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Nash’s fitness chain started with one location in downtown Vancouver in 2007. In 2009, Nash and his partners announced they had bought the Fitness World chain.

At the time of the purchase, it was estimated the combined number of Nash-branded clubs and Fitness World facilities raked in about $50 million in revenue annually. Marketing experts called the expansion a strategic brand-building move for Nash, who was nearing the end of his NBA career.

The lawsuit came after Mastrov bought the Kings in May 2013, but was required by NBA bylaws to stop carrying on business with Nash, who was at the time a player with the Lakers.

In July 2014, Mastrov, without notifying Nash, resigned as an officer with a B.C. company connected to the clubs named FWG Acquisitions Ltd, and transferred all his shares to Schlemm, according to the suit. Within days, SNFW was incorporated and in September 2014 B & L received notification that it was required to sell all its securities to SNFW, says the writ. B & L did not sell its shares in FWG Acquisitions to SNFW, instead selling half of its shares to each of Schlemm and Mastrov, it says.

The writ says that since October 2014 SNFW has continued to operate the fitness facilities throughout B.C. under the name “Steve Nash Fitness World.”

“B & L Holdings Inc. has received no compensation from SNFW Fitness B.C. Ltd. for the use of the name “Steve Nash” to promote these fitness facilities,” it says. Steve Nash has not, since October 14, 2014, had any involvement with the operation of the fitness facilities. He has not been a member of the board of directors of SNFW Fitness B.C. Ltd. He has not signed an affidavit certifying that he endorses the fitness facilities in any way.”