UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
)[Plaintiff's Name], / )
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Plaintiff, / )
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v. / )
) / Civil Action No. -cv- (TSC)
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[Defendant's Name], / )
)
Defendant. / )
)
PLAINTIFFS’RESPONSESTODEFENDANT’SSTATEMENTOFUNDISPUTEDFACTSANDPLAINTIFFS’FURTHERSTATEMENTOFMATERIALFACTS
A.RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WELLBRIDGE AND MONSANTO
1.In1989,DefendantMonsantofoundedacompanycalledtheWellbridgeCompany(the"FormerWellbridgeCompany").(Complaint ¶ 9; Answer ¶ 9.)
Response:
Plaintiffsadmit this statement.
2.In1989,ClubSportsInternational("ClubSports")managedathleticclubsforseveraldifferentdevelopersmostlyinthewesternhalfoftheUnitedStates.(Ex.B,Curtisdep.at5:22-6:4.)
Response:
Plaintiffsadmit this statement.
3.InoraroundMarch1999,Monsantosoldcertainassetsand trademarksoftheFormerWellbridgeCompany,includingtheAtlanticCenter,toClubSports.(Ex.B,Curtisdep.at26:2-5; Answer ¶ 16.)
Response:
Plaintiffsdenythisstatement.TheclosingdocumentsproducedbytheDefendantsshowthattheAssetPurchaseAgreementwasdatedandsignedasofDecember31,1998.(Excerpts fromAsset Purchase Agreement,Pltf. Ex. J).
4.In2001,ClubSportschangeditsnametoWellbridgeClubManagement,Inc.("Wellbridge").(Ex.U,Mass.SecretaryofStatefiling.)Forconvenience,allcurrentandformerClubSportsand Wellbridge entities will be referred to as "Wellbridge."
Response:
Plaintiffsadmitthisstatementregardingthenamechange,butsuggestthattheuseofthe term“Wellbridge”for all entities, pre- and post-purchase, will be confusing.
B.PLAINTIFF HERBERT FRUH'S MEMBERSHIP AT THE ATLANTIC CENTER
5.ThereasonsthatMr.FruhchosetojointheAtlanticCenter werebecausehewantedtoexerciseandtheAtlanticCenterwasclose to where he worked. (Ex. S, H. Fruh Int. Resp. No. 29.)
Response:
PlaintiffsadmitthatthesereasonsaretothebestofVirginiaFruh’srecollection,andthatHerbFruhdoesnotnowrecallthecircumstancesof his joining the Atlantic Center due to hissevereanoxicbraininjury,whichincludesmemoryloss.See,ResponsetoStatementNo.9.AccordingtotheMedicalHistoryandHealthEvaluationfilledoutbyMr.FruhonOctober27, 1995,hisfourmostimportantreasonsforjoiningtheWellbridgeCenterwereto(1)improvesenseofwell-being,(2)becomemorephysicallyfit,(3) improve cholesterol, and (4) lose weight.See, Pltf. Exhibit E at p. 5, Bate no. 10.
6.The Agreement includes the following provisions:
6. Member Responsibilities.
6.1 Member acknowledges that:
•ThephysicalfitnessprogramsofferedbytheCenterandanyhealthriskappraisalprovidedbytheCenterarenota substituteforregularmedicalcheckupsandproperdietorother activities related to good health maintenance; and
•Participationinphysicalfitnessactivities,includingthose availableattheCenter,maybephysicallystressfulandmayresultinillnessorphysicalinjury.Memberacknowledgesthathisorherphysicalcapabilitytoengageinthespecific activitiesofferedbytheCentermustbereviewedandapproved by Member's personal physician...
MEMBERFURTHERAGREESTO:ConsultaphysicianifanyneworexistingmedicalorphysicalinjuryorotherproblemorconditionariseswhichmayaffectorlimitMember'sabilitytoparticipateinthephysicalfitnessactivitiesofferedbytheCenter,orintheeventofanynewillness, injury, discomfort or other health problem.
(Ex. V, Membership Ag. § 6.)
Response:
PlaintiffsobjecttothisstatementonthegroundsthatthememberresponsibilitiesarenotrelevanttothegroundsforSummaryJudgmentraisedbytheDefendants.Defendantshavenotpressedawaiverorassumptionoftheriskdefense.Withoutwaivingthis objection,PlaintiffsadmitthatthisisanaccurateexcerptoftheAgreement,butmaybemisleadinginthecontextofallrepresentationsmadebytheDefendantsand/oralldocumentssignedbyMr.Fruhin connection with joining Wellbridge.
7.Mr. Fruhsubmitted a formtitled "WellbridgeParQ++" to WellbridgedatedOctober25,1995.(Ex.W,WellbridgeParQ++.)OntheParQ++,Mr.Fruh'sresponded"no"toquestionsabout,amongotherthings,whetheradoctorhasevertoldhimthathehashearttrouble,whetherhe hashadpainsinhisheartorchest,whetherhehasattimesfeltfaintorhadspellsofseveredizziness,andwhetheradoctorhaseversaidthathis blood pressure was too high. (id., Nos. 1, 4, 5, 11.)
Response:
Plaintiffsadmitthisstatement.Respondingfurther,PlaintiffsstatethatMr.Fruhalsodisclosedamoderatelyhighcholesterollevel,thathewasamale40orolder,andthatheled asedentarylifestyle,inrespondingtoquestionsinaWellbridgeformatoraroundthetimehejoinedWellbridgeasamember.AllofthesearecoronaryriskfactorsrecognizedbyWellbridge.(Medical History and Health Evaluation, Pltf. Ex. E, Bates nos. 4, 6-7, 9).
8.Mr.Fruhalsosubmittedaformtitled"WellbridgeMembershipPatientReferralForm"toWellbridgedatedOctober26,1995.(Ex.X,PatientRef.Form.)TheformstatesthatitisinreferencetoHerbertFruh,issignedbyaphysician.Dr.MichaelGuidi,andhasaboxmarkedindicatingthat"[p]atient[is]clearedtoexercisewithoutrestriction."(Id.) Dr.GuidiwasMr.Fruh'sprimarycarephysician.(Ex.F,V.Fruhdep.at41:20-22.)
Response:
Plaintiffs admit this statement.
9.AtnotimepriortoApril1999didMr.Fruhhaveanyheart-relatedproblems,highorelevatedbloodpressure,oranyconditionrequiringmedication(otherthananimpotenceproblem).(Ex.F,V.Fruhdep.at56:12-23.)
Response:Plaintiffsobjecttothephrase“heart-relatedproblems”asbeingvagueandsubjecttovaryinginterpretations.Furthermore,atthetimeofhiscardiacarrest,whenhewasinthehospital,physiciansdiagnosedablockageinacoronaryarterywhichlikelyexistedpriorto April,1999.(Linkreport,Pltf.Ex.N,at2)Plaintiffsdenythisstatementandrespondfurtherthat, according to Wellbridge records, HerbertFruhdisclosedthathehadmoderatelyhighcholesterol,aconditiondiagnosedin1992,threeyearsbeforehesoughttojoinWellbridgeasamember. (Medical History and Health Evaluation, Pltf. Ex. E, Bates no. 7).
PLAINTIFFS’FURTHERSTATEMENTOFFACTSINOPPOSITIONTODEFENDANT’SMOTIONFORSUMMARYJUDGMENT
A.Wellbridge Background
1.Wellbridgewasfoundedin1989.(Answer,Pltf.Ex.A,¶9).
2.AtthetimeHerbertFruhjoinedtheWellbridgefacilityasamember,inOctober1995,WellbridgewasadivisionoftheNutraSweet Company (“NutraSweet”), based in St. Louis. (id.). Monsanto Company(“Monsanto”)ownedNutraSweet. (id.at¶¶7and8).
3.TherewerefourWellbridgehealthclubfacilities in the Boston area and two in St. Louis in 1995.(Turgiss dep., Pltf. Ex. B, at 47, 51).
4.WhenWellbridge was founded, its mission read:
Thefaceofhealthcareinthiscountryischangingbytheminute.Everysevenandahalfseconds,anothercitizenturns50.Tomeetthespecialhealthandwellnessneedsofthisgrowingmarket,MonsantoCorporationhascreatedWellbridge—arapidlyexpandingnetworkofhealthandfitnesscentersdesignedtoworkinactivepartnershipwithhospitals.(WellbridgeMarketingMaterials,Pltf. Ex. C, Bates 01277).
5.Describing the purpose of Wellbridge, Monsanto’s chairman and CEO of its LifeSciences Company, Robert Shapiro, stated as follows:
WithWellbridge,wehavecreatedanewkindofcompanydedicatedtomeetingthegrowingneedforbetternutritionandhealthofmaturingadults—notjustinthiscountry,butworldwide.Itisfast-moving,technology-driven,intenselycompetitive,andglobalinscope.We’recommittedtomeetingthechallengesofanever-changingmarketwithcontinuousinnovationandunprecedentedspeed.Thecultureandsystemsrequiredforsustainedsuccessareinplace.Thefuturehas just begun. (Wellbridge Marketing Materials, Pltf. Ex. C, Bates 01285).
B.Dramatis Personae
6.HerbertFruhsignedhisinitialmembershipagreementwithWellbridgeHealthandFitnessCenter,locatedatAtlanticAvenueinBoston,onOctober30,1995.(FruhMembershipAgreement,Pltf.Ex.D,Bates00001-2).
7.TheannualfeeformembershippaidbyHerbertFruhwas$814.(id).HerbertFruhwasage49whenhejoinedWellbridgein1995.(ParQ++,Pltf.Ex.E, Bates 00004).
8.WilliamPatjanewasWellbridge’sregionalfitnessmanager,inMassachusetts,withauthorityoverthefourWellbridgeclubslocatedin Boston, including the one on Atlantic AvenueofwhichHerbertFruhwasamember.(Patjanedep.,Pltf.Ex.F,at9).
9.Thefitnessmanageractedas safety officer, among other duties.(Idell dep. Pltf. Ex. KK at 25).
10.WellbridgehasidentifiedJenniferTurgissasaformerWellbridgeNationalFitnessManager,“responsiblefortheinvestigation,development,andpreparationoftheWellbridgeprograms”.(Defendants’AnswerstoPlaintiffs’FirstSetofInterrogatories,Pltf.Ex.G,Answerto Interrogatory No. 2).
11.AsofApril,1999,JenniferTurgisswastheDirector,WholePersonHealth,priortothecombinedClubSportsInternational/Wellbridgemerger;CherylRankinwasthegeneralmanageroftheAtlanticAvenueclubinwhichHerbertFruhwasamember;JenniferIdellwasafitnessmanager at the Atlantic Avenue Wellbridge facility.(Turgiss dep., Pltf. Ex. B, at 45, 46, 47).
12.WellbridgewasamemberoftheInternationalHealth,RacquetandSportsClubAssociation(“IHRSA”),themostprominenttradeorganizationforthehealthandfitnessclubindustry.(McCarthydep.,Ex.H,at50).
13.JohnMcCarthyfoundedIHRSAin1981andhasbeen its chief executive since that time. (McCarthy dep., Pltf. Ex. H, at 20).
14.BeforeMarch,1999,ClubSportsInternational(“CSI”)wasahealthclubchainwithclubsaroundthecountry,butmainlyinMinnesota,NewMexico and Colorado. (Defendants’ AnswerstoPlaintiffs’SecondSetofInterrogatories,Pltf.Ex.G,AnswertoInterrogatoryNo.24andExhibitAthereto,see¶12below).
15.CSI’schiefoperatingofficerwasArtCurtis.(Curtisdep., Pltf. Ex. I at 5).
16.ByagreementdatedDecember31,1998,CSIacquiredtheWellbridgeassets(thehealthclubbusinessandthetrademarks)fromMonsanto.Aspartoftheagreement,CSIagreedtoassumeallofMonsanto’sliabilitiesarisingfromtheWellbridgeclubs,andtoindemnifyMonsanto as to these liabilities. (Pltf. Ex. J).
17.AtthetimeCSIacquiredtheWellbridgeclubs,CSIwasthethirdlargesthealthclubchain in the United States. (Curtis dep., Pltf. Ex. I at 29).
18.ArtCurtisbecametheChiefOperatingOfficerofthecombinedcompanies.(Curtisdep.,Pltf.Ex.Iat5).TheCSIentitywhichhadacquiredtheWellbridgefacilitiesultimatelyadoptedthe Wellbridgename for all of its clubs. (id.at 97).
19.AsofMarch,2000,themergedClubSports/Wellbridgecompanieshad42healthclubsaroundthecountry,withasignificantpresenceinMassachusetts,Minnesota,NewMexico,and Colorado. (Ex. K, Bates 00313-315).
20.GeorgeMurphyistheCaptainfortheBostonEmergencyMedicalServices(“EMS”),whichincludesoversightoftheareaAEDprograminwhichfreeAEDtraininghasbeenoffered foremployeesof“corporatepartners”since1996.(Murphydep.,Pltf.Ex.Lat10-11,64-66).MurphyiscurrentlytheBasicLifeSupportnationalfacultypersonforMassachusettsintheAmerican Heart Association. (id.at 78).
By______
Law Firm