Hi everyone, I’m based in Montreal and something serious happened at my local gym today.
I was doing my usual weekend workout on a machine. An older man came up asking if he could work in, but I was in the middle of my circuit and about to start another set, so I said no. After I finished a set, I stayed seated to rest and briefly checked my phone.
That’s when things escalated. The man got visibly angry and tried to use the machine while I was literally sitting on it. He physically pushed against me as if to shove me off. I told him to stop and back off. He then went to reception, and the staff asked me how much longer I’d take. I gave them a time, and the man went to wait.
But after a few minutes, he came back raging. This time he grabbed my arm aggressively, hard enough to leave scratches and visible marks. It was basically an assault. People started to gather, staff intervened again, and eventually they asked him to leave. The police were called, but the man ran off before they arrived.
Now the police are apparently looking to arrest him, and I’ve got physical marks on my arm from where he grabbed me.
I’m shaken up because I never thought I’d be physically assaulted in my own gym just for resting between sets.
My questions:
- What are my legal options here in Quebec?
- Do I need to get medical documentation of the scratches/bruises for evidence?
- Is there any liability on the gym for not handling this situation sooner?
Any advice on the right legal steps to take next would be really appreciated.
Location: Montreal, QC