Massage therapy is meant to be a refuge for relaxation and healing, but for many clients, their experiences at chain establishments like Massage Envy and Massage Heights have turned into nightmares. Reports of sexual assaults by therapists in these settings have surfaced with alarming frequency, revealing systemic failures in safeguarding clients and holding offenders accountable.
Unique Challenges in Litigation
For survivors of sexual assault, seeking justice often feels like an uphill battle. Legal cases against large massage chains come with unique challenges, including:
Maintaining Evidence: Establishing a clear account of the assault is critical but can be complicated by delayed reporting. Physical evidence, such as clothing, or digital records, such as appointment logs, may be lost or destroyed, undermining the strength of the case.
Chain of Custody: Ensuring the integrity of key evidence, from surveillance footage to internal reports, is another hurdle. Defendants may contest the authenticity of evidence, requiring meticulous documentation and expert handling to preserve its admissibility.
Corporate Liability: Massage chains frequently operate under a franchising model, allowing corporate offices to distance themselves from liability by claiming that franchisees are independent businesses. Overcoming this defense requires a sophisticated legal strategy to prove that corporate policies—or lack thereof—contributed to the harm.
Significant Verdicts Against Massage Chains
Despite these challenges, survivors and their advocates have achieved notable victories. Massage Envy, a company with over 1,200 locations, has faced a slew of lawsuits alleging it failed to act on prior complaints of misconduct by therapists. In several cases, juries have awarded substantial damages to survivors, finding that the company’s negligence enabled repeated abuses. Massage Heights has also come under scrutiny, including a pivotal case in Texas where the Court of Appeals upheld a verdict against its parent company, MH Franchising. This decision reinforced the principle that franchisors can bear responsibility for inadequate oversight of their franchisees. Such rulings not only secure justice for survivors but also serve as a wake-up call for corporations to enforce stricter safety protocols.
Advocating for Survivors in Nevada
Murdock & Associates Chtd. is proud to represent survivors of sexual assault in massage chains across Nevada. We are committed to holding these establishments accountable for their failure to protect clients. Our firm brings a deep understanding of the complexities involved in these cases, from preserving evidence to piercing corporate defenses.
Sexual assault is a violation of the most fundamental trust, and survivors deserve to have their voices heard. Through relentless advocacy, we aim to secure justice for our clients and push for systemic change to prevent future harm.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault in a massage setting, Murdock & Associates Chtd. is here to help. Contact us to discuss your case confidentially.
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