The owner, a man named David Kirkland, claimed he knew nothing about this. He said Scott had been making unauthorized decisions, that this wasn't company policy, and that he was shocked and appalled. But the inspectors found emails from Kirkland to Scott praising him for "maintaining standards" and "keeping the membership base where we want it." In one email, Kirkland explicitly mentioned that the gym needed to avoid becoming "too diverse" because it might drive away their core customers.
Every bit of evidence was documented: every email, every text, every video clip, every interview. The case against Power Zone Athletics wasn't just strong; it was overwhelming.
The state athletic commission had several options: they could fine the gym, put them on probation, or require training and policy changes. They chose the harshest option available: they revoked the gym's athletic facility license. Without that license, Power Zone Athletics couldn't legally operate. They had 30 days to shut down and return all membership fees.
The shutdown was announced 11 days after Denise had been denied entry. The local news picked up the story: "Gym Closed for Discrimination" was the headline. The story detailed the investigation, the evidence, and the pattern of bias.
David Kirkland tried to fight it. He hired lawyers, filed appeals, and claimed the commission was overreaching. Every appeal was denied; the evidence was too clear, the violations too severe.
But the civil case was where things got really expensive.
Denise filed a personal lawsuit for discrimination. So did 14 other former members who had been kicked out or denied entry. The cases were combined into a class action. The lawsuit wasn't just against the gym; it named Scott Hargreaves personally, Daniel Crowley personally, and David Kirkland personally. When you discriminate as part of your job, you can be held individually liable.
The plaintiffs weren't asking for millions each. They were asking for actual damages, emotional distress, and punitive damages designed to send a message.
The case went to trial 8 months later. The jury deliberated for 4 hours. They found for the plaintiffs on every single count. They awarded the class action $840,000 in total damages. Denise personally received $125,000. The other plaintiffs received amounts ranging from $35,000 to $95,000, depending on their individual cases.
But the money was just part of it.