Sexual Assault Lawsuit Filed Against Florida Massage Envy - Legal Reader (blog)

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Massage Envy Spa; Image Courtesy of NBC Miami, http://www.nbcmiami.com/

After an uncomfortable experience at a Massage Envy in Clermont, Florida, a woman filed a lawsuit against the franchise owner claiming “they failed to protect customers from sexual abuse.” According to the woman, while she was getting a massage, which is supposed to be a relaxing experience, she was inappropriately touched by her masseuse back in May of this year.

According to the lawsuit, the woman “felt paralyzed and was in shock” when the abuse occurred. When explaining what transpired, the woman’s attorney, Adam Horowitz, said, “He was breathing heavily. He massaged her neck, he moved down both of her arms and (at) that point … groped both of her breasts with his hands.” Then, the masseuse had the nerve to ask her what was going through her mind, to which she responded that “she wanted to go home.”

This isn’t the first time Horowitz, an attorney in Fort Lauderdale, has represented a client for incidents like the one in Clermont. In fact, over the last two years, “he has filed about 25 civil suits against massage companies,” including the latest one against the Clermont Massage Envy franchise. In every case his clients have submitted claims of sexual assault, leading Horowitz to believe that the “lawsuits indicate a large problem of people who may be in the industry with the intent to make sexual contact.” He said:

“We have a setting … where men are alone with women who are undressed and laying in a vulnerable position in a dark room.”

Despite the allegations in the recent Clermont case, the accused massage therapist has denied any wrongdoing. Nevertheless, the case is under review, and there has been no news on whether the accused has been removed from his position. However, as Horowitz pointed out, firing massage therapists who have been accused of misconduct, including sexual assault, doesn’t always solve the problem. In fact, many go on to work at other parlors.


Massage Envy Logo; Image Courtesy of Top Class Actions, https://topclassactions.com/

This is disturbing news for anyone who visits a massage parlor with plans of getting a relaxing massage. As Horowitz explained, when you visit a massage parlor, “You’re placing an extraordinary amount of trust in a massage therapist.” He added, “You’re going into a dimly lit room, often with your clothes off, closing your eyes and getting in a vulnerable position, trying to get your brain to relax.”

So how has Massage Envy responded to the allegations of misconduct and sexual assault? Well, the Arizona-based company with more than 1,150 locations nationwide issued the following written statement:

“Massage Envy Franchising and its franchisees are committed to ensuring guests have a safe and professional experience. We have a clear incident reporting process, we strictly enforce our Code of Conduct and Zero Tolerance Policy, and impose serious consequences for those who violate these policies.”

Sources:


Lawsuit alleging sexual abuse at Clermont location is the latest complaint against Massage Envy

Woman files lawsuit against owner of massage parlor, alleges abuse

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