Spas & Massage Sex Abuse Lawyer

Treating yourself to a massage or a day at the spa should be a relaxing and enjoyable experience, not a traumatizing one. However, in recent years, reports of sex abuse in spas and massage parlors across America have increased dramatically, with one popular chain massage parlor receiving over 180 allegations of sexual assault.

At Edwards Henderson, our experienced and dedicated sexual assault attorneys will fight for your right to maximum compensation for the harm you may have experienced and advocate on your behalf on your path to recovery. If you were subjected to sexual misconduct at a spa or massage parlor, contact the spas and massage sex abuse lawyers of Edwards Henderson today for a free case evaluation.

Examples of Sex Abuse in Spas

Sexual abuse refers to different forms of unwanted sexual contact, including sexual touching, fondling, rape, forced sodomy, and penetration. In most spa and massage sex abuse cases, the assault takes place between a female client and a male massage therapist but can take place regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

Spa and massage parlor sexual abuse may happen once or throughout the treatment repeatedly. Because sex abuse can take many different forms, a defendant’s behavior could progress from sexually inappropriate jokes to more blatant sexual abuse, like unwanted touching or penetration. Regardless of the form of sexual abuse that took place, it can cause lasting trauma throughout the survivor’s life.

How Common is Sex Abuse in Spa and Massage Parlors?

While there is not any data that reveals how common spa and massage-related sex abuse is, according to the CDC, nearly one in five women in the U.S. have experienced rape or attempted rape in their lifetime. Like other instances of sexual abuse, spa and massage sex abuse is often underreported due to survivor’ feelings of shame, guilt, and worry that no one will believe them.

Holding Spa and Massage Parlor Owners Liable for Sexual Assault

When policies and regulations are not set and monitored by business owners and a patron is harmed, there must be legal consequences. Some of the ways in which spa and massage parlor owners may fail to protect their customers from unwanted sexual contact include:

• Failure to thoroughly screen new employees: Massage and spa customers are often in a vulnerable setting, and staff should never take advantage of what their job requires. Massage and spas owners should conduct thorough background checks on all potential hires. Failure to do so may be a form of negligence.
• Failure to properly train staff on protocol, ethics, and boundaries: Training is vital to ensure staff understands the clear parameters of their job duties. Failure to properly train massage and spa staff could fall back on the owner.
• Failure to take allegations seriously: Spa and massage parlor owners must investigate all claims of misconduct and report the claim to law enforcement. Failure to do so may make the owner liable for abuse that occurs on their premises.

What Compensation is Available for Victims of Spa and Massage Sex Abuse?

Survivors of spa and massage parlor sex abuse have the right to file a criminal or civil lawsuit against the perpetrator, as well as any other liable party that may have contributed to the incident, such as the business owner. A civil lawsuit filed with the help of a local lawyer would seek compensation to settle the case, whereas a criminal lawsuit would be brought by a prosecutor for criminal charges, including jail and fines.

Damages that may be recovered in a civil sexual abuse lawsuit against a spa or massage parlor include:

• Past, present, and future medical bills relating to the incident
• Psychological trauma and emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Mental anguish
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages if you missed time at work due to the assault

While a financial settlement cannot change what happened or take away the survivor’s pain, it could give them a level of closure as they recover from their trauma.

What Should I Do if I Was Sexually Abused at a Spa?

If you experience sexual abuse at a spa or massage parlor, it is important to act quickly even though the process may be difficult or uncomfortable. If you experience spa or massage parlor sexual harassment, you should:

• Report the sexual abuse: File both a police report and an incident report with the company that employs the massage therapist or spa employee who committed the assault.
• Go to a doctor: Schedule an appointment with a physician who can perform a medical evaluation related to the abuse. Make sure to take photos of any marks, bruises, cuts, or injuries.
• Gather information: Collect all documents relating to the day of the incident, including appointment details, receipts, spa information, or call or voicemail recordings.
• Contact a sexual abuse attorney: A qualified spa and massage sex abuse attorney will fight for your rights, manage your claim, and seek the maximum compensation for the damages you incurred.

Contact a Spa and Massage Sex Abuse Lawyer

The trauma a survivor incurs from sexual abuse can last a lifetime and have devastating consequences. The sex abuse lawyers of Edwards Henderson understand the gravity of your situation and will fight to hold the responsible party liable for what happened. Our sexual assault law firm is nationally recognized for its efforts in defending victims’ rights, empowering survivors to hold their abusers accountable and fighting for maximum compensation for the damages they incurred.

If you or a loved one are a survivor of sexual assault that occurred at a spa or massage parlor, contact the spas and massage sex abuse attorneys of Edwards Henderson today for a free, confidential claim evaluation.