H.A.C. pat branaugh or lifetime fitness Flower Mound, Texas

Where do I start, this was the biggest example of misleading trust by Pat Branaugh the former owner of the "H.A.C." and lifetime Fitness of Flower Mound Manager Dana Brunk and Adam Bebus of their National Office.  It hurts me now as I type.  It's been a year now since my karate school had to close because of the lies and distrust these people did.  Not just me but the students that trusted me.  For this I feel the worst the programs we taught were making a real difference in their young lives.  Things like confidence, honor, respect and becoming better individuals that they could carry on to their adult lives.  They money I spent and they stole from me and my family is secondary.  It's the principal and how they acted as examples to young people.   Here it goes, as painful as it  re-live what they did for the all mighty dollar.   No heart in anyone of individuals and the companies they represent......................

In November of 2007 Pat me about teaching full-time at his business "The Health and Athletic Center"(also known as H.A.C.) in Flower Mound, Tx.  He had an unfinished room he would sub-let to me.   It was approximately 1200 sq. feet.  The cost to finish it off to start teaching was going to be approximately $15,000.00.  We agreed on a rent of $1750.00 a month.  He encourage me that because of his foot traffic and his reputation it would be a great opportunity for both of us.  The only thing he wanted was a 3 year lease.  He had been in business for over 20 years and assured me he wasn't going anywhere.   After many delays with a town permit we opened our new school on May 1, 2008.  As I hoped for we exploded with growth immediately.  Between the foot traffic, new sign-ups,special classes and satellite schools I kept running out of uniforms for new students.  Because of my limited funds the gamble of starting to pay off.

In morning of August 30, 2008 was when it all started.  At my 9 am class, a student informed me of the news that Pat had sold the business to Lifeftime Fitness and they were going to the H.A.C. down.  After class I went to confort Pat about this news and he confirmed it.  Said had talked to the owners and everyone concerned that nothing would change me Master Han's.  Informed me it would be better because they had more locations for us to teach in.  Also said they would probably pay for stage 2 of the remolding of the school.  For the moment I felt relieved.  What happened the next few months was a complete act of misleading and false information by Pat.

As per his instructions in April of 2008 when I signed the lease he said he would get it back to me in a couple of days.  I trusted him to do it.  We got so busy I just forgot about it because everything was going so good with growth.  Pat kept telling me how his members were thrilled with Master Han's and to keep up the good work.  I had never been in business before and was in 7th heaven.

Pat invited me to a meeting that night that Lifetime was have with all his employees about the sale of the business.  He said it would be a good opportunity for me to meet everyone from Lifetime.  Said they were excited about meeting me.  He was right they were all very friendly and lead me to believe that nothing would change and the possibility of Master Han's teaching in their other locations.  They said they wanted to meet with me the following week.  It took them over 8 weeks to have a meeting.  This is when I realized when looking for my lease that Pat had never returned it to me.  When I asked him for it this is when he informed me that he never signed it and wasn't planning to sign it.  He still continued to tell me "don't worry everything is great with Lifetime". 

When I finally met and corresponded with Dana Brunk and Adam Bebus of Lifetime, they know nothing about a lease.  I showed them a copy.  They both assured me don't worry.  What I found out was that Pat had been in talks with Lifetime about the sale of his business while we were in the first stage of our remolding.  Even when he asked for a 3 year lease from me.  One of the questions I asked Pat before starting my school was..."You're not going anywhere, are you?" His response was "no way".  I put all my financial resources in opening this school.   Less than 2 months after Lifetime took over they stopped all programs there, loss of foot traffic, closed Kid's Club, the daycare which I drew alot students from, raised rates to members which caused loss of students because they wouldn't let their kids go to classes, took me off the website link and brought another karate school in a direct violation of the lease.   They asked to vacate and said they would rein burst me for the remolding cost.  Again another lie or misleading information.  Funny they never would respond to anything I wrote in emails always over the phone.  I now no why. 

With the loss of students and program my enrollment decreased and with all my money invested in their building, I tried but couldn't put together the finances to re open in another location.   All those students and parents who trusted me were disappointed.   I haven't taught another class since then.  It still hurts now and I'm sure for a long time is going to hurt to think about it.   What to I want from Pat Branaugh, Dana Brunk and Adam Bebus?  I shouldn't have to ask, just do what they said --DO THE RIGHT THING!!!!