Massage Envy Sex Abuse Lawsuit Settlements

A growing number of women are now suing Massage Envy (a national massage therapy chain) alleging that they were sexually assaulted by company employees during their massage. The lawsuits began getting filed several years ago and are now being filed across the country.

Our national sex abuse lawyers are currently seeking Massage Envy sexual assault cases. If you were sexually abused or touched inappropriately during a massage session at a Massage Envy location, contact us today for a free case evaluation online or call 800-553-8082.

Massage Envy Lawsuit News & Updates

Below are massage sexual assault updates that involve Massage Envy massage therapists:

April 2025: In a new lawsuit, a woman from Travis County, Texas, alleges that a massage therapist sexually assaulted her during a scheduled service at a Massage Envy franchise in Austin’s Circle C neighborhood. The complaint asserts that during the July 2024 appointment, the therapist engaged in non-consensual groping and digital penetration. The plaintiff immediately reported the incident to Austin police, and a forensic examination was conducted that same day.

The lawsuit names both the therapist and the franchise owner, Helix2 Spas, alleging that the company failed to conduct a proper background check or knowingly hired an individual with a criminal record, including burglary and domestic violence charges. The suit seeks over $1 million in damages and highlights broader concerns about systemic failures to prevent sexual misconduct within the national massage chain.

More Massage Envy Settlements, Lawsuits, and Legal News 👈

January 2025: A former masseuse at a Massage Envy in Houston, Texas, is suing the company, claiming that it put her at risk by hiring a male masseuse with a long track record of sexual misconduct. The plaintiff claims that the male masseuse sexually assaulted her during a massage and that he never should have been hired given his record.

December 2024: Our law firm is reviewing cases all over the country, and we get a lot of calls for masseur sexual assault claims, not just from Massage Envy but other massage therapist facilities. Unfortunately, our lawyers turn down a lot of cases because of the statute of limitations. You hear a lot about states extending the statute of limitations in sexual assault cases. This is true, but most of those new deadlines to file a sexual assault lawsuit are for children only. If you do not know if you still have a claim, you can reach out and ask us, and we will tell you. Make clear that you fear you missed the deadline to file and want to know what it is.

November 2024: A Massage Envy franchise in the Houston area paid $1 million, the maximum insurance policy limit, to settle a lawsuit with two women who alleged a male massage therapist sexually assaulted them during their appointments.

The Massage Envy sexual assault settlement was reached in Harris County, where the lawsuit was filed due to the therapist’s residence, a venue known for being more favorable to plaintiffs in cases like sexual assault.

The case was resolved quickly due to compelling evidence, including the therapist’s personnel file. This left little doubt that this employee should not have been employed. It documented multiple prior complaints about inappropriate behavior that were addressed with retraining (seriously?) rather than termination. The two victims independently reported their assaults within weeks of each other, leading to the therapist’s arrest.

August 2024: A business that operated a chain of Massage Envy franchise locations in Texas was forced to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy last month. The bankruptcy was partly prompted by significant liabilities incurred as a result of a wave of sexual assault lawsuits against the company involving massage therapists.

July 2024: A Delaware court will allow several claims to proceed against Massage Envy Franchising, LLC in a case involving allegations of sexual assault at one of its franchise locations.

The plaintiff in this Massage Envy lawsuit alleges that a massage therapist employed at a Delaware franchise sexually assaulted her during a scheduled session. Central to the case is whether Massage Envy, as the franchisor, can be held accountable for the actions and policies of its independently owned franchises. The court determined that the plaintiff presented sufficient evidence of Massage Envy’s extensive control over its franchises, through detailed operating manuals, training protocols, and internal policies, to support claims of vicarious liability and negligence.

This is important for plaintiffs. You want access to the franchisor. The court underscored allegations that Massage Envy maintained a centralized database of sexual assault complaints and required such complaints to be handled internally, rather than reported to law enforcement or licensing authorities. This pattern, the plaintiff argues, created systemic risks that culminated in her assault. The court allowed claims of negligence, negligent performance of services, negligent misrepresentation, and violations of the Delaware Consumer Fraud Act to move forward.

This decision reflects the increasing willingness of courts to scrutinize corporate franchisors that exercise significant control over franchisee operations, potentially opening new avenues for plaintiffs seeking accountability in sexual assault cases like this.

April 2024: A woman in Fort Worth, Texas, filed a sexual abuse lawsuit against a local Massage Envy location and its parent company. The lawsuit alleges that the woman was digitally penetrated without consent by a male massage therapist during an appointment.

September 2023: Two women filed a lawsuit against a Massage Envy franchise in Conroe, Texas, alleging sexual assaults by an employee during their appointments. One woman alleged the employee forcibly performed non-consensual sexual acts, resulting in her contracting HSV-1. The other plaintiff accused him of inappropriate touching and improper draping practices, leaving her exposed and vulnerable. Both incidents were reported to police, leading to the man’s arrest on felony sexual assault charges. This sexual misconduct case was settled for the policy limits of $1 million.

Massage Envy

Massage Envy is a national chain of retail massage service stores with locations across the country. It is the biggest massage retailer in the country. In addition to traditional massage services, Massage Therapy provides a host of other “spa”-type services, including facials and personal stretching sessions.

Like any massage, services at Massage Envy are provided by a massage therapist in a private, one-on-one setting. The client getting the massage disrobes to a certain extent (depending on the type of massage) and is in a room with the door shut while the therapist performs the massage service.

Massage Envy is the largest massage chain and the biggest employer of massage therapists in the United States, with over 1,100 locations nationwide, including all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Massage Envy employs over 20,000 massage therapists across the country. Most of them are licensed by their state. Each year they perform over 18 million massages.

That is a lot of massages. So even if Massage Envy was run perfectly, you could get some sexual assault cases. But Massage Envy is not run anything close to perfectly and how they do business adds fuel to the fire. So despite being aware of the real and highly foreseeable risk of sexual assault to customers, Massage Envy sex abuse lawsuits allege that the company has failed to establish and enforce adequate procedures and protocols to mitigate this risk. When such incidents do occur, the company pulls out the sex abuse defense playbook. It frequently relies on secretive arbitration proceedings, overly broad confidentiality orders, and other tactics to keep customers, employees, regulators, law enforcement, and the public unaware of these serious occurrences at Massage Envy locations nationwide.

Sexual Assaults by Massage Envy Therapists

A significant issue of sexual misconduct by massage therapists at Massage Envy franchise locations has emerged, with hundreds of women reporting incidents since at least 2015. These women have alleged groping, penetration, and other forms of sexual assault during their massages, leading many to file lawsuits. In response to these serious allegations, Massage Envy has been accused of attempting to limit its legal and public relations exposure by instructing staff to manage incidents internally, aiming to de-escalate situations and avoid involving law enforcement.

Several years ago, a report was released and published by the Washington Post and other major news outlets detailing a large number of incidents involving alleged sexual abuse of clients by Massage Envy therapists. The report identified a group of nearly 200 women, all of whom alleged that they had been sexually assaulted to varying degrees during a massage appointment at Massage Envy.

The nature of the acts of sexual assault varied in each case, but they mostly followed a similar and predictable pattern. The female clients claimed that they were in the massage rooms, usually lying face down on the therapy table with no clothes on their upper body and just underwear, with a towel for coverage. In almost all the incidents, the sexual assault involved a male massage therapist touching or groping the client’s breasts and other private areas unexpectedly and without consent during the course of the massage. In some cases, the incidents escalated to digital and even oral penetration.

Massage Envy Ignored Complaints

One of the consistent themes among of the hundreds of incidents detailed in the report was how Massage Envy store managers and employees ignored and deflected complaints from the victims of these incidents. Victims said that when they attempted to report the acts of sexual assault to employees at the Massage Envy store, they were met with a very dismissive attitude.

Lawyers for Massage Envy have since claimed that the company went to great lengths to take all complaints seriously and investigate allegations. However, various early news reports found that Massage Envy’s company policies regarding handling these complaints focused primarily on protecting the company’s image and shielding it from liability.

Frequently Asked Questions About Massage Envy Sexual Assault Lawsuits

What is happening with the Massage Envy sexual assault lawsuits right now?

Our lawyers are seeing more of them. Massage Envy is facing a growing number of lawsuits across the country from women who allege massage therapists sexually assaulted them during sessions. These are not isolated incidents. They follow a disturbing pattern. Many cases involve therapists with prior complaints who were allowed to keep working.

What is the statute of limitations for a Massage Envy sexual assault lawsuit?

You might be able to. It depends on the statute of limitations in your state, and in some cases, when you first connected what happened to the emotional or psychological harm you experienced.

Many survivors do not come forward right away. That is common. Trauma can take years to process. The law in some states recognizes that and allows more time to file. Others are less forgiving.

What matters is whether the legal deadline—called the statute of limitations—has passed. And that deadline is not always obvious. It can depend on your age at the time, when the abuse was discovered, and how the courts in your state interpret those timelines.

We talk to survivors all the time who think they missed their chance, but they still have a valid sexual assault lawsuit. It costs nothing to ask. If you are unsure, reach out. We will tell you exactly where you stand—clearly and honestly.

Can I still file a lawsuit if I was assaulted during a massage session?

You might be able to. But time matters. The biggest obstacle in these cases is often the statute of limitations. Many states now have extended deadlines for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. But if you were an adult at the time, your deadline to file may be shorter. If you are unsure, ask. We tell people this all the time—if you even think you may have missed the deadline, reach out anyway. Let us take a look. We can usually tell you right away.

Is Massage Envy responsible if the therapist was working at a franchise?

Yes, potentially. That is one of the most significant legal questions in these cases. Massage Envy tries to distance itself from these assaults by blaming the independently owned franchise. But courts are increasingly seeing through that. Judges are looking at the control Massage Envy Franchising, LLC exercises over each location. The training, the complaint-handling policies, even the internal databases. That is why recent Massage Envy lawsuit rulings have allowed cases to move forward against the parent company, not just the individual store. That is a big deal for survivors. It opens the door to larger settlements.

How much are these Massage Envy sexual assault cases worth?

It depends. Some of the Massage Envy sexual assault settlements have hit the full insurance policy limits—usually around $1 million per incident. But in some cases, that insurance limit is the floor, not the ceiling. If the case is strong, and the facts are clear, the value can be substantial. Cases involving penetration, repeat offenders, or ignored prior complaints tend to be worth more. Of course, we cannot promise a specific number. But we can say this: these are serious cases. And when handled right, they often lead to meaningful settlement payouts for victims.

Why do so many of these cases settle confidentially?

Because Massage Envy wants them to. he company frequently uses arbitration clauses and confidentiality agreements to keep settlements quiet. It protects their brand. But it also keeps the public in the dark. That is part of the massage sex scandal—the effort to sweep this under the rug instead of fixing the systemic problems.

Is there any risk to me if I come forward now?

It is completely normal to feel nervous. You are not alone in that. But you have legal rights. When you contact our firm, your consultation is confidential. Nothing gets filed unless and until you are ready. And if you do choose to move forward, we handle the legal side so you can focus on your recovery. Our team has helped survivors across the country. We take that responsibility seriously.

How do I know if I have a strong case?

We look at several things. Was there unwanted touching? Was the therapist male? Did you report it to the location or to the police? (Do you need to do this to have a strong case? No. But it helps.) Did the location have any prior complaints about the therapist? Would a background check have uncovered a history of inappropriate behavior?

What should I do if I was assaulted during a massage but I did not report it right away?

You can still have a case. Delayed reporting is incredibly common in sexual assault cases. It does not make your story less credible. In fact, many Massage Envy sexual assault cases involve survivors who waited days, months, even years to come forward. That is normal. Trauma affects everyone differently.

Do you handle these cases nationwide?

Yes, we do. Our national sexual abuse lawyers are accepting Massage Envy sexual assault cases in all 50 states. Our team knows how to build these cases, how to deal with defense lawyers, and how to fight back when they try to bury the facts to maximize settlement amounts.. Call us. Let us help you figure out the next step.

Criminal Charges Against Massage Envy Therapists

While most of the alleged acts of assault at Massage Envy were not lead to charges for various reasons, there have been a few cases in which the Massage Envy therapists were reported to the police. In a small handful of these cases, the Massage Envy therapists were charged with criminal sex offenses.

For example, a therapist from a Massage Envy location in Washington, DC was charged with first-degree sexual abuse based on the allegation that he sexually assaulted three different female clients during a massage. That massage therapist was eventually convicted and sentenced to 60 months in prison.

Sex Abuse Lawsuits Against Massage Envy

The news report about incidents of sexual assault by a Massage Envy therapist brought a lot of public attention to this issue. As a direct result of that attention, victims nationwide began coming forward to tell their stories. Many of these victims also began filing sexual abuse lawsuits against Massage Envy.

The sex abuse lawsuits against Massage Envy are based on allegations that the company was negligent in several ways and that this negligence enabled or allowed the sexual assaults on clients to happen. Among other things, the lawsuits claim that Massage Envy was negligent in failing to properly screen massage therapists during the hiring process and identify potential abusers. The lawsuits also claim that Massage Envy failed to create appropriate and effective policies and procedures for preventing sexual assaults on clients.

Another general theme in the Massage Envy lawsuits is how the company handled and responded to individual complaints of sexual assault made by clients. The company is accused of basically ignoring, discouraging, and deflecting all complaints alleging that a massage therapist sexually assaulted a client or acted inappropriately. Instead of investigating the incident and taking appropriate action (such as firing the therapist), the company did everything possible to discourage the client from pursuing her complaint.

Massage Envy Sex Abuse Lawsuit Settlements

Over the years, a large number of Massage Envy sexual assault lawsuits have been filed against the company across the United States. These cases involve women who were sexually assaulted during what should have been a safe, professional massage. Most of these lawsuits have ultimately been resolved in
out-of-court settlements, allowing survivors to receive compensation without going through a full trial.

Unfortunately, most settlement terms are confidential, which means the public rarely learns the dollar amounts paid out in these cases. What we do know is this: many of these cases were strong. They involved clear warning signs, prior complaints about the massage therapist, and systemic failures by Massage Envy franchise owners or corporate leadership. These are the types of facts that drive up the value of a case.

In our experience, individual Massage Envy franchises are usually insured for up to $1 million per incident. That may sound like a lot, but for survivors of sexual assault—especially those with evidence of prior misconduct or long-term psychological harm—that coverage may not be enough to fully compensate them. Some lawsuits have resulted in policy-limit settlements. Others have prompted franchise owners to file for bankruptcy after a wave of claims.

If you were sexually assaulted during a massage at Massage Envy, the value of your case will depend on the specific facts—what happened, whether it was reported, whether the therapist had a history, and how the location responded. Our team can walk you through that evaluation. There is no pressure, no commitment, and no cost to speak with us.

Contact Us About Massage Envy Sex Assault Lawsuits

The Massage Envy continues to make headlines as more survivors come forward to share their experiences of sexual misconduct at the nation’s largest massage chain. It is an absolute scandal what some of these masseuses do and try to get away with. In massage sex assault cases, our attorneys see the same disturbing patterns of negligence and systemic failures over and over again. Many lawsuits involve Massage Envy sexual assault incidents that stem from the company’s inadequate screening of massage therapists and the mishandling of abuse allegations. These claims have raised questions about whether corporate policies prioritized brand protection over client safety.

Our lawyers are representing survivors in Massage Envy sexual assault cases nationwide. If you believe you were assaulted or touched inappropriately during a massage, we encourage you to reach out. Call us at 800-553-8082 or contact us online for a free, confidential evaluation.