TheIndyChannel.com

ticketnetwork
Indiana News
E-Mail News Alerts
Get breaking news and daily headlines.
Browse all e-mail newsletters
Related To Story

Family: Gym Took Advantage Of Man With Disability

Man Says He Was Driven To Gym, Signed Up Contract

POSTED: 5:23 pm EST November 3, 2009
UPDATED: 7:09 pm EST November 3, 2009

The brothers of an Indianapolis man claim a local gym took advantage of their developmentally disabled sibling, signing him up for a contract that he couldn't understand.

Mark Hannon is 49, but functions at a much younger age, the family told 6News' Rafael Sanchez.

That's why they were upset when Hannon told them that two men representing Bally's Total Fitness came to his door last week, offering to sign him up for a gym membership.

Hannon told his brothers that the men drove him to the Pike Plaza gym, where he signed a contract and agreed to have $29.99 withdrawn from his bank account every month. He also paid $69.98 to cover the first and last month of membership, in addition to a services fee, he said.

Hannon's apartment complex has signs posted prohibiting soliciting. His brothers called the gym's actions predatory.

"They knew he was developmentally challenged and it did not bother them one bit," said Joe Hannon. "That's our brother. We care for him. We love him. We don't want anything to happen to him."

The brothers told Sanchez that they went to the gym Monday hoping to resolve the issue, but that their requests were rejected by the management at the facility.

When Sanchez went to the gym on Tuesday, a man who refused to identify himself said the matter than been taken care of, but would not offer any further explanation before showing the crew out of the building.

Hannon's brothers said they are worried this isn't the first or last time the gym has taken advantage of someone in a similar situation.

"I'm wondering how more people are they going to do it to? After meeting two young gentlemen yesterday, they don't feel they've done anything wrong," said Pat Hannon. "They feel it's their right to get America fit."

6News called and faxed Bally's corporate headquarters, along with a media relations representative, but those calls had not been returned Tuesday evening.
The following are comments from our users. Opinions expressed are neither created nor endorsed by TheIndyChannel.com. By posting your comments you agree to accept our Terms of Use. To report an offensive or otherwise inappropriate comment, click the "Flag" link that appears beneath that comment. Flagging a comment will send it to our editorial staff for review.

Links We Like

Sponsored Content
Check out our picks for the most luxurious and unique homes that were on the market in 2009. More

Find out what a sputtering economy and an increasingly difficult to crack job market means to you. More

The following tips can help your car become a less inviting target and slow down, discourage or actually prevent car theft. More

Believing urban legends about sex could be hurting your sex life. Get the truth behind common sex myths. More

Sponsored Links