Florida Massage Therapist Charged in Sexual Battery Case Following Several Complaints

Headshot of The Health Law Firm's attorney George F. Indest IIIBy George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
On June 24, 2016, a South Florida massage therapist was charged with sexual battery after being accused of assaulting a client during a session in February 2016. The therapist who allegedly worked at Chi Spa in Pompano Beach, Florida, pleaded not guilty on charges of sexual battery on a person older than 18 without violence.

The Complaints.

According to police reports, at least three women claimed to have been inappropriately touched during massage appointments at Chi Spa. Police said the spa’s owner said she was aware of one incident because the woman called to ask for her money back and complained about “too much touching.”

To learn about how to protect yourself as a massage therapist from situations like this and the repercussions, click here to read one of my prior blogs.

Contact Health Law Attorneys Experienced in the Representation of Massage Therapists.

The attorneys of The Health Law Firm provide legal representation to massage therapists in Department of Health (DOH) investigations, licensing matters and other types of investigations of health professionals and providers. We have represented a number of massage therapists who have had summary actions initiated against their massage therapy licenses by the Department of Health (DOH).

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

Sources:

Batchelor, Samantha. “South Florida massage therapist accused of touching clients’ breasts, genitals.” Local 10 News. (June 25, 2016). Web.

Geggis, Anne. “Massage therapist charged in sexual battery case.” Orlando Sentienl. (June 25, 2016). Web.

About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida area. www.TheHealthLawfirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone; (407) 331-6620.

KeyWords: Department of Health Investigation, Florida Board of Massage Therapy, Massage Therapy Licence, criminal background screening, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida massage therapist, license disciplined, license investigation, license revoked, licensure defense coverage, massage therapy defense, massage therapy regulations, employee of massage establishment, employer of massage establishment, massage therapist attorney, massage therapist lawyer, regulations of massage therapists, regulations of professionals and occupations, The Health Law Firm, Health Law

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of George F. Indest III, P.A. – The Health Law Firm, a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 2016 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

By |2024-03-14T10:01:11-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Health Facilities Law Blog|Tags: , , , , , , |Comments Off on Florida Massage Therapist Charged in Sexual Battery Case Following Several Complaints

Florida Massage Therapist Charged in Sexual Battery Case Following Several Complaints

George IndestBy George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
On June 24, 2016, a South Florida massage therapist was charged with sexual battery after being accused of assaulting a client during a session in February 2016. The therapist who allegedly worked at Chi Spa in Pompano Beach, Florida, pleaded not guilty on charges of sexual battery on a person older than 18 without violence.

The Complaints.

According to police reports, at least three women claimed to have been inappropriately touched during massage appointments at Chi Spa. Police said the spa’s owner said she was aware of one incident because the woman called to ask for her money back and complained about “too much touching.”

To learn about how to protect yourself as a massage therapist from situations like this and the repercussions, click here to read one of my prior blogs.

Contact Health Law Attorneys Experienced in the Representation of Massage Therapists.

The attorneys of The Health Law Firm provide legal representation to massage therapists in Department of Health (DOH) investigations, licensing matters and other types of investigations of health professionals and providers. We have represented a number of massage therapists who have had summary actions initiated against their massage therapy licenses by the Department of Health (DOH).

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

Sources:

Batchelor, Samantha. “South Florida massage therapist accused of touching clients’ breasts, genitals.” Local 10 News. (June 25, 2016). Web.

Geggis, Anne. “Massage therapist charged in sexual battery case.” Orlando Sentienl. (June 25, 2016). Web.

About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida area. www.TheHealthLawfirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone; (407) 331-6620.

KeyWords: Department of Health Investigation, Florida Board of Massage Therapy, Massage Therapy Licence, criminal background screening, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida massage therapist, license disciplined, license investigation, license revoked, licensure defense coverage, massage therapy defense, massage therapy regulations, employee of massage establishment, employer of massage establishment, massage therapist attorney, massage therapist lawyer, regulations of massage therapists, regulations of professionals and occupations, The Health Law Firm, Health Law

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of George F. Indest III, P.A. – The Health Law Firm, a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 2016 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

Central Florida Doctor’s Home and Offices Raided Over Alleged Improper Prescribing Practices

4 Indest-2009-3By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

In a joint operation, law enforcement officials raided the home and two offices of a Central Florida physician on November 8, 2013, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office alleges that the doctor is being investigated for improper prescribing practices. According to the press release, this is not the first time the physician has been under investigation.

The raid was a collective effort between the Osceola County Investigative Bureau (OCIB), Florida Department of Health (DOH), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), and the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation (MBI).

Physician Not Arrested After Raid.

On November 8, 2013, law enforcement agents searched the physician’s home and his offices in Kissimmee, Florida and Orlando, Florida. The Florida DOH also issued an emergency order restricting the doctor’s privilege to prescribe narcotics. The physician was not arrested.

The physician was allegedly the target of two separate Florida DOH complaints in June 2013. Both complaints alleged the physician wrote prescriptions for painkillers to patients who did not have a medical need for the drugs. Click here to read the two previous complaints.

Doctor Previously Blacklisted by CVS.

According to an Orlando Sentinel article, this physician was previously placed on a CVS document referred to as the “blacklist.” This list identifies Central Florida’s top physicians prescribing oxycodone. When the list was released, the pharmacy chain notified the physicians that CVS pharmacists would no longer fill their patients’ prescriptions. This blacklist was an effort by CVS to step up internal efforts to combat the nation’s prescription drug abuse epidemic. So far, CVS has released two blacklists, one was released in November 2011, and the second list was released in August 2013. You can read more about the two lists on our blog. Click here for part one, and click here for part two.

To read the Orlando Sentinel article, click here.

Florida Losing War on Prescription Drug Abuse.

Despite the aggressive “war on prescription drugs” the Sunshine State reportedly ranks eleventh highest nationally in drug overdose deaths.

I have represented a number of physicians who have been accused of “overprescribing.” Some of these were criminal investigations by local law enforcement authorities, such as a county sheriff’s office. Some were investigations by the DEA. Some were investigations by the state licensing agency such as the Florida DOH. To read a previous blog, “Legal Tips for Physicians to Manage Pain Patients,” click here.

Contact Health Law Attorneys Experienced with Investigations of Health Professionals and Providers.

The attorneys of The Health Law Firm provide legal representation to physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists and other health providers in Department of Health (DOH) investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigations, FBI investigations, Medicare investigations, Medicaid investigations and other types of investigations of health professionals and providers.

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

Comments?

Do you think Florida’s war on prescription drug abuse is working? Please leave any thoughtful comments below.

Sources:

Lizasuain, Twis. “Dr. Ibem Borges Investigated for Over Prescribing Drugs.” Osceola County Sheriff’s Public and Medica Relations. (November 8, 2013).

Pavuk, Amy. “Agents Raid Home, Offices of Central Florida Physician Suspected of Improper Prescribing Practices.” Orlando Sentinel. (November 8, 2013). From: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-doctor-ibem-borges-raid-20131108,0,735835.story

About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of George F. Indest III, P.A. – The Health Law Firm, a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 1996-2012 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

Deadline Looming: New Fingerprint Requirement for Florida Massage Therapists

By Lance O. Leider, J.D., The Health Law Firm

You can run, but you can’t hide.

During the 2014 Legislative Session CS/HB 1065 was passed. This law requires all new applicants and existing massage therapists and establishment owners to submit digital fingerprints. The law has been in effect since July 1, 2014 for new licenses. However, the deadline to submit fingerprints for existing licenses is January 31, 2015.

Click here to read CS/HB 1065.

Law Details.

According to the law, the following individuals must undergo a criminal background screening prior to January 31, 2015:

–    All massage therapists licensed in Florida prior to July 1, 2014.

–    Any person with an ownership interest in a massage establishment licensed in
Florida prior to July 1, 2014.

–    If the massage establishment is owned by a corporation that has more than
$250,000 of business assets in Florida, the owner, officer or individual directly
involved in the management of the establishment will be required to submit to
background screenings.

What’s a Digital Fingerprint?

If you haven’t already, massage therapists must locate a Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)-approved LiveScan Provider. LiveScan is a digital fingerprint used throughout the country by law enforcement, state agencies, and employers. The LiveScan provider will electronically send your fingerprint to the FDLE.

The cost for submitting a digital fingerprint varies by location, as does the information an applicant needs to bring with them.

It’s important to remember, if you include a photo with a LiveScan fingerprint, it will stay in the Florida Department of Health’s (DOH) database. However, if there is no photo included, then you will need to resend your finger print every two years.

Exemptions with New Requirement.

Licensed physicians, osteopathic physicians or chiropractors, who employ a licensed massage therapist to perform massages on the physician’s patients at the physician’s practice, are exempt from the background screening requirements.

Purpose of the New Law.

This law is new to massage therapists, not to the field of healthcare. Many other healthcare providers in Florida, including doctors, dentists, chiropractors, and nurses, have been required to submit digital fingerprints for years.

If a qualifying felony offense does show up on the background screening, the DOH will issue an emergency suspension order (ESO), suspending the license of that massage therapist or massage establishment. The DOH will also deny the application or renewal of any massage therapist or massage establishment with certain prior felony conviction. The purpose of the fingerprint-based background checks are to eliminate people with past felony convictions from obtaining or keeping their massage therapy licenses. Be mindful that any and all prior convictions will show up on this background check. This means, that even if you have a very old criminal history, it can potentially result in an investigation by the Board and possible disqualification from licensure. If you have questions regarding your massage therapy license, contact an experienced healthcare attorney.

Comments?

Did you know about this new law? Have you sent in your digital fingerprint yet? Please leave any thoughtful comments below.

Contact Health Law Attorneys Experienced in the Representation of Massage Therapists.

The attorneys of The Health Law Firm provide legal representation to massage therapists in Department of Health (DOH) investigations, licensing matters and other types of investigations of health professionals and providers. We have represented a number of massage therapists who have had summary actions initiated against their massage therapy licenses by the Department of Health (DOH).

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

About the Author: Lance O. Leider is an attorney with The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Avenue, Altamonte Springs, Florida 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of George F. Indest III, P.A. – The Health Law Firm, a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 1996-2014 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

Texas Massage Worker Arrested For Offering Sexual Services During Undercover Police Sting

George IndestBy George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
On April 15, 2016, law enforcement authorities executed a search warrant at Accu Therapy Massage, a massage parlor in Odessa, Texas, suspected of offering customers illicit sexual favors for money, Odessa Police said. A 48-year-old woman was suspected of soliciting an undercover Odessa police detective at the massage parlor and was arrested, a police spokesman said. The suspect was arrested on a single misdemeanor count of prostitution.

The Undercover Sting.

Undercover detectives entered the business and were approached by a female employee who attempted to sell them sexual favors, a police official involved in the ongoing investigation said. The unidentified woman propositioned two officers and quoted each of them between $120 and $200 for her services.

To learn about how to protect yourself from situations life this and the repercussions, click here to read one of my prior blogs.

Contact Health Law Attorneys Experienced in the Representation of Massage Therapists.

The attorneys of The Health Law Firm provide legal representation to massage therapists in Department of Health (DOH) investigations, licensing matters and other types of investigations of health professionals and providers. We have represented a number of massage therapists who have had summary actions initiated against their massage therapy licenses by the Department of Health (DOH).

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

Sources:

“Woman arrested at Odessa massage parlor.” Odessa American News. (April 15,2016). Web.

Deng, Julia. “Odessa massage worker offered sexual services during undercover police sting.” News West 9. (April 7, 2016). Web.
About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

KeyWords: Department of Health Investigation, Florida Board of Massage Therapy, Massage Therapy Licence, criminal background screening, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida massage therapist, license disciplined, license investigation, license revoked, licensure defense coverage, massage therapy defense, massage therapy regulations, defense attorney, defense lawyer, employee of massage establishment, employer of massage establishment, Florida Statutes, human trafficking, massage therapist attorney, massage therapist lawyer, regulations of massage therapists, regulations of professionals and occupations, The Health Law Firm, Health Law

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of George F. Indest III, P.A. – The Health Law Firm, a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 2016 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

By |2024-03-14T10:01:47-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Massage Law Blog|Tags: , , , , , , |Comments Off on Texas Massage Worker Arrested For Offering Sexual Services During Undercover Police Sting

Florida Massage Therapist Charged in Sexual Battery Case Following Several Complaints

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
On June 24, 2016, a South Florida massage therapist was charged with sexual battery after being accused of assaulting a client during a session in February 2016. The therapist who allegedly worked at Chi Spa in Pompano Beach, Florida, pleaded not guilty on charges of sexual battery on a person older than 18 without violence.

The Complaints.

According to police reports, at least three women claimed to have been inappropriately touched during massage appointments at Chi Spa. Police said the spa’s owner said she was aware of one incident because the woman called to ask for her money back and complained about “too much touching.”

To learn about how to protect yourself as a massage therapist from situations like this and the repercussions, click here to read one of my prior blogs.

Contact Health Law Attorneys Experienced in the Representation of Massage Therapists.

The attorneys of The Health Law Firm provide legal representation to massage therapists in Department of Health (DOH) investigations, licensing matters and other types of investigations of health professionals and providers. We have represented a number of massage therapists who have had summary actions initiated against their massage therapy licenses by the Department of Health (DOH).

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

Sources:

Batchelor, Samantha. “South Florida massage therapist accused of touching clients’ breasts, genitals.” Local 10 News. (June 25, 2016). Web.

Geggis, Anne. “Massage therapist charged in sexual battery case.” Orlando Sentienl. (June 25, 2016). Web.

About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida area. www.TheHealthLawfirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone; (407) 331-6620.

KeyWords: Department of Health Investigation, Florida Board of Massage Therapy, Massage Therapy Licence, criminal background screening, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida massage therapist, license disciplined, license investigation, license revoked, licensure defense coverage, massage therapy defense, massage therapy regulations, employee of massage establishment, employer of massage establishment, massage therapist attorney, massage therapist lawyer, regulations of massage therapists, regulations of professionals and occupations, The Health Law Firm, Health Law

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of George F. Indest III, P.A. – The Health Law Firm, a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 2016 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

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