LA Fitness is being sued by the federal government for allegedly discriminating against people with disabilities at its gyms and health clubs, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.
LA Fitness, whose parent company is Irvine-based Fitness International LLC, violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to provide people with disabilities equal access to its services and facilities. has been accused of.
Federal authorities also alleged that LA Fitness violated the ADA by charging disabled customers extra fees without removing architectural barriers.
“We saw people not having access to pools, people not having access to hot tubs, people not having access to shower facilities,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “Some couldn’t even get into the entrance.”
According to the Department of Justice, the lawsuit aims to demand that LA Fitness, which operates more than 700 gyms across the United States, stop discriminating against people with disabilities and adjust its facilities and equipment to make them more accessible. It is said that it is something to do.
“Through this lawsuit, the Department of Justice will correct LA Fitness’ discriminatory practices and ensure that patrons with disabilities can fully participate in their local LA Fitness gyms and health clubs,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clark of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. “We aim to ensure equal access.” .
The complaint filed Tuesday details the experiences of four members, listed as Patrons A through D.
User B, a quadriplegic man with cerebral palsy, said he was forced to climb out of the pool using the stairs, causing pain and abrasions.
The Justice Department is also seeking “monetary damages” for those harmed by LA Fitness’ discrimination, including those who were charged extra fees for friends, nurses, and personal assistants to help them use LA Fitness facilities. said.
Officials also urged people who suffered discrimination at fitness facilities in Los Angeles because of broken pool elevators and lifts to file complaints.
One of the members named in the complaint said he had experienced getting stuck or dangling over the water, even though the pool elevator appeared to be working.
Officials asked people to file claims by calling 1-888-392-5417 (toll-free) or emailing Claims.LAFitness@usdoj.gov.
For more information about the ADA, call the Department of Justice’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov.
In response to the complaint, a spokesperson for LA Fitness released the following statement:
“Welcoming all members and guests to our club is of paramount importance to LA Fitness. We take our obligation to comply with the ADA seriously and respond promptly to ADA issues. I intend to resolutely oppose it.”
