Crime & Safety
Woman, 28, Sues Venice Massage Business For Assault, Battery
A woman sued a Venice massage business, alleging she was inappropriately touched by a therapist after she went there for a massage.
VENICE, CA — A woman sued a Venice massage business Tuesday, alleging she was inappropriately touched by a therapist after she went there for a hot stone massage in 2021.
The plaintiff is identified only as Jane P. in the Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit brought against Spa Soleil Massage, alleging assault, battery, negligence, sexual battery gender violence, civil rights violations and negligent hiring, training, supervision and retention.
Jane P. seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. A representative for the spa did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
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"This case is about the sexual assault of Jane P., a 28-year-old woman, perpetrated when she was undressed and vulnerable on a massage table," the suit states.
Jane P. booked a Swedish, hot stone massage at the business last March 28 and was assigned a massage therapist, the suit states.
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"What happened next was every woman's nightmare," the suit alleges.
Jane P.'s massage turned traumatic when the therapist touched her inappropriately while she was undressed on the massage table, the suit states.
The therapist eventually left, leaving Jane P. "shaking from head to toe," according to the suit.
When Jane P. later told the spa manager what happened, he acted more concerned about the business' reputation than for her well-being, the suit states.
The manager knew that other Spa Soleil Massage clients had been touched inappropriately during massages because of negative reviews they had written on the social media, the suit states.
"When a woman gets a massage, she is in a very vulnerable position -- in a small room, with the door closed, naked and alone with the massage therapist who is often a man," plaintiff's attorney Laura Edidin said.
"Our client hopes to keep other women safe by holding this massage therapist and spa accountable while also drawing attention to the serious public safety issue of sexual assault in the massage setting."
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