CURRAN'S OFFICE FILES CHARGES AGAINST 17 HEALTH CLUBS

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that his Consumer Protection Division has filed charges against 17 health clubs and karate schools for failing to register with the Division under Maryland's Health Club Services law. The businesses are:

1. Anita Hardester t/a Westminster Karate Family Training Center - Westminster
2. Apolo's Karate, Inc. t/a Apolo's Karate - Pasadena
3. Bare Hills Athletic Club, Inc. t/a The Bare Hills Athletic Club - Baltimore
4. Baltimore Tomiki Aikido Center - Baltimore
5. Bethesda Martial Arts Academy - Bethesda
6. Corporate Fitness Concepts, LLC t/a Corporate Fitness Center - Baltimore
7. Eastern Fitness Express, LLC t/a World Gym Express-Upper Marlboro - Upper Marlboro
8. Full Blown, Inc. t/a World Gym Fitness Center Millersville - Millersville
9. GG Damascus, Inc. t/a Gold's Gym of Damascus - Damascus
10. Goh's Kung Fu Inc. t/a Goh's Kung Fu Baltimore - Baltimore
11. Island Athletic Club, Inc. - Grasonville
12 Karate USA t/a Kim's Karate - Cockeysville, Lanham Seabrook, Glen Burnie, White Marsh
13. Martial Arts Studios America, Inc. t/a King's Point Martial Arts - Randallstown
14. Master Technicians Karate Center - White Plains
15. Parks Martial Arts, Inc. - Hagerstown - Hagerstown
16. Spirit Mountain Martial Arts - Rockville
17. Top Shape Fitness, LLC t/a Top Shape Fitness Center - Columbia

Maryland law requires health clubs to register annually with the Consumer Protection Division. The law also requires facilities to post a bond or other security with the Division if they collect more than three months' payment in advance from members or charge an initiation fee of more than $200. Facilities that fail to comply are subject to civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation.

"We are committed to enforcing the registration and bonding requirements, which protect consumers in the event the club goes out of business before a consumer's membership expires," said Curran.

A hearing on the charges is scheduled for Jan. 27.

Curran urges consumers considering joining a particular health club, weight loss center or karate school to check to see that it is registered and bonded by visiting www.oag.state.md.us/healthclub or calling the Consumer Protection Division at 410-576-6350.

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