On Tuesday, the Department of Justice announced that Fitness International LLC, known as LA Fitness, will be charged with discriminating against people with disabilities in its gyms and health clubs.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleges that LA Fitness violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by denying people with equal access to fitness services and facilities and charging people with disabilities additional fees. It is alleged that the
The Department of Justice alleges that the pool’s elevator is broken and the elevator does not work, preventing access for people with disabilities. People with disabilities sometimes get stuck hanging in the water and have to be helped by staff or crawl out of the water on their own, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit also alleges that people with disabilities were charged additional fees to hire personal assistants to help them use the facilities.
“Access to fitness activities is critical to promoting the health and well-being of all Americans, including individuals with disabilities,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clark of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “For more than 30 years, the ADA has prohibited gyms and health clubs like LA Fitness from denying patrons with disabilities the opportunity to use and enjoy facilities available to patrons without disabilities. Through this lawsuit, the Department of Justice seeks to eliminate discriminatory barriers to LA Fitness and ensure equal access for people with disabilities to fully participate in local LA Fitness gyms and health clubs.”
The Justice Department is asking the court to stop L.A. Fitness from charging extra fees to bring in personal caregivers and allow them to use its facilities and equipment.
The Justice Department is also asking the court to award financial damages to those who were discriminated against or charged additional fees.
If you or someone you know is having difficulty accessing an LA Fitness gym or fitness club due to a disability, such as a malfunctioning pool lift or elevator, or if you have difficulty accessing LA Fitness equipment, If you are charged an additional fee for assistance, please call 1-888-392-5417 or email Claims.LAFitness@usdoj.gov.
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