Central
Employees Surprised By Sudden Closing Of 'Fig'
SOUTHLAKE (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
It turns out clients weren't the only ones surprised to learn that the North Texas-based "Fig" body sculpting company has closed its doors.
Employees at the three North Texas locations are joining the ranks of the unemployed during the holiday season.
Lead nurse practitioner Christa Rodriguez said she and other Fig employees got the call on Friday at 4 p.m. that the company had filed for bankruptcy.
"It was so unexpected," said Rodriguez. "It was business as usual."
Business was good and her patients were seeing results, she added. She said she doesn't know why Fig's major financial supporters backed out.
"I had no idea if they had issues with bad press, if they got spooked," said Rodriguez. "[We] just know that they pulled out and with it came the collapse."
CBS 11 News and other media have reported on the controversy surrounding the centers. Clients claimed they didn't get the results they were guaranteed. Others said it was more painful than they were led to believe.
"I have lumps, some of them are real sore, real tender," said one client. "I did have bruising, but the bruising has gone down."
A total of 500 employees nationwide are now out of work.
"We're a dual income household. My paycheck along with my husband's is the bread and butter of our family," said Rodriguez.
Monday was payday for Fig employees. Rodriguez said she needs that last paycheck, but she's not sure she'll get it.
"Having four kids, you've got the bills and everything to go along with it," she said. "We haven't gone out Christmas shopping yet. There's nothing under the Christmas tree."
Fig representatives were not available for comment.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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