Top-Rated Spa Massage Sexual Assault Lawyers Trigger Warning: This page may contain content that is painful or upsetting if you have been sexually assaulted or have experienced sexual abuse. If you experience distress while reading the following content, you can reach a support specialist through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at (800) 656-4673. If you or a loved one have been a victim of a sexual assault during a massage, you may be able to take legal action. The law offices of Florin|Roebig have managed a number of sexual assault cases, and we are ready to provide a free consultation to discuss your case now. How to Know If Your Massage Involved Sexual Assault If you have been to a massage clinic and were touched inappropriately or sexually harassed by the massage therapist, you are not alone, and you have options. Unfortunately, massage sexual assault has become common in the last few years. There are no reports on the exact amount of people who have been sexually abused during a massage session. However, one civil lawsuit against the major corporation Massage Envy was filed by more than 180 women who claimed they were sexually assaulted during their massage. Massages involve intimate touching, which may make it difficult to determine whether you were inappropriately touched, even if you have a feeling a therapist went too far. What constitutes a sexual assault in the eyes of the law? You may have experienced a sexual assault if: The massage involved a nonconsensual, sexual act The massage therapist fondled your sexual parts or too closely to those parts, with or without you asking them to stop The masseuse forced you to, asked you to, implied, or suggested that you engage in sexual acts with them The massage therapist exposed their sexual body parts in front of you The therapist touched parts of you that you expressly asked them not to touch The therapist exposed part of your body you did not want to be exposed You were penetrated by the massage therapist in any way Even if you were not sexually assaulted through touching, you may have been sexually harassed if the therapist made unwelcome sexual suggestions or comments during your massage. Steps to Take After The Massage Session After a sexual assault, you may be feeling a myriad of emotions, ranging from angry to sad to vulnerable. Follow these steps to give you a sense of control again and to set things in motion for taking action against the massage therapist who violated you: 1. File a report with the massage clinic detailing sexual misconduct, if you haven’t already. 2. Call local law enforcement and file a report. This may be presented later for court records. If you aren’t ready to report the incident to a police department immediately after it happens, do it as soon as you are emotionally and mentally ready. You may 3. Notify the department of health in your state, or licensing agency for the massage parlor, of inappropriate sexual contact. 4. Seek professional help and personal support. Counselors and mental health therapists can help you begin the process of healing. Having advocates by your side, including close friends or family members, is also crucial to your recovery in the weeks and months ahead. 5. Consult a personal injury lawyer like Florin Roebig. You may already know that the person who sexually assaulted you can be prosecuted on criminal charges. But you can also start a personal injury claim to seek compensation for the trauma you’ve experienced, and a lawyer can help. Can I Sue for Sexual Assault During a Massage? If you experienced sexual assault during massage therapy, you may be able to start a personal injury lawsuit against the perpetrator (the massage therapist). Some people get the terms civil lawsuit and criminal charges confused, but here’s what to know about the differences between the two. Criminal charges may be brought against anyone who commits a criminal act, such as sexual assault or rape. If you report a sexual assault, the state where you live has the power to decide whether to pursue or drop criminal charges. If the masseuse who assaulted you is charged with sexual assault, they may face jail or prison time, fines, and other legal consequences. This outcome takes care of the crime that took place, but what about the trauma you endured as a result? Sexual assault lawsuits allow victims to pursue their attackers for compensation as a form of restitution — a payment that attempts to account for their pain and suffering. Plaintiffs in massage sexual assault cases may choose to file a personal injury lawsuit against the massage therapists or the corporation responsible for the sexual abuse. Common Places Where Massages Occur Massage treatment dates back thousands of years, so massages are available in a myriad of locations, from luxury treatment centers to massage therapist offices. Here are some of the most common places where people can get a massage: Luxury spas Private massage offices At home, from a traveling massage therapist Hotels or resorts On cruise ships At a doctor’s office or through medical massage providers During a physical therapy session At a gym or health club At a hair or nail salon Massage therapy chains or corporation locations During a chiropractic visit At a hospital (medical massage) For an alternative therapy session Our Featured Case Results Personal Injury Property Loss and Damage Claims Construction Negligence Labor Law Product Liability Medical Malpractice Car Accident 1 $47.4M Personal Injury Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 2 $42M Motor Vehicle Accident Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 3 $9.55M Firearm Injury Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 4 $5.25M Hospital Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 5 $4M Personal Injury Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 1 $4.2M Property Damage Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 2 $2.5M Property Damage Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 3 $1.5M Industrial Explosion Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 4 $1.1M Property Damage Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 1 $3.9M Construction Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 2 $2.4M Construction Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 3 $2.3M Contractor Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 4 $1.5M Construction Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 5 $1.2M Construction Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 1 $6.8M Race Discrimination Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 2 $4.2M Whistleblower Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 3 $4.0M Sexual Harassment Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 4 $3.2M Nationality Discrimination Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 5 $2,0M Sexual Harassment Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 1 $5.3M Pharmaceutical Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 2 $3.2M Product Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 3 $1.3M Drug Company Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 4 $1.2M Product Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 1 $6.0M Medical Malpractice Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 2 $5M Orthopedic Malpractice Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 3 $3M Gastroenterology Malpractice Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 4 $2.25M Urology Malpractice Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 5 $1.7M Anesthesiology Malpractice Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 1 $42M Motor Vehicle Accident Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 2 $15M Motorcycle Accident Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 3 $6.1M Motorcycle Accident Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 4 $2.3M Car Accident Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 5 $1.8M Truck Accident Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. Find out if you have a case we could help you win Speak To a Specialist Massage Sex Assault Lawsuit Examples Because more and more victims of sexual assault in massage parlors have come forward to report the incidents, many have seen favorable outcomes when pursuing legal action against their attackers. Here are some of the most notable examples of personal injury lawsuits involving sexual assault during a massage session: As reported by the Tampa Bay Times, WTSP 10 NewsW, and WFLA Channel 8 NBC, Tommy Roebig and Wil Florin, founding partners of Florin Roebig, won a $47.4 million jury verdict in a Florida lawsuit involving massage therapy sexual battery in Pasco County. Our client, who was only identified as Jane Doe during the trial, was in her thirties and had gone to Essentials Massage and Facial of New Tampa, LLC., in Wesley Chapel for treatment for a prior neck injury. Raul A. Delarosa was the licensed massage therapist assigned to her by Essentials Massage and Facial of New Tampa, LLC. Delarosa sexually violated our client while she was on the table after she had already disrobed and was covered with a blanket for the massage. This judgment may be the largest jury verdict ever given in Pasco County. Lawsuits involving Massage Envy Spas. These lawsuits are ongoing. More than 180 women to date have filed lawsuits against the major massage chain, Massage Envy, for sexual misconduct they endured during massage sessions. Two women in Sedona, Arizona were awarded $4.9 million dollars after being sexually assaulted at a Sedona spa. Two women sued a Fort Myers, Florida spa in 2019 for sexual misconduct by the spa’s employee. One woman was awarded $3.3 million dollars in a civil lawsuit against Massage Heights, a major massage chain, after enduring sexual assault in their Woodlands, Texas location. Three women began suing a private massage therapy location in Lancaster, Ohio in 2021 for the sexual assault they experienced. Four women sued Massage Luxe for $100 million for the sexual assault they endured from a male massage therapist — who was also convicted for the rape of a Massage Envy client in 2018. Liability in Sexual Assault Cases If you’re considering suing for sexual assault, you may be wondering who can be held liable for your assault — the massage therapist or the massage company. The answer may be complex. Liability in any personal injury case involves negligence. That means that someone had to be negligent, or careless, in order for the injury to have occurred. While a massage therapy corporation may have been unaware that you were sexually assaulted during your visit to one of their establishments, this doesn’t always mean they were negligent or responsible. In some cases, civil courts may rule that the massage office was not liable for your assault if they followed proper hiring protocols including background checks, had safety measures in place, and were unaware that the individual who assaulted you was a risk (i.e. no prior reports of assault). In other cases, the massage chain where you were sexually abused could be held liable. For example, if you reported the abuse and they failed to address it or act, this could make them liable. Similarly, if they hired a person who is not licensed to practice in the state, this could be considered negligent hiring practice. A law firm has only to prove that the massage business was negligent in some way, that the negligence resulted in the hiring of an unethical or otherwise unsafe employee, and that this oversight led to your sexual assault. This is easier said than done, which is why it’s best to work with a massage sexual assault lawyer for your claim. Statute of Limitations for Sexual Assault Claims There are statutes of limitations on all personal injury claims, including those filed against negligent parties for sexual assault. A statute of limitations refers to the time limit you have to file a claim. In the state of Florida, you generally have four years from the date of the assault to file a claim against the perpetrator. Note that this timeline differs from the statute of limitations for filing criminal charges for statutory rape in Florida, which is based on details related to the crime. The statute of limitations for sexual assault criminal charges in Florida is generally four years but can range up to 10 years. These timelines may seem lengthy, but remember that a defendant’s lawyers will do everything in their power to protect their client’s interests. This includes using tactics to delay the filing of the claim or attempting to have it thrown out before it reaches trial. Types of Damages Awarded in Sexual Assault Cases Female customers who were sexually assaulted during a massage therapy session may be awarded either compensatory or punitive damages. Compensatory damages pay you (compensate) for a specific expense, while punitive damages are meant to punish the offender. Common compensatory damages named in sexual assault cases include: Medical costs, including hospital visit expenses, therapy or counseling sessions to help heal from trauma, and any ongoing medical visits related to sexual injuries Lost wages due to missing work from anxiety over the assault, emotional anguish, or enduring pain and suffering Disruption to quality of life, which may occur if the event traumatizes you in a way that affects other areas of work. For example, if the massage therapist was a male and after being sexually assaulted can no longer be alone with any male. Punitive damages are rarely awarded but may be given to victims when the court system wants to deter the defendant from making the same mistake again. For instance, if a massage corporation was negligent during hiring, leading to multiple sexual assaults, a judge may award punitive damages to ensure the massage company does not allow such details to slip through the cracks again. We Are Nationally Awarded Lawyers Find A Trusted Massage Sexual Assault Lawyer Today If you or someone you know were a victim of sexual assault during a massage, you may be able to pursue compensation from the massage company or the massage therapist. The best sexual assault lawyers can help you determine who is liable, provide legal advice throughout your case, and more. The Florin|Roebig law firm has handled multiple sexual assault cases, working with the utmost care to allay all our clients’ concerns, build a strong case, and reach a fair settlement offer. We won’t rest until we have a solid foundation for your claim, and we’ll ensure you stay updated along the way. Our law offices are backed by a number of client testimonials and a solid track record. Find out what we can do for you today. Call the phone number listed above or fill out the contact form now to get started on your case.
