Equinox Beats Racial Discrimination Lawsuit From Fitness Instructor
Equinox was ordered to pay over $11 million in May in a separate race and gender discrimination trial, although the verdict was later vacated
A New York district court judge has ruled in favor of Equinox in a lawsuit that alleged the fitness operator terminated an employee from her position as a fitness instructor based on her race.
The judge, J. Paul Oetken, found that Equinox terminated the staff member’s employment for violating its workplace nonviolence policy and that the former employee failed to show that the firing was racially motivated.
The former employee, Dawn Parker, alleged she had suffered discrimination and wrongful retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, that she had been subjected to a hostile work environment and that her manager and Equinox human resources director were liable to her personally under New York’s anti-discrimination laws.
The fitness instructor, who was employed at Equinox’s East 63rd Street location in New York City, taught two fitness classes before remaining at the club to work out until closing time, at which point she “took a chance” at taking a shower after hearing an announcement that the showers were closed.
The plaintiff’s complaint alleged she was “hit with a rigged investigation” and fired after two custodial workers claimed she was violent toward them after they attempted to remove her from a gym shower after hours. The plaintiff denied pushing the custodial workers and claimed she had worked for Equinox for 13 years and was generally highly regarded by her supervisors.
Equinox’s defense was that the employee disobeyed its workplace nonviolence policy.
In a summary judgment opinion, Judge Oetken dismissed the suit, writing that Equinox demonstrated a “legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason — an investigation, presumed to have been conducted in good faith and according to normal procedures” and found that the employee violated Equinox’s workplace nonviolence policy.
Additionally, the judge stated that the plaintiff didn’t provide enough evidence to show Equinox’s investigation was biased.
More Fitness Litigation
The luxury fitness operator is no stranger to lawsuits. Equinox was ordered to pay over $11 million in damages this past May after being found liable in a race and gender discrimination trial brought forth by a fitness professional and former personal training manager, although the verdict was vacated in August, according to a court order.
Before that, an Alameda County Superior Court judge granted preliminary approval on a $36 million global settlement against the fitness operator regarding a class action settlement that applies to over 15,000 Equinox employees who worked in California between April 3, 2015, and December 31, 2022.
According to the lawsuit, Equinox didn’t pay certain personal trainers, group fitness instructors and others for all time worked. Plaintiffs also brought claims against Equinox’s meal and rest breaks policies, wage statements and other wage and hour practices.
Update: A previous version of this story didn’t include information that the $11.2 million jury verdict awarded against Equinox was later vacated by court order.
