Justice Dept. Sues LA Fitness for Alleged Disability Discrimination.
The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Fitness International LLC, known as 'LA Fitness', for allegedly discriminating against individuals with disabilities at its gyms and fitness centers. LA Fitness is the largest chain of owner-operated gyms and fitness clubs in the United States, boasting nearly 700 locations nationwide.
A lawsuit has been initiated in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, claiming that LA Fitness has breached the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This legislation forbids public accommodations, such as gyms and fitness centers, from discriminating against individuals with disabilities. Under the ADA, LA Fitness is obligated to provide equal access to its services and facilities for people with disabilities, eliminate architectural obstacles to ensure accessibility, and uphold accessible features. Additionally, the ADA prohibits LA Fitness from imposing additional charges on individuals with disabilities.
The lawsuit claims that LA Fitness gym and fitness clubs present numerous obstacles that hinder members with disabilities from fully accessing the facilities, including pools and fitness equipment. Frequent issues include malfunctioning pool lifts and elevators. In some instances, individuals with mobility disabilities have been completely unable to enter the clubs or pools. In other cases, members have found themselves stranded on malfunctioning pool lifts, requiring assistance from LA Fitness staff to enter or exit the pools, or have had to resort to crawling out of the water. Despite receiving complaints from members with disabilities regarding these problems, LA Fitness has failed to address them in a timely manner.
An Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke from the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department stated:
"Access to physical fitness activity is crucial for promoting the health and well-being of all Americans, including those with disabilities. 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. Through this lawsuit, the Justice Department seeks to eliminate LA Fitness’s discriminatory barriers and ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to fully participate at their local LA Fitness gym and fitness clubs."
The U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California said: "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. When we support those with disabilities, our entire community benefits.”
The Justice Department is requesting the court to intervene in order to prevent LA Fitness from engaging in discriminatory practices against individuals with disabilities. This includes a demand for LA Fitness to enhance the accessibility of its facilities and equipment. Additionally, the department is pursuing financial compensation for those adversely affected by LA Fitness' discriminatory actions. This encompasses individuals who faced direct challenges due to inaccessible features and malfunctioning equipment, as well as those who required assistance to utilize LA Fitness' services and were subjected to additional charges for bringing a friend, caregiver, or personal assistant to aid them.
