Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest Class Action Settlement News!
Bally Total Fitness Lifetime Membership Class Action Lawsuit
By Matt O’Donnell
Bally Total Fitness has been hit with a federal class action lawsuit accusing it of depriving lifetime members of gym privileges by selling their memberships to LA Fitness, and in one case, telling a member he had to drive 5 hours to use his membership.The Bally Total Fitness class action lawsuit is accusing the company of Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices for selling many of its life-time memberships and many of its clubs to LA Fitness, who is also a defendant in the case.
The problem, the class action lawsuit argues, it that there are geographic areas in the U.S. that do not have LA Fitness clubs, and Bally clubs that are in full operation no will no longer honor the membership contract.
“For other potential plaintiffs throughout the U.S., there are no LA Fitness facilities nearby at which they can workout. For others, Bally did not assign their contract to LA Fitness, but did sell all of the Ballys in their geographic area to LA Fitness,” the class action lawsuit states.
The lead Plaintiff in the case, who lives in the Chicago area, was told by Bally that he can workout, but that he must do so in a St. Louis, Missouri, Bally club.
In other cases, the class action lawsuit continues, there is a LA Fitness facility nearby, but LA Fitness will not allow access to the club by former Bally members unless they buy a new membership.
The class action lawsuit is brought on behalf of all persons who own or did own a Bally lifetime membership. It is seeking compensatory damages, including statutory damages, and a Court order permanent restraining Bally and LA Fitness from not honoring Bally’s lifetime memberships.
A copy of the Bally Total Fitness Lifetime Membership Class Action Lawsuit can be read here.
The case is Juan Dorado, et al. v. Bally Total Fitness Holdings Corp. and LA Fitness International, LLC, Case No. 12-cv-137, U.S. District Court, Northern Illinois, Eastern Division.
Updated January 13th, 2012
All class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Lawsuit News section of Top Class Actions
LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2010 Top Class Actions® LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners.
106 thoughts onBally Total Fitness Lifetime Membership Class Action Lawsuit
The latest from West Palm Beach LAF: Manager says only the properties that were bought by LAF were the ones required to honor Ballys membership renewals. No more to be discussed. I just cannot believe that this is truly the end. I paid big bucks for a Gold Lifetime membership for use at all clubs and affiliates.
If there is any other hope out there, I hope to hear about it soon.
1986 “Scandanavian” In Ft Lauderdale FL [gold mebership with all the extras]. Transferred to Phila PA in 89 and used Holiday. Back to FL in 92 and transferred my “Gold Membership” to Ballys at the old Scandanavian locations. I moved again to Palm Beach. Ballys closed down in S FL a few years ago and sold all there memberships to LA. They never offered me the transfer because my membership was purchased in Ft Laud and the records were there. When I found out about this I was told that I could not renew at my $57.50/yr rate but had to buy a LA Fitness membership at whatever “introductory offer” they had running.
Still out in the cold.
Carlos I left you a voice message tonight
I joined Ballys when it was called Jack LA Lanne back in 1985 ,now iam no longer a member
me too and now LAfe time memberships fitness wants me to join allover and 24 hr fitness will probably want me to do the same,my problem is not with Ballys its with who bought them out they’re not honoring the lifetimememberships
I PURCHASED A LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP TO BALLY ON VAN DYKE, IN STERLING HEIGHTS. IT WAS TURNED OVER TO LIVING WELL. THEY ARE OUT OF BUSINESS. I SIGNED THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BUT NEVER HEARD ANYTHING. HOW LONG SHOULD THIS TAKE?
You should contact the attorney for the class action you were participating in for an update. Good Luck!
anyone can help? I had a lifetime membership to Bally’s and when my club was bought by LA fitness i started going there. I did not renew my membership in 2014 and now in sept 2016 i tried to renew it they are saying it is expired and i have to sign up with LA fitness at a crazy rate. what are my options, please help?
There were a few class action lawsuits filed in 2012 against Bally’s and L.A. Fitness over lifetime memberships. Unfortunately, they all ended up being dismissed. I’m sorry I don’t have better news for you. We offer a submission form on our website for you to fill out if you are seeking class action legal help. Attorneys will then review your submission to determine if you have a case. If they feel you qualify, they will contact you directly. You can submit your information here: https://topclassactions.com/start-a-class-action/. You may want to consult your own attorney, and should you choose to go that route, we recommend checking out http://www.consumeradvocates.org/find-an-attorney. Once there, you will be able to search a broad database of specialized attorneys in your area that you may consult.
We wish you the best of luck in your pursuit of justice!
I am in the same situation. Can someone tell me how I can contact the Attorney who is handling the Class Action in this case?
hows the suit going?
We need to contact lawyer Recio, and start a class action
Contact the lawyer and will see if we can sue them
My phone number is 301-910-6557
Can call me and set up everything to start a class action, but we need to work together and if you know more people let them know
Hablo español por si alguien necesita ayuda también
Have a great day
I purchased lifetime memberships for me and my wife at the former Bally’s President’s First Lady Health Club on Turtle Creek in Dallas, Texas. Do I have any recourse in this matter? Please call me at 903-574-0264. Thanks, Jimmy
I keep getting charged for my Bally’s Lifetime Membership from around 2000 even though the gym closed. Its a direct withdrawal from my banking account and I want to end it. How do I get out of this mess.
I purchase the membership in NJ in 1985 paid over $1,500.00 European Health SPA then Jack La Laine then Bally’s who sold my agreement to 24hour fitness in Queens one club I can only use. I am in Florida I pay $32.10 per year and have been paying the dues every year since 1985.
I want to use the LA FITNESS in Miami and my membership is stuck in Queens at 24hour fitness where I no longer live.
Can someone find out about the class action suit that I can sign up?
I will contact lawyer Carlos Recio, he had the same problem like us, i will send the info to you guys AND see if we can sue BALLY AND la FITNESS. Text me phone AND names, so I can start filing info to set up everything with any lawyer. Carlos 301-200-7077. Have a great day guys
how is lawsuit going?