Former lifeguard sues Life Time Fitness for wrongful termination

HOUSTON - Humble resident Macie Wyly is pursuing legal action against Life Time Fitness Inc. after it reportedly terminated her for lodging a sexual harassment complaint.

Wyly filed suit against her former employer in Harris County District Court on Feb. 6.

The case was removed to the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas on Mar. 7.

Life Time hired Wyly as a lifeguard in May 2011.

She split time between the defendant's facilities in Kingwood and near Lake Houston during the course of her employment.

The Kingwood facility's general manager, James Cantrell, often exhibited inappropriate behavior toward the plaintiff, according to the suit.

It asserts Cantrell, who is not a defendant, flirted with Wyly and made sexual comments.

"The demeaning and inappropriate behavior of Mr. Cantrell towards the plaintiff was witnessed by other co-workers and occurred on multiple occasions," the original petition says.

Wyly reported Cantrell, but "never received any response to her complaint."

Life Time apparently kept the complainant off the work schedule since her direct supervisor did not return her calls or reply to her e-mails.

The suit further states that the respondent completely removed her from the schedule on Jan. 28, 2012, adding she learned of her termination when the gym would not accept her employee membership more than a month later.

Meanwhile, more discrimination complaints against Cantrell were filed.

He was supposedly transferred to Austin.

A jury trial is requested.

Attorney Kimberley M. Spurlock of Spurlock & Associates P.C. in Humble is representing Wyly.

Case No. 4:13-CV-615