Please help with breach of Contract: Race Discrimination

I publish illustrative scenarios prepared by my practice. All participants and conversations are fictional. The fictional posts are not posts by real users, accounts of client experiences, or reports of actual results.
Illustrative scenario prepared by my practice.
For informational purposes only. This is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.
Hypothetical question

I'm dealing with a situation and need some guidance.

gym won't let me cancel membership. I've been dealing with this for about 2 weeks now and the situation isn't improving.

The contract was signed 10 months ago. I am not sure I have the original signed copy. The total amount in dispute is approximately $85,000.

Should I hire a lawyer for this or try to handle it myself?

Illustrative response

Here's my take on the legal issues.

The legal framework here involves both federal and state law. At the federal level, the implied covenant of good faith. Your state may provide additional protections.

Before taking legal action, consider sending a formal demand letter. In many cases, this alone resolves the issue.

Illustrative response

Just want to point out — the statute of limitations might be a factor here. In some states it's as short as 1-2 years. Don't sit on this too long.

Illustrative response

I've dealt with this before.

Most folks screw this up by is filing with the appropriate government agency. I'd recommend gathering evidence first instead.

Illustrative response

Get everything in writing going forward. Verbal agreements are hard to enforce.

Illustrative response

Has anyone tried [reaching out to their legal department directly]?