Florida Woman Sues After Claims She Was Sexually Assaulted at Massage Envy

George Indest HeadshotBy George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On December 7, 2017, a woman who accused a Coral Gables Massage Envy masseur of sexual assault filed a civil lawsuit in Miami-Dade circuit court against that franchise’s owner. The suit charges that First World Financial Corp.’s negligence in hiring and business practices cleared the way for the alleged sexual assault by the male licensed massage therapist.

According to the suit, she is seeking compensation for “injury and expense, including but not limited to, psychological and emotional injuries, mental anguish, and the loss of the enjoyment of life.”

I recently wrote a blog about a similar case that was filed in Washington, D.C., seeking $25 million in damages. Read it here.

Details of the Florida Suit.

After the allegations came forward, the massage therapist was charged criminally with sexual battery and felony battery. He pled guilty to felony battery and received five years probation. His massage therapist license has been under an emergency restriction order from the Florida Department of Health (DOH), which still allows him to give massages, but a supervisor must be present. His license expired in August 2017.

The woman, who is not named in the suit, claims that First World knew of the numerous nationwide sexual assault reports but didn’t tell women coming in for massages. Nor did First World “have reasonable policies and procedures in place to protect its female guests from a sexual misconduct by a person performing services at Massage Envy.

To read a prior blog I wrote on a similar case involving a massage therapist in hot water, click here.

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:

Neal, David. “She says she was sexually assaulted at Massage Envy. Now she’s suing.” Miami Herald. (November 17, 2017). Web.

Neal, David. “7 healthcare workers disciplined over fraud, drug use, rape allegation.” Miami Herald. (June 17, 2017). 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: Legal representation for massage therapists, legal representation for Department of Health (DOH) Investigation, legal representation for Board of Massage Therapy investigations, Massage Therapy License defense attorney, massage therapy licensure attorney, licensure defense attorney, legal representation for massage therapy license investigation, massage therapy defense, legal representation for massage therapy regulations, legal representation for employee of massage establishment, legal representation for employer of massage establishment, massage therapist attorney, regulations of massage therapists, legal representation for health professionals, health law defense attorney, The Health Law Firm, reviews of The Health Law Firm attorneys, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews

“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 © 2018 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

 

Massage Therapist Sued for $25 Million After Alleged Sexual Assault

Headshot of attorney George IndestBy George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

A woman who claims she was assaulted at a Massage Envy location in the Northwest section of the District of Columbia (D.C.) filed a $25 million lawsuit against the company and the massage therapist who she said attacked her. The alleged victim, who is not identified in the suit, said the franchise owners never should have hired the alleged attacker, and that they knew he previously had been accused of assaulting women.

The Allegations.

According to the suit, the defendant removed a sheet that was covering the woman and made inappropriate oral sexual contact toward the end of her 90-minute massage at a Massage Envy location. The woman immediately pulled the sheet back up to cover herself and told him to leave.

The defendant has been accused in four separate reports of sexual misconduct at three different locations. Click here to read about all of the accusations against the defendant.

The woman who filed the suit is seeking $25 million from Massage Envy, the franchise owners and the defendant.

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:

Segraves, Mark. “Woman Sues DC Massage Envy, Masseur for $25M After Alleged Assault.” NBC Washington. (October 14, 2017). Web.

Swalec, Andrea. “Massage Envy Worker Now Accused in 4th Sex Abuse Case.” NBC Washington. (September 21, 2017). 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: Legal representation for massage therapists, legal representation for Department of Health (DOH) Investigation, legal representation for Board of Massage Therapy investigations, Massage Therapy Licence defense attorney, massage therapy licensure attorney, licensure defense attorney, legal representation for massage therapy license investigation, massage therapy defense, legal representation for massage therapy regulations, legal representation for employee of massage establishment, legal representation for employer of massage establishment, massage therapist attorney, regulations of massage therapists, legal representation for health professionals, health law defense attorney, The Health Law Firm, reviews of The Health Law Firm attorneys, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews

 

“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 © 2018 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

Florida Woman Sues After Claims She Was Sexually Assaulted at Massage Envy

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

On December 7, 2017, a woman who accused a Coral Gables Massage Envy masseur of sexual assault filed a civil lawsuit in Miami-Dade circuit court against that franchise’s owner. The suit charges that First World Financial Corp.’s negligence in hiring and business practices cleared the way for the alleged sexual assault by the male licensed massage therapist.

According to the suit, she is seeking compensation for “injury and expense, including but not limited to, psychological and emotional injuries, mental anguish, and the loss of the enjoyment of life.”

I recently wrote a blog about a similar case that was filed in Washington, D.C., seeking $25 million in damages. Read it here.

Details of the Florida Suit.

After the allegations came forward, the massage therapist was charged criminally with sexual battery and felony battery. He pled guilty to felony battery and received five years probation. His massage therapist license has been under an emergency restriction order from the Florida Department of Health (DOH), which still allows him to give massages, but a supervisor must be present. His license expired in August 2017.

The woman, who is not named in the suit, claims that First World knew of the numerous nationwide sexual assault reports but didn’t tell women coming in for massages. Nor did First World “have reasonable policies and procedures in place to protect its female guests from a sexual misconduct by a person performing services at Massage Envy.

To read a prior blog I wrote on a similar case involving a massage therapist in hot water, click here.

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:

Neal, David. “She says she was sexually assaulted at Massage Envy. Now she’s suing.” Miami Herald. (November 17, 2017). Web.

Neal, David. “7 healthcare workers disciplined over fraud, drug use, rape allegation.” Miami Herald. (June 17, 2017). 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: Legal representation for massage therapists, legal representation for Department of Health (DOH) Investigation, legal representation for Board of Massage Therapy investigations, Massage Therapy License defense attorney, massage therapy licensure attorney, licensure defense attorney, legal representation for massage therapy license investigation, massage therapy defense, legal representation for massage therapy regulations, legal representation for employee of massage establishment, legal representation for employer of massage establishment, massage therapist attorney, regulations of massage therapists, legal representation for health professionals, health law defense attorney, The Health Law Firm, reviews of The Health Law Firm attorneys, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews

“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 © 2018 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

Massage Therapist Sued for $25 Million After Alleged Sexual Assault

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

A woman who claims she was assaulted at a Massage Envy location in the Northwest section of the District of Columbia (D.C.) filed a $25 million lawsuit against the company and the massage therapist who she said attacked her. The alleged victim, who is not identified in the suit, said the franchise owners never should have hired the alleged attacker, and that they knew he previously had been accused of assaulting women.

The Allegations.

According to the suit, the defendant removed a sheet that was covering the woman and made inappropriate oral sexual contact toward the end of her 90-minute massage at a Massage Envy location. The woman immediately pulled the sheet back up to cover herself and told him to leave.

The defendant has been accused in four separate reports of sexual misconduct at three different locations. Click here to read about all of the accusations against the defendant.

The woman who filed the suit is seeking $25 million from Massage Envy, the franchise owners and the defendant.

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:

Segraves, Mark. “Woman Sues DC Massage Envy, Masseur for $25M After Alleged Assault.” NBC Washington. (October 14, 2017). Web.

Swalec, Andrea. “Massage Envy Worker Now Accused in 4th Sex Abuse Case.” NBC Washington. (September 21, 2017). 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: Legal representation for massage therapists, legal representation for Department of Health (DOH) Investigation, legal representation for Board of Massage Therapy investigations, Massage Therapy Licence defense attorney, massage therapy licensure attorney, licensure defense attorney, legal representation for massage therapy license investigation, massage therapy defense, legal representation for massage therapy regulations, legal representation for employee of massage establishment, legal representation for employer of massage establishment, massage therapist attorney, regulations of massage therapists, legal representation for health professionals, health law defense attorney, The Health Law Firm, reviews of The Health Law Firm attorneys, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews

 

“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 © 2018 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

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