PITTSBURGH – A Pittsburgh plaintiff alleges her broken right ankle was the result of her spin class facility’s negligence in failing to provide spin bicycle shoes with clips.
Amy Schwartz filed suit in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas on Jan. 6 versus 6YCLE, LLC, 6YCLE SOUTH SIDE, LLC and 6YCLE PENN, LLC (doing business as “YCLE South Hills”). All parties are of Pittsburgh
“On Dec. 2, 2019 at approximately 7 p.m., plaintiff was a student in a spin bike class at 6YCLE Peters Township, located at 531 Georgetown Road in Canonsburg. Plaintiff was accompanied by two co-workers who were present at the class. Plaintiff was wearing leggings, a tank top and New Balance sneakers.” the suit says.
“6YCLE is a spinning and fitness gym, where spin bikes are provided for members and guests to use during their classes. 6YCLE did not provide spinning-specific shoes with cleats, but rather had spin bikes with ‘basket-style’ pedals equipped on the bikes. Plaintiff and her co-workers selected three spin bikes next to one another and the class commenced. 66YCLE South Hills’ Facebook account has photographs of the classroom depicting the instructor’s bike and the rows of bikes for the students.”
The plaintiff says the facility’s instructor never ensured that students were properly seated in their bicycles or if their pedals were properly secured, thereby creating a dangerous condition.
After the first 10 minutes of the class, the students were instructed to stand up on the pedals and while out of the saddle exercising, the suit states the plaintiff’s right foot slipped off the pedal and caused her to fall to the floor, sustaining severe injuries.
“As a direct, legal and proximate result of the negligence and gross negligence of defendants, plaintiff has suffered bi-malleolar fracture of the right ankle, open reduction and internal fixation surgeries using metal screws, pins, rods or plates to hold the bones in place, osteochondritis of the right ankle, synovitis, ankle scarring, permanent disfigurement and other serious injuries,” per the suit.
For counts of negligence, gross negligence and recklessness, the plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of applicable arbitration limits, plus interest, costs and a trial by jury.
The plaintiff is represented by Kelton M. Burgess of the Law Office of Kelton M. Burgess, in Pittsburgh.
The defendants have not yet secured legal counsel.
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas case GD-21-000196
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com