Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel last Thursday filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of Michigan consumers against Go Workout Frandor and its owner, Steven Millenbach. The lawsuit, filed last Thursday in Ingham County Circuit Court, comes after the company failed to provide satisfactory assurances in response to a Notice of Intended Action issued by the attorney general in early February.
Nessel's office has received more than 40 complaints from consumers against the Lansing-area workout company since 2018, many raising one or more of the following concerns:
- Misrepresenting contract durations, consumers' right to cancel contracts, and benefits offered to consumers under the contracts.
- Failing to disclose important information such as the then-imminent closure of its Frandor location and its relocation to a facility offering few of the same benefits as the original location.
- Failing to deliver on promised benefits, including a women-only gym facility, fitness classes, a sauna, showers, and locker rooms.
- Failing to provide consumers promised refunds.
The lawsuit filed last Thursday seeks to remedy the unlawful business practices of Go Workout Frandor and appropriately reimburse consumers. The lawsuit also asks the court to permanently dissolve Go Workout Frandor, assess a $25,000 civil fine, and award the attorney general costs and attorney fees.
"We count on Michigan business owners to deliver the goods and services they promise to Michiganders and anyone who patronizes their businesses," Nessel said. "Mr. Millenbach has shown a consistent lack of regard for Michigan's laws and the action we're taking today should send a clear message we stand ready to protect his and all Michigan consumers."
The Lansing-based, women-only gym allegedly solicited memberships even as eviction proceedings were underway in August 2018. The gym then relocated from the Frandor Shopping Center to a substantially smaller room in a nearby hotel, where customers were expected to share limited equipment and a pool with male and female hotel guests. Millenbach and Go Workout Frandor have failed to make refunds to consumers who paid sign-up fees and advanced membership fees with the expectation they would have access to the now-closed Frandor gym.
Published: Mon, Apr 15, 2019
