The British-based Vegetarians International Voice for Animals (VIVA) filed a civil suit against the German-owned Adidas in the Californian Supreme Court claiming the sportswear manufacturer ignored a state ban on the sale of products made from kangaroos or other endangered animals.
"We look at this as an international corporation based in Germany violating California law while helping wipe out kangaroos in Australia," Lauren Ornelas of VIVA's office in Davis, California, told AFP.
California Attorney General Bill Lockyer urged the state supreme court to review the case after it was tossed out by a lower court. It was previously rejected on the grounds it conflicted with US government cooperation with Australian kangaroo conservation efforts.
"The number of kangaroos is dropping, and the animals are being killed with extreme cruelty," Ms Ornelas said.
"Kangaroos are wildlife, not shoes," she said. "Adidas needs to get in step with the times and use synthetic materials for all their shoes."
A hearing date has not yet been scheduled.