SAN FRANCISCO—This week, the San Francisco Superior Court approved a class action settlement between 24 Hour Fitness and approximately 1.8 million current and former monthly members, according to a joint release from the law firms for both parties.
The suit concerned dues charged to members after they asked to cancel their contracts. The plaintiffs alleged that 24 Hour Fitness’s cancellation notice provision and collection of nonrefundable last month’s dues under the terms of contracts signed before 2006 violated California law. 24 Hour Fitness asserts that it has treated its members fairly and that its membership agreements are favorable to members and entirely lawful.
Under the settlement, class members are entitled to choose settlement benefits, depending on their situation, including partial refunds, free personal training or membership upgrades, contract modifications and transferable 30 and 45 day club access passes.
“The court recognized that this settlement provides benefits to all class members and is a fair compromise,” says Michael von Loewenfeldt of San Francisco’s Kerr & Wagstaffe LLP, the lawyers representing the class.
Tony Wells, senior vice president corporate communications for 24 Hour Fitness, says, “24 Hour Fitness values its members, and we strive to offer the best fitness experience in the industry. We are responsive to our members’ concerns and we have settled this case so we can continue to focus on our overall goal of helping people make fitness a way of life.”
A lawsuit is currently pending in the United States District Court for the Central District of California in which similar issues are alleged.
"The case is without merit and we intend to vigorously defend this case," a spokesperson for 24 Hour Fitness says.