DALLAS — A new lawsuit filed against Massage Envy claims a massage therapist who worked for the company was sexually assaulted by a co-worker during an appointment.
The lawsuit claims the alleged victim, who WFAA is not identifying, booked a massage appointment with a male co-worker to treat upper neck and back pain. According to the suit, during the session, the massage therapist "slid his hands under her underwear" and groped her.
"That is not a safe place for me or anybody else," the alleged victim told WFAA in an interview.
The incident was so painful, she said, she could no longer do the job she loves.
"Every time I would go back into those rooms…I felt like I did every single time, I felt like I did that day," she said, crying. "Like I’m trapped, and I’m trapped too because I need my job."
Eventually, she quit, and hired attorney Anna Greenberg with Blizzard Greenberg law firm, who represents several alleged assault victims against the company across the state.
"Working under undergarments of any kind is a zero tolerance offense according to Massage Envy’s own policies," Greenberg said. "And so that requires immediate termination."
But instead, the suit alleges Massage Envy allowed him to continue to work. After undergoing additional training, they relocated him to another location in Fort Worth. He worked, the suit claims, until he was later fired.
"They let him continue to operate unchecked," Greenberg told WFAA. "It’s time Massage Envy stops protecting its brand and the predators and starts protecting its clients."
Greenberg’s client not only sued Massage Envy, but also her alleged attacker, and the franchisee that owns and operates that location. She’s sharing her story now, she said, to make her message loud and clear:
"I don’t trust them," she said. "And I wouldn’t trust them if you were seeking massage services."
Massage Envy did not immediately reply to a request for comment.