VENTURA, Calif. – Ventura County District Attorney Gregory D. Totten reported that Ventura gym BSF Fitness was found to be in contempt of court after the business continued indoor operations despite the state and county health orders and an injunction.
The injunction was issued on Sept. 4 and requires BSF to comply with state and local health orders by stopping all indoor operations during the pandemic.
At the hearing, the District Attorney’s Office presented evidence that BSF had continued to operate its facility indoors, in violation of the injunction, on September 8, 9 and 10.
The court ruling fined BSF $500 for each day they violated the court order and also awarded attorney fees to the District Attorney’s Office.
The District Attorney’s Office Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit had previously filed a civil complaint against BSF, alleging unfair business practices due to BSF’s ongoing operation while other gyms in the county stopped or modified their services to comply with the health orders.
As part of that civil complaint, the District Attorney obtained a preliminary injunction prohibiting BSF from operating its gym facility indoors during the pandemic.
Local officials reportedly made numerous requests that BSF comply with the health orders, as other local businesses have done. However, the District Attorney’s Office said BSF continued to operate indoors in violation of the injunction as well.
The defendant’s demurrer to the People’s complaint is scheduled to be heard on October 20.
The injunction against BSF remains in effect until state and local health orders no longer prohibit indoor gym operations, or until dissolved by the court.
