Olympic Athletic Club: We signed a legal contract for a ‘lifetime’ membership and now they’re saying that the new owners won’t honor that contract

Posted December 6, 2011 9:11 pm by

Olympic Athletic Club: We signed a legal contract for a ‘lifetime’ membership and now they’re saying that the new owners won’t honor that contract

This week lifetime members of the Olympic Athletic Club in Ballard received letters from general manager Mark Durall stating that the club has been sold and their lifetime memberships will be dissolved at the end of December.The change in practice mostly affects seniors and members who have been with the club for decades and, understandably, they are upset.“We signed a legal contract for a ‘lifetime’ membership and now they’re saying that the new owners won’t honor that contract,” said Kevin Seabeck who has been a member since 1986. “It’s like they are saying “we don’t want you in our club anymore.”“This is unacceptable,” added sister Mary Seabeck who signed up for the lifetime membership 32 years ago. “I was 19 at the time and used my income tax return of that year to pay for it.”

In 1982, the lifetime membership was offered for a one-time fee of over $2,500, according to lifetime member Shellie Hoffer..Kevin said he’s is trying to mobilize other lifetime members and threatened to sue the gym if they don’t honor the contract.“This can’t be legal. I’m trying to get everyone involved because there’s strength in numbers,” Kevin said.Durall was unavailable for comment but an OAC employee revealed that he is working on the issue. He is personally meeting with lifetime members to discuss their options.It’s not uncommon for clubs to change their membership practices once the business is sold but the question is, is it legal to revoke existing legal contracts?According to the letter, lifetime members will be offered a month-to-month membership if they bring in their original contract.“I’m very upset. I signed a contract that said I wouldn’t have to pay dues,” Mary said.It is also curious that Washington Secretary of State records show that the corporation that purchased the club, Sewanee Inc, has some of the same governing members as Olympic Racquet and Health Club Inc, which is the previous owner.Owner James Riggle, chairman of the Olympic Racquet and Health Club, is now serving as vice president of Sewanee Inc.Likewise, Debera Riggle was vice president and treasurer at Olympic Racquet and Health Club, and she now serves as secretary of Sewanee, Inc.The corporations also share the same agent.In April the owners of the OAC announced its plans to expand their facilities to include commercial lodging. The plans are to change the one-story garage into a four-story, 29 unit lodging space with 12,800 square feet of fitness space, and 2,650 square feet of retail space. Parking for 63 vehicles will be located at and below grade. Additionally, the OAC will expand on the second and third floors of the proposed building, with retail on the bottom floor and a hotel on the top floor.

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