LA Fitness Sued Over Alleged Violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act
Krissy Vann | Host, All Things Fitness and Wellness
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Fitness International LLC, the parent company of LA Fitness, alleging that the gym chain violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by not providing adequate access for individuals with disabilities. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, claims that many LA Fitness locations have barriers that prevent members with disabilities from fully accessing the facilities.
According to the lawsuit, the Justice Department alleges that some LA Fitness locations had broken or malfunctioning accessibility equipment, such as pool lifts and elevators, which reportedly left individuals with mobility impairments unable to use the gym or its amenities. In certain cases, members were allegedly left stranded on malfunctioning pool lifts, or were forced to rely on staff assistance to enter or exit pools. The lawsuit also claims that LA Fitness took long periods of time to fix accessibility issues, even after complaints were made by affected members.
Additionally, the lawsuit contends that some members with disabilities were charged extra fees to bring friends, nurses, or personal assistants to assist them in using the facilities. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, public accommodations, such as gyms, are required to provide accessible services and cannot impose extra costs on individuals with disabilities.
"Access to physical fitness activity is crucial for promoting the health and well-being of all Americans, including those with disabilities," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. "For over 30 years, the ADA has prohibited gyms and fitness clubs like LA Fitness from denying patrons with disabilities the opportunity to use and enjoy facilities enjoyed by patrons without disabilities."
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California added, "Ensuring accessibility is key to safeguarding civil rights for all Americans. Our office is committed to ensuring that people with disabilities have access to public accommodations by enforcing the protections afforded by the Americans with Disabilities Act."
In an article published on CBS, a company spokesperson for LA Fitness said, "We intend to vigorously defend against this action."
The Department of Justice is seeking a court order that would require LA Fitness to remove the alleged barriers, make its facilities fully accessible, and ensure compliance with federal law. The lawsuit also seeks monetary compensation for those affected by the reported inaccessibility and any extra fees incurred.
At the time of publication, the case is ongoing, and the court will determine whether LA Fitness violated the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act as claimed in the lawsuit.
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