Peabody gym club files suit over tennis league rejection

PEABODY – Latitude Sports Club in Peabody has filed a court action seeking to recover $80,000 in damages from the North Shore Tennis League claiming unfair and deceptive business practices.Grossi & Denisco, Inc., doing business as Latitude Sports Clubs in Peabody and also in Amesbury, filed the court action Thursday in Salem Superior Court against the North Shore League, doing business as the North Shore Tennis League of North Andover.According to the complaint, Grossi & Dennisco operate Latitude Sports Club in Peabody, which is equipped with tennis courts.Latitude sought to participate in the tennis league in January of 2010, but was denied application the next month, in a seven to five vote against entry. Gary Barros, the president of the tennis league, stated it would be “taking revenue” from other clubs and taking their members would “hurt” the other programs, according to the complaint.Attorney James N. Doherty Jr., of North Andover, who filed the court complaint on behalf of Grossi & Denisco, maintains their actions constitute an attempt to monopolize a part of the trade by willful unfair and deceptive acts.He seeks $80,000 in damages as well as interest, costs and attorney fees.A trial before a jury is requested from the court.