Taylor v. L.A. Fitness International LLC

16 Pa. D. & C.5th 491
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County
DecidedAugust 30, 2010
Docketno. 2213
StatusPublished

This text of 16 Pa. D. & C.5th 491 (Taylor v. L.A. Fitness International LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Taylor v. L.A. Fitness International LLC, 16 Pa. D. & C.5th 491 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2010).

Opinion

YOUNGE, J,

The plaintiffs, Kimberly and Andrew Taylor, filed this appeal from this court’s order that granted a motion for summary judgment filed by the above-captioned defendants.1

FACTS AND PROCEDURE

This personal injury action was brought against the defendants by the plaintiff, Kimberly Taylor, who was a member of L.A. Fitness and a client of Body of Change. The plaintiff was seriously injured in June of2007 while exercising at the Fluntingdon Valley location for the defendant, L.A. Fitness. The plaintiff alleged to have hired [494]*494the defendant, Body of Change, to provide personal trainers to assist her while exercising at L.A. Fitness. At the specific time of her injury, she alleged to have been exercising with the defendant, Dorian Jefferson Hale, a personal trainer and agent of the defendant, Body of Change. In her complaint, she alleged that defendant Hale taught her an improper exercise and failed to properly assist or spot her while exercising. She alleged that the negligence of defendant Hale caused her shoulder injury. She alleged that defendant Hale was an agent of L.A. Fitness and Body of Change. Her claim against defendants, L.A. Fitness and Body of Change, was based on agency and vicarious liability under a theory of respondeat superior.

Following discovery, the defendants filed the motion for summary judgment that is currently at issue in this appeal. In their motion, the defendants asserted immunity from suit based on exculpatory clauses contained in the membership agreement that the plaintiff entered into with L.A. Fitness and the fitness service agreement and release of liability that the plaintiff entered into with Body of Change.2

The membership agreement at issue contained an exculpatory clause that read as follows:

[495]*495 “Important: Release and Waiver of Liability and Indemnity
“You hereby acknowledge and agree that member’s use of L.A. Fitness’ facilities, services, equipment or premises, involves risks of injury to persons and property, including those described below, and member assumes full responsibility for such risks. In consideration of being permitted to enter any facility of L.A. Fitness (a ‘club’) for any purpose including, but not limited to, observation use of facilities, services or equipment, or participation in any way, member agrees to the following: member hereby releases and holds L.A. Fitness, its directors, officers, employees, and agents harmless from all liability to member and member’s personal representatives, assigns, heirs, and next of kin for any loss or damage and forever gives up any claim or demands therefore, on account of injury to member’s person or property, including injury leading to death of member, whether caused by the active or passive negligence of L.A. Fitness or otherwise, to the fullest extent permitted by law, while member is in, upon, or about L.A. Fitness premises or using any L.A. Fitness facilities, services, or equipment. Member also hereby agrees to indemnify L.A. Fitness from any loss, liability, damage or cost L.A. Fitness may incur due to the presence of member in, upon or about the L.A. Fitness premises or in any way observing or using any facilities or equipment of L.A. Fitness whether caused by the negligence of member or otherwise.
“You represent (a) that member is in good physical condition and has no disability, illness, or other condition that could prevent member from exercising without injury or impairment of member’s health, and (b) that member has consulted a physician concerning an exercise [496]*496program that will not risk injury to member or impairment of member’s health. Such risk of injury includes (but is not limited to): injuries arising from use by member or others of exercise equipment and machines; injuries arising from participation by member or others in supervised or unsupervised activities or programs at a club; injuries and medical disorders arising from exercising at a club such as heart attacks, strokes, heat stress, sprains, broken bones, and tom muscles and ligaments, among others; and accidental injuries occurring anywhere in club dressing rooms, showers and other facilities. Member further expressly agrees that the foregoing release, waiver and indemnity agreement is intended to be as broad and inclusive as is permitted by the law of the State of Pennsylvania and that if any portion thereof is held invalid, it is agreed that the balance shall, notwithstanding, continue in full force and effect. Member has read this release and wavier of liability and indemnity clause, and agrees that no oral representations, statements or inducement apart from this agreement have been made.” (Defendants’ motion for summary judgment, exhibit B (July 6, 2009).)

The fitness service agreement and release of liability with Body of Change contained two clauses that were relevant to the personal injury action brought by the plaintiff. These clauses are entitled “Acknowledgment and assumption of risk” and “Limitation of liability and full release of BOC” and read in relevant part:

“Acknowledgement and assumption of risk: Client acknowledges that the services purchased hereunder include participation in strenuous physical activities, including, but not limited to, aerobic dance, weight training, stationary bicycling, various aerobic conditioning [497]*497machinery and various nutritional programs offered by BOC (the ‘physical activities’). Client acknowledges these physical activities involve the inherent risk of physical injuries or other damages, including, but not limited to, heart attacks, muscle strains, pulls or tears, broken bones, shin splints, heat prostration, knee/lower back/foot injuries and any other illness, soreness, or injury however caused, occurring during or after client’s participation in the physical activities. Client further acknowledges that such risks include, but are not limited to, injuries caused by the negligence of an instructor or other person, defective or improperly used equipment, over-exertion of client, slip and fall by client, or an unknown health problem of client. Client agrees to assume all risk and responsibility involved with client’s participation in the physical activities. Client affirms that client is in good physical condition and does not suffer from any disability that would prevent or limit participation in the physical activities. Client acknowledges participation will be physically and mentally challenging, and client agrees that it is the responsibility of client to seek competent medical or other professional advice, regarding any concerns or questions involved with the ability of client to take part in the physical activities. By signing this agreement, client asserts that client is capable of participating in the physical activities. Client agrees to assume all risk and responsibility for client’s exceeding her physical limits.
“Limitation of liability andfull release of BOC: Client, his or her heirs, assigns and next of kin, agree to fully release BOC, its owners, employees, any related entities or authorized agents, including independent contractors from any and all liability, claims and/or litigation or [498]

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Bluebook (online)
16 Pa. D. & C.5th 491, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/taylor-v-la-fitness-international-llc-pactcomplphilad-2010.