EDWARDSVILLE - A former fitness center employee is suing the company, alleging she was not paid the full amount for recruiting new members.
Traci Rueter filed a suit Aug. 15 in Madison County Circuit Court, alleging Club Fitness Inc. failed to pay tens of thousands of dollars she was owed under a contract signed ahead of her joining the company in early 2017. Club Fitness has 23 gym and health centers in Illinois and Missouri, including four in Alton, Collinsville, Granite City and Wood River.
According to the complaint, in February 2018, Rueter claims she was owed $10,000 more than she was paid. Rueter alleges she began discussions with the defendant to leave Gold's Gym in October 2016.
Under the contract, the plaintiff alleges, her job was to solicit memberships for the company, for which she would be paid a commission and she was named a corporate account manager. Rueter states she was paid the full $2,500 for April 2017, but over succeeding months the amount she received was lower than what she believed was owed.
In June 2018, the last month where the amount paid is in dispute, the plaintiff alleges she brought in business worth $7,780, but was paid $233.
Rueter alleges breach of contract and asks the court to award her more than $50,000.
The plaintiff also accuses Club Fitness of failing to honor her performance as an employee and for violating the Sales Representative Act.
Rueter also alleges violations of the Wage Payment and Collection Act, and fraud for "willful and wanton conduct."
She is represented by attorneys Donald J. Ohl and Matthew M. Terry of Knapp Ohl & Green in Edwardsville.
Madison County Circuit Court Case number 19-L-1173