Puyallup gym halts protest of COVID-19 stay-home orders; state won’t seek fines
A Puyallup gym that has been sued by the state to stop its protest of the “stay at home” orders has announced it would temporarily halt the protest.
In filing the lawsuit, Attorney General Bob Ferguson said he would not seek monetary penalties if the business closed within 24 hours of the complaint.
On Wednesday, a Ferguson spokesperson confirmed that the office would not seek to impose fines through litigation. The complaint had asked a court to impose penalties of up to $6,000 for allegedly violating Gov. Jay Inslee’s orders for “non-essential” businesses and the Consumer Protection Act.
A review hearing is set for September.
On the front doors of the Northwest Fitness Co. and on its Facebook page, the company stated it has temporarily suspended the protest, which allowed members to work out as a form of a “sit-in.”
The decision came after Ferguson’s office filed for an injunction against Northwest Fitness Co. and a Snohomish County gym, PA Fitness.
The Puyallup gym cited Ferguson and Inslee as the reason for the closure.
“The AG Ferguson and supreme leader Inslee have filed the type of lawsuit that is used to bankrupt a business and that prevents the business from ever reopening,” the statement posted on the door said.
The statement also encourages supporters to join the business owners in a protest on Thursday May, 21 at the state Capitol in Olympia.
The protest
The state’s complaint alleges the gym violated the Consumer Protection Act by creating an unfair advantage over its competitors that are complying with the proclamation. The complaint also accused the gym of violating the governors’ orders, creating conditions that “are injurious” to the public’s interest.
The lawsuit was filed after a state investigator served the gym a “cease and desist” letter to close within 48 hours and the gym continued to allow members to work out despite orders to close “non-essential” businesses to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Northwest Fitness Co. opened its doors May 5 with a rolling protest against the idea that there are “essential” and “non-essential” businesses.
Owners Mike Baker and Shane Cowhig have insisted the gym was not open for business but simply as a setting for their “Exercise Your Rights” protest. The gym’s website offered three “protest specials” for those who join the gym during the protest.
Puyallup Police warned the business it was violating state orders, and police sent a report to the state for action.
“They had people exercising and not social distancing or wearing masks, all in violation with the governor’s orders,” Captain Dan Pashon said at the time.
This story was originally published May 22, 2020 at 11:32 AM.
