In a compelling legal battle, a California resident has filed a lawsuit against a fitness company and its former Director of Operations, alleging multiple violations of state laws and torts. The complaint was lodged by Michael Devin Floyd on May 7, 2025, in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, targeting Saber Fitness IE, LLC and Brandon Romero. Floyd's allegations stem from incidents at Planet Fitness locations in San Jose and Oakland, where he claims wrongful termination of his gym memberships and obstruction in obtaining crucial evidence for his defense in a criminal case.
Michael Devin Floyd's lawsuit outlines a series of grievances that began with an incident on August 18, 2021, at the Planet Fitness gym located on Saratoga Avenue in San Jose. This incident led to criminal charges against Floyd for brandishing a firearm. He asserts that the defendants failed to preserve video surveillance footage that could have exonerated him. Despite repeated requests and assurances from Planet Fitness management to retain this footage, it was never produced during his trial. "Employees of Planet Fitness intentionally obstructed efforts to obtain likely exculpatory evidence," Floyd contends in his complaint.
Floyd further accuses Brandon Romero of instructing gym staff to monitor him closely after he opened another membership at the Oakland location on September 17, 2021. Despite reaching out via email multiple times without response from Romero, Floyd discovered accusatory notes about him were entered into the gym's computer system without his knowledge or consent. His membership was terminated again shortly after being prevented from making purchases at the gym.
The lawsuit brings forth several causes of action against Saber Fitness IE, LLC and Brandon Romero: spoliation of evidence for failing to provide video footage; promissory estoppel for not honoring their promise to preserve said footage; breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing by terminating his membership unjustly; and violation under California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) for engaging in unethical business practices.
Floyd seeks substantial compensation for damages incurred due to these alleged wrongdoings. He demands $450,000 for representing himself over three years during criminal proceedings; $10,000 reimbursement for hiring legal counsel; $50,000 compensation for time spent incarcerated; and $2 million for enduring a felony conviction that impacts his life significantly. Additionally, he requests coverage for all costs related to filing this lawsuit along with any other compensatory or punitive relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Representing himself as "IN PRO PER," Michael Devin Floyd is navigating this complex legal terrain without formal legal representation against well-established entities like Saber Fitness IE LLC., whose contact information lists Amanda Garcia as their registered agent through CT Corporation System based out of Glendale CA., while Brandon Romero resides in Covina CA.. The case is presided over by Judge L Ayala under Case ID: 25CV465400 within Santa Clara County’s jurisdictional boundaries where most disputed actions occurred according to jurisdictional statements provided within court documents filed earlier last month.