LA Fitness faces federal lawsuit for discriminating against people with disabilities at gyms and health clubs across the country
“Ensuring accessibility is key to protecting the civil rights of all Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “When we support people with disabilities, the whole community benefits.”
In the lawsuit, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division alleges that the Irvine-based company, also known as Fitness International, does not make its facilities accessible to people with disabilities and charges fees. Alleged to have violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. Additional charges.
The Americans with Disabilities Act, signed by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990, created the world’s first comprehensive civil rights law for people with disabilities, according to the National Archives. It became law. It was amended in 2008 to change the definition of disability in the law.
“Welcoming all members and guests to our clubs is of the utmost importance to LA Fitness,” a company spokesperson said.
Federal prosecutors alleged that the health club failed to maintain the pool and spa elevators in working conditions, harming several people with disabilities. In the complaint, a person referred to as “Patron A” claimed that employees sometimes had to help her out of the pool because another LA Fitness pool lift broke down and became inoperable.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clark said, “For more than 30 years, the ADA has protected gyms and health clubs like LA Fitness from allowing patrons with disabilities to use and enjoy the facilities enjoyed by patrons without disabilities.” We have been prohibited from refusing opportunities.”
In another case outlined in the lawsuit, a man with cerebral palsy was forced to crawl out of two pools because the elevators didn’t work. Federal prosecutors said “User B” often had to rely on others to help him get back into his wheelchair after being pulled out of the pool.
The elevator remained broken, even though the man’s father notified the location and company staff about the broken machine before the location was eventually closed. Patron B went to another fitness facility in LA where the pool elevator was also broken.
A spokesperson for LA Fitness said, “We take our obligation to comply with the ADA seriously and respond quickly to ADA issues.”
In each of these cases, prosecutors argued that the users relied on the pools for exercise because of their disabilities. The lawsuit outlines several more complaints involving similar circumstances.
The Department of Justice urged anyone with similar experiences to contact investigators at 1-888-392-5417 or by email at Claims.LAFitness@usdoj.gov.
“Through this lawsuit, the Department aims to correct LA Fitness’ discriminatory practices and ensure that patrons with disabilities have equal access to fully participate in their local LA Fitness gyms and health clubs,” Clark said in a statement. “There is,” he said.
The lawsuit also seeks monetary damages for those harmed by the alleged discrimination. LA Fitness is the nation’s largest chain of owner-operated gyms and health clubs with about 700 locations, according to the Department of Justice.
“We intend to vigorously defend this action,” a company spokesperson said.
Matthew Rodriguez
