Owners questioned regarding recent health club closing.

Posted April 28, 2013 9:11 pm by healthclubnews

Owners questioned regarding recent health club closing.It’s likely customers of a former Brighton Township gym that closed without giving members notice won’t be reimbursed, the owners’ attorney said Thursday in a federal bankruptcy hearing.

After all, the objective of former Powerhouse Gym owners Walter and Jennifer Gumiela filing for bankruptcy was to “discharge them of all their obligations,” attorney Mark Shapiro said.

The Gumielas, of Hartland Township, answered questions under oath Thursday from their attorney, a bankruptcy trustee and creditors in Flint. The Gumielas filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy March 26, court records show, with more than 1,250 creditors listed in the case, including customers, attorneys and government entities.ABC Billing Company Breaking News Story , AMERI SHAPE Breaking News Story , amerishape Breaking News Story , anytime fitness Breaking News Story , ASF Billing Company Breaking News Story , asf international Breaking News Story , butterfly life Breaking News Story , contours express Breaking News Story , curves for women Breaking News Story , enroll members Breaking News Story , fitness Breaking News Story ,fitness center Breaking News Story , fitness life marketing Breaking News Story , fitness marketing Breaking News Story , fitness promotions Breaking News Story , golds gym Breaking News Story , world gym Breaking News Story , gym Breaking News Story , Gym Marketing Breaking News Story , Gym promotions Breaking News Story , health Breaking News Story , health club Breaking News Story , health club for sale Breaking News Story , Health Club Marketing Breaking News Story , Health Club Promotion Breaking News Story , fitness Consultants Breaking News Story , health club promotions Breaking News Story , Health Clubs Breaking News Story , join health club Breaking News Story , Ladies Fitness Breaking News Story , Ladies Workout Express Breaking News Story , lady of america Breaking News Story , NAC Billing Company Breaking News Story , Peak Performance Breaking News Story , planet fitness Breaking News Story , Powerful Promotions Breaking News Story , powerhouse gym Breaking News Story , Professional Fitness Marketing Breaking News Story , Raise EFT $6 Breaking News Story , Slim and tone Breaking News Story , snap fitness Breaking News Story , spa studio owners Breaking News Story , Targeted fitness Breaking News Story , marketing that generates new fitness Breaking News Story , Thousands of health clubs Breaking News Story , world health club Breaking News Story , workout express Breaking News Story , join Breaking News Story ,health club closed Breaking News Story , health club opening Breaking News Story ,club solutions magazine Breaking News Story , s Breaking News Story ,24 Hour Fitness Breaking News Story ,Anytime fitness Breaking News Story , Bally Total Fitness Breaking News Story ,Health Club Management Breaking News Story ,Crunch Fitness Breaking News Story ,Club One Breaking News Story ,Curves Breaking News Story ,Equinox Breaking News Story ,Health Fitness Corp. Breaking News Story ,Lifestyle Family Fitness Breaking News Story ,Planet Fitness Breaking News Story ,Plus One Management Breaking News Story ,Powerhouse Gyms Breaking News Story ,Snap Fitness Breaking News Story ,Spectrum Athletic Clubs Breaking News Story ,Sport & Health Breaking News Story ,Town Sports International Breaking News Story ,Sports Club Co. Breaking News Story ,Urban Active Breaking News Story ,WellbridgeHealth Club Breaking News Story ,Western Athletic Breaking News Story ,World Gym Breaking News Story , virgin active Breaking News Story ,workout anytime Breaking News Story , la boxing Breaking News Story , 9 rounds fitness Breaking News Story ,weight lifting gym Breaking News Story , health spa Breaking News Story , attorney general Breaking News Story , health club contract Breaking News Story , club enhancement fee Breaking News Story , health club billing Breaking News Story , health club fraud Breaking News Story , health club franchise Breaking News Story , gym franchise Breaking News Story ,breaking industry news Breaking News Story ,health club news Breaking News Story ,

Walter Gumiela during the hearing cited “problems” with the business’ landlord and the market as the couple’s reasons for filing for bankruptcy. He and Shapiro declined to elaborate on those comments to the Daily Press & Argus.

Court records show former landlord Charms 3 evicted the tenants in January from their former location at 5757 Whitmore Lake Road. The company filed a complaint in Livingston County Circuit Court that alleges the gym owners owe more than $100,000 for six months of rent and fees.

Of the creditors listed in the case, only customers Robert and Kathleen Phifer of Green Oak Township were present for the hearing. Robert Phifer asked the Gumielas why they “took his wife’s money if you knew you were going to close” and why the owners didn’t attend the small-claims case hearing for a complaint he filed in Livingston County District Court prior to the bankruptcy filing.

Walter Gumiela responded that he had surrendered assets to a “previous owner” whom he said had plans to open a new gym but encountered issues with “rezoning” and “special use.” He did not elaborate what type of assets were turned over.

Records show the special land-use petition filed with Brighton Township at 10489 Grand River Ave. was filed only by Walter Gumiela. He requested use of the building for a new gym named Kensington Valley Fitness, which was announced to members on the former gym’s Facebook page and has since been deleted.

Shapiro said he hadn’t seen the Phifers’ subpoena, but the bankruptcy filing “stayed” any claims. He suggested that the Phifers file a complaint in bankruptcy court if they wanted to start the action of establishing a fraud case.

A walk-in customer, Kathleen Phifer said she purchased two memberships from the gym in January for about $200 each, in addition to a $300 personal training package.

The state of Michigan also is listed as a creditor in the case. An October Department of State report indicates the business owed nearly $21,000 in Michigan business taxes combined for 2011 and 2012.

Several customers have filed complaints about the former gym with Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette’s office.

A second bankruptcy hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. May 16 at the Flint Federal Building, 600 Church St., Room G-19.

It’s likely customers of a former Brighton Township gym that closed without giving members notice won’t be reimbursed, the owners’ attorney said Thursday in a federal bankruptcy hearing.

After all, the objective of former Powerhouse Gym owners Walter and Jennifer Gumiela filing for bankruptcy was to “discharge them of all their obligations,” attorney Mark Shapiro said.

A walk-in customer, Kathleen Phifer said she purchased two memberships from the gym in January for about $200 each, in addition to a $300 personal training package.

The state of Michigan also is listed as a creditor in the case. An October Department of State report indicates the business owed nearly $21,000 in Michigan business taxes combined for 2011 and 2012.

Several customers have filed complaints about the former gym with Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette’s office.

A second bankruptcy hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. May 16 at the Flint Federal Building, 600 Church St., Room G-19.

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