If you or a loved one has encountered sexual assault while at a massage parlor, there may be legal recourse. The Florin|Roebig legal offices have represented multiple sexual assault cases and are prepared to provide a free consultation to examine your situation.
Florin|Roebig successfully secured a jury verdict of $47.4 million in a sexual battery case involving massage therapy in Florida, and they are ready to defend your case in Houston with the same passion and dedication.
Attorney Taylor Roebig noted that comparable cases are likely to keep appearing. “Because the nature of these assaults is very intimate and personal, many people find it difficult to come forward,” said Roebig. “It’s critical to have an experienced law firm to help navigate this sensitive issue with the essential compassion and determination to accomplish justice.”
Understanding Sexual Assault in Spa and Massage Settings
Anybody who may have visited a massage parlor and was then touched inappropriately or sexually harassed by the massage therapist needs to know they are not alone in this experience. What happened to you was absolutely wrong, and you have legal options.
Sadly, massage sexual assault has become a considerable concern for both men and women. There are no exact statistics on the precise amount of customers who have been sexually abused while receiving a massage.
Nevertheless, a civil lawsuit filed against the company Massage Envy was filed by more than 180 women who asserted they were sexually assaulted while receiving a massage in this establishment.
Intimate touching is not uncommon during a massage, which may make it difficult to distinguish if the touch you received was inappropriate or not. When there is such a fine line between appropriate massage and inappropriate touch, it can be challenging for people to know what happened to them.
If you are unsure about what comprises sexual assault in the eyes of the law, the following are signs that you may have undergone a sexual assault:
- A nonconsensual sex act was performed during the massage.
- Your sexual parts were massaged by the therapist, or they touched too near to those parts, with or without you requesting them to stop.
- The masseuse forced you to, requested you to, implied, or urged that you partake in sexual acts with them.
- The massage therapist exposed their sexual body parts in front of you.
- You were touched in areas where you did not want to be touched.
- The therapist exposed a part of your body you did not want to be exposed.
- The massage therapist penetrated you in any way.
You may have been sexually harassed, even if you were not directly sexually assaulted if the therapist made unwanted sexual requests or comments while performing your massage.
Why Spa and Massage Sexual Assault Occurs
When someone opts to receive a massage, they generally seek to relieve stress, soreness, and muscle pain. In most cases, varying degrees of clothing are asked to be removed, which can lead to more access for not only the massage but also unwanted touches or advances.
In many massage environments, the lights are dimmed for relaxation, and doors are closed for privacy. After removing some or all of their clothing, a person receives an intimate massage in a deep state of relaxation and sometimes even dozes off.
This leaves a person vulnerable to physical and psychological manipulation and unwanted advances. Many people who are sexually assaulted during a massage feel embarrassed about what happened, or they are not sure if what happened was part of a “normal” massage.
Steps to Take if You Are Sexually Assaulted During a Spa or Massage Session
When a sexual assault happens, it is normal to feel a lot of emotions, varying from anger to sadness to vulnerability. One significant way to take back your control and to take action against the massage therapist who assaulted you is by doing the following steps:
1. File a report with the massage clinic
The first thing you should do is file a statement with the massage clinic depicting the sexual wrongdoing. You need to be able to document your complaint against the massage therapist as soon as you possibly can.
2. Call local law enforcement and file a police report.
Next, you need to file a police report as fast as possible, which is essential for your case. If you are not ready to report the assault to a police department immediately after it happens, make sure you do it as soon as you are emotionally and mentally prepared.
3. Notify the Department of Health or State Licensing Agency
It is important to notify the Department of Health in Texas or the licensing agency for the massage parlor of inappropriate sexual contact. This will instigate an investigation, which can help in bringing the perpetrator to justice and prevent any further sexual assaults.4. Seek professional help and personal support.
4. Seek professional help and personal support.
When a person has experienced this type of trauma, it can take a toll on their mental health. You must seek help as you begin to process what has occurred to you. Therapists and mental health counselors can assist you in starting the healing process.
45. Consult a personal injury lawyer like Florin|Roebig.
You may already know that the massage therapist who sexually assaulted you can be indicted on criminal charges. However, you can also initiate a personal injury claim to pursue recompense for the trauma you have undergone, and a Houston Florin|Roebig attorney can help.
Reporting Sexual Assault to Authorities and Institutions
After you or a loved one have experienced an inappropriate touch or were sexually assaulted while receiving a massage, it is important that you or your loved one report what happened. This can be critical in ensuring that the perpetrator and the massage company are held responsible.
Report the attack to the massage establishment; there are usually procedures for assault. Once you have reported this to the massage company, you must also file a report with the massage licensing agency, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
Contact the police and file a report, ensuring you have documented what happened. The police will then investigate the incident, which could lead to an arrest and a trial.
Legal Rights of Victims of Spa Massage Sexual Assault in Texas
If you were sexually assaulted while receiving a massage in Texas, you may be able to start a personal injury lawsuit against the perpetrator (the massage therapist).
It is common for people to mix up the terms civil lawsuit and criminal charges, but here is what you need to know about the distinctions between the two. Criminal charges can be filed against someone who commits a criminal act, which includes rape or sexual assault.
When a report of a sexual assault is filed, the state where you live, in this case, Texas, has the power to decide whether to seek or drop criminal charges. If the massage therapist who assaulted you is charged with sexual assault, they could likely face jail or prison time, fines, and other legal consequences.
While this outcome covers the crime that took place, you deserve compensation for the trauma you survived and continue to face. Once criminal charges are filed with the court, victims of sexual assault are also permitted to seek civil lawsuits against the perpetrator of the assault and the establishment they work for.
Sexual assault lawsuits allow victims to pursue payment from their attackers as a form of restitution — which is a kind of payment that attempts to account for pain and suffering.
Florin|Roebig attorney Taylor Roebig has witnessed similar civil cases that resulted in substantial awards for the sexual assault victim. Roebig says, “Our purpose in these types of cases is to receive the greatest possible outcome for our client. But in the case of sexual assault performed in a massage appointment, with such an intimate attack on the victim, we take additional measures to pursue all avenues for justice and compensation.”
It is important to keep in mind that property owners are also vulnerable to civil lawsuits if they are demonstrated to have been careless or violated professional standards.
Why You Need a Houston Spa Massage Sexual Assault Lawyer
There are many different ways employing a Houston spa massage sexual assault lawyer from Florin|Roebig can help you get the recompense you deserve for your assault. The Florin|Roebig attorneys supply free consultations to review your massage sexual assault case and how they can help.
The following are the benefits of hiring a Florin|Roebig attorney for your personal injury massage sexual assault case:
Spa Massage Sexual Assault Case Experience
Having an attorney with a specialized understanding of Houston Spa massage sexual assault cases can be valuable when filing a sexual assault claim. A law firm that has been in business in Texas for as long as we have will have acquired a critical understanding of sexual assault laws.
With forty years of experience in representing clients successfully, Florin|Roebig’s sexual assault attorneys are more than ready to handle these types of cases in Texas.
A Strong Sexual Assault Case
Lawyers who are outstanding in their careers will understand the types of information and evidence that will support your spa massage sexual assault case, improving your odds of collecting the compensation you rightfully deserve.
Hiring a sexual assault attorney specializing in sexual assault claims will be a crucial asset to you and your case. Even though it may seem daunting, employing a Florin|Roebig sexual assault attorney is easy, and our attorneys will help you every step of the way.
Negotiating A Fair Settlement
If you or someone you love are struggling to get the settlement you deserve from the person or company being held liable for your sexual assault, you are not alone. Many sexual assault victims have found out the unfortunate truth about perpetrators: they will do anything they can to guarantee they do not have to pay you.
Our Florin|Roebig lawyers are familiar with these abhorrent techniques used by massage companies and perpetrators of sexual assault across America, and they are not scared to confront them to guarantee you are appropriately compensated.
When you hire a lawyer, you can entrust the stressful burden of negotiating with your perpetrator’s lawyer to your attorney so that you do not have to do it alone. You can depend on your Florin|Roebig lawyer to care for you and your case.
Our Featured Case Results
Compensation for Victims of Spa Massage Sexual Assault
Any person who was sexually assaulted during a massage therapy appointment may be given either compensatory or punitive damages. Compensatory damages pay you (compensate) for a precise cost, while punitive damages are a method in which to punish the wrongdoer.
Routine compensatory damages reported in sexual assault cases include:
- Medical expenses, which can consist of hospital visit fees, counseling or therapy appointments to aid in healing from trauma and any ongoing medical treatment associated with sexual damages
- Lost wages caused by missing work from anxiety over the attack, emotional pain, or continuing pain and suffering
- Disruption to an individual’s quality of life may occur if the attack traumatizes you in a way that affects other work areas. For example, if the massage therapist was a male and, after being sexually attacked, the assault victim is unable to be alone with any male.
Punitive damages are rarely awarded but may be granted to victims when the court desires to prevent the defendant from repeating the same mistake.
How Florin|Roebig Can Help With Your Sexual Assault Case
In Texas, sexual assault victims can legally represent themselves in a court of law. Still, there are many advantages to employing a Texas sexual assault attorney. The legal process can be overwhelming, and errors can ruin your chance at appropriate compensation.
Hiring an attorney who specializes in sexual assault cases is even more beneficial because they know the exact laws surrounding these cases. These lawyers are up-to-date with the most recent rulings and developments in sexual assault laws and will know exactly what your case needs to succeed.
Other benefits of hiring a Florin|Roebig attorney for your sexual assault case include the following:
- Evidence collection and investigation
- Handling insurance companies
- Increased odds of getting proper compensation
- Legal understanding and expertise
- Support
Our law offices can assist you with your sexual assault case and, if required, a sexual assault lawsuit. Many questions and concerns often arise after a spa massage sexual assault, and we want to ensure that you get through this process with as little stress as possible.
We Are Nationally Awarded Lawyers
Find the Help You Need Today at Florin|Roebig
If you or someone you love were a victim of sexual assault during a massage session, you may be able to seek compensation from the massage company or the massage therapist. Sexual assault lawyers can assist in deciding who is liable, provide legal advice during your case, and more.
The Florin|Roebig legal firm has represented multiple sexual assault cases, operating with the highest care to relieve all our clients’ worries, construct a strong case, and reach a fair compensation offer. Our team of lawyers will only quit once we have a solid foundation for your claim, and we will ensure that you are kept up-to-date along the way.
With numerous favorable client testimonials, find out what our law firm can do for you today. Call the phone number or fill out the contact form now to get started on your case.
FAQ About Spa Massage Sexual Assault Claims
Can I sue the spa or massage therapist for sexual assault?
Yes. In Texas, victims of sexual assault can sue the massage therapist or the spa for the assault.
What if I didn’t report the assault immediately?
In Texas, you do not have a duty to report an assault on yourself if you are an adult. However, the longer you wait to report the assault, you risk being unable to file one at all.
How long do I have to file a claim in Texas?
The statute of limitations for sexual assault is between two and ten years, depending on the precise type of sexual assault that occurred.
