Victory in Quebec

Coach Greg Glassman and CrossFit help a Canadian affiliate owner through legal issues related to an illegitimate “affiliate.”

A recent victory in the Superior Court of Quebec represents a significant win for CrossFit trainers and affiliates everywhere and shows how CrossFit Inc. protects the rights and privileges of those who have exclusive use of the CrossFit name.

Details of the suit have been provided by public documents, as well as law-enforcement sources, some of whom remain undisclosed as the matter is currently subject to an investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Canadian federal law-enforcement agency.

When Karl Gélinas of Quebec became embroiled in a legal dispute surrounding an illegitimate affiliate, he was struggling to pay the fees to defend himself and consequently entered into a settlement agreement that would have prohibited him from affiliating or being a CrossFit coach.

Just a few weeks before the settlement became final, Gélinas had a fortuitous encounter with CrossFit Founder and CEO Greg Glassman, Affiliate Support head Kathy Glassman and CrossFit’s general counsel at the Canada East Regional in May 2012 in Toronto.

When informed of the situation, Coach Glassman simply said, “We will make this right.”