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An Illinois man says LA Fitness continued to charge him and other gym-goers membership fees even as they closed their facilities across the nation in the spring of 2020 due to COVID-19.
Lead plaintiff, Elihu Blanks, claims in his class action lawsuit that LA Fitness voluntarily closed its locations and temporarily let go of most of its employees between March 16 and June 26 of this year in response to the spread of COVID-19. Despite the closures, the plaintiff says that he and other members were subject to fees deducted through electronic debits from LA Fitness.
Blanks alleges that he paid a yearly due to LA Fitness on March 10, 2020 for access to facilities in the Chicago area. The plaintiff says he was not reimbursed for the time that LA Fitness closed its facilities, pointing out that the closures were voluntary. Blanks references a number of online complaints written by other consumers who say that they were hit with unexpected membership fees during the closure.
“Instead of doing right by its members and refunding the unearned membership fees it should have never collected in the first place, Defendant has kept millions of dollars to which it is not entitled,” claims the class action lawsuit. “Plaintiff estimates that Defendant is wrongfully refusing to refund at least $100,000,000 in unearned membership fees, and potentially even more.”
According to the complaint, LA Fitness, also known as Fitness International LLC, is the largest gym facility company in the U.S., with more than 700 locations and revenues reaching $2 billion or more. After collecting the fees for months, the fitness company allegedly offered extended memberships or a free three-month membership to a friend or family member instead of reimbursing the fees.
Even more problematic, says the plaintiff, LA Fitness members who accepted either the free membership extension or temporary membership were forced to release the fitness company from any liability.
The class action lawsuit points to a statement LA Fitness made on its website about the fees it charged during the coronavirus closure.
While the company acknowledges that it billed members during the closure, it does not indicate it refunded fees, notes the plaintiff.
Instead, the company explains that it extended membership periods covering those which would have expired and offered the free or complimentary memberships
“Notably absent from Defendant’s ‘steps’ is any actual refund of the money it improperly collected, and as of the filing of this lawsuit, Defendant has yet to refund its members the millions of dollars in unearned membership fees it collected in March 2020,” asserts Blanks.
The complaint alleges breaches of contract, unjust enrichment, negligence, negligent misrepresentation, and violations of state consumer protection laws.
The class action lawsuit seeks to represent a nationwide Class of consumers who paid membership fees to LA Fitness during the month of March and who have not been reimbursed. In addition, the plaintiff describes subclasses of Illinois residents and states with similar consumer protection laws.
The plaintiff is seeking reimbursement of membership fees for himself and proposed Class Members, as well as interest and damages. The class action lawsuit is also asking for a court order prohibiting LA Fitness from assessing membership fees during periods when it voluntarily closes facilities.
Check out Top Class Actions’ legal guide to coronavirus issues!
Were you charged membership fees by LA Fitness or another gym during a coronavirus closure? Did you get a refund? Tell us what happened in the comment section below!
The lead plaintiff, Elihu Blanks, and proposed Class Members are represented by Katrina Carroll or Carlson Lynch, LLP, Ignacio J. Hiraldo of IJH Law, Manuel S. Hiraldo of Hiraldo PA, and Jibrael S. Hindi of The Law Offices of Jibrael S. Hindi.
The LA Fitness Membership Fees Class Action Lawsuit is Blanks v. Fitness International LLC, Case No. 1:20-cv-07421, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
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42 thoughts onLA Fitness Unlawfully Enriched by Membership Fees During COVID-19, Says Class Action Lawsuit
I was still be charged even though the physical locations were closed due to COVID. I paid for my membership monthly, i was able to get the membership via my health insurance/ Well on Target program.
When I called they said well you might have been using online classes – which is BS. I suspended my membership – if I had cancelled and wanted to rejoin the cost would rise significantly.
They continued to charge me even though the physical locations were closed because of covid. i pay for my ,membership through my health insurance via the well on target program.
I was charged fees from LA Fitness when they were closed
Yes same happened to us on a 6 month membership they kept charging us each month even though gym was closed- pls add me.
They kept charging credit card for months – even though they were closed and there door sign lied about when they’d reopen! & they wouldn’t answer the phones due to not being there and we couldn’t cancel nore freeze are account at building/phone numbers! Eventually when they reopened they told my daughter that there hrs were no longer the same – horrible and that she’d have to were a mask while being there ! She Cant breath and run as fast as she can ! Horrible and got charged for literally canceling it as soon as I could that day & the hole month that we didn’t use and months before when not open ! They refused to refund me anything.
I’m talking about 24hr fitness not another gym sorry if I posted this on wrong complaint lawsuit gym . I tried to erase it but I can’t but you can right action lawsuit people right sorry my bad ! Also please erase this message also ? sorry!
Add me
Please add me to this class action against LA FITNESS case 1:20-cv-07421. Thanks !
Please sign me up
They collected a lot of fees and then when I wanted to suspend, said I would have to pay a $10/m inactive fee for both my wife and I. Absolutely ridiculous
Add me. I pre-pay my membership every year. They closed for 4 months where I am, March-June. When I asked for 4 months of membership dues back I was told no and that all they can do is give me a 2 week membership for a friend. I don’t need a 2 weeks membership for a friend. I want 4 months of membership dues back. And when they did reopen the very club’s hours, services, and amenities I signed up for were no longer offered.