Sexual Assault Attorney Files Complaint Against Pennsylvania Massage Envy

January 04, 2016 – – AbuseGuardian.com reports on a complaint filed on September 14, 2015 in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County naming Massage Envy as one of the three defendants. The complaint number 1509025324 contains sexual assault allegations regarding the specific Massage Envy location in West Chester Pennsylvania, but also identifies the entire franchise’s alleged policies as negligent and reckless.

The court documents state that James Deiter, a massage therapist employed by the defendants, admitted to sexually assaulting multiple women while working at Massage Envy between 2014 – 2015. One female client was assaulted and reported the assault to Massage Envy staff in January of 2015. After learning of the report, Massage Envy of West Chester reported the assault to the main office in Arizona, as is protocol. The complaint states that it is believed that the main office instructed them not to contact the Pennsylvania Board of Massage Therapy or proper law enforcements, but rather to handle the situation “in-house.” Rather than have any form of investigation James Deiter was suspended for one week and then allowed to return to work with no restrictions regarding his access to the female clientele.

Due to the fact that no assault had been reported from the incident occurring in January of 2015, Deiter was considered fit to render services and continued to sexually assault females clients of Massage Envy, according to the complaint. Furthermore, staff at Massage Envy allegedly recommended Deiter to female clients. “As a result of [the] Defendants’ negligent, careless, and intentional acts and omissions numerous women, including Plaintiff, were sexually assaulted by depraved predators,” the complaint states. Deiter has since been arrested and charged with multiple violations including Aggravated Indecent Assault without the Consent of Another.

Similar Massage Envy lawsuits are beginning to grow in number and are expected to increase, “with 50 allegations of sexual assaults in as many as 15 different states” already, according to this court document. This comes as a surprise when Massage Envy presents themselves quite differently, advertising a “zero tolerance” policy relating to sexual misconduct, and stating that they perform a criminal background check on their employees. According to court documentation Massage Envy doesn’t require documentation of sexual assault, and they are believed to direct their employees to cover up or not report such allegations. It also states that “the Defendants failed to take reasonable steps to ensure that massage therapists at Massage Envy locations were psychologically fit to provide massage therapy services to unsuspecting, vulnerable female customers.”

As a result of the assault, the plaintiff now suffers physical and emotional distress and physical manifestations of emotional stress. This has prevented her from performing daily duties and obtaining full enjoyment of life. She has sustained and will continue to sustain a loss of earnings due to her need of medical and psychological treatment.

Brian Kent Esq., an attorney with Laffey Bucci Kent, the firm behind AbuseGuardan.com stated: “Several individuals are coming forward with similar situations regarding sexual abuse cases, and we are actively fielding those questions. We currently have multiple clients who we are representing in Massage Envy sexual assault claims.”

For more information about this release or ask questions about potential sexual abuse claims, please contact Brian Kent, Esq. at 866-577-2786.

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Contact AbuseGuardian.com:

Brian Kent
(866) 577-2786
1435 Walnut St #700
Philadelphia, PA 19102

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