Sexual harassment lawsuit filed against Dallas Message Envy

DALLAS – A new lawsuit against Massage Envy alleges that a massage therapist working for the company was sexually harassed by a co-worker during an appointment.

The lawsuit alleges that the alleged victim, whose identity was not disclosed by WFAA, scheduled a massage with a male co-worker to treat upper neck and back pain. According to the lawsuit, during the session, the massage therapist “slid his hands under her underwear” and groped her.

“This is not a safe place for me or anyone else,” the alleged victim said in an interview with WFAA.

She said the incident was so painful that she could no longer do the job she loves.

“Every time I went back into those rooms… I felt like every time, like that day,” she said, crying. “Like I’m trapped, and I’m trapped because I need my job.”

Eventually, she resigned and hired attorney Anna Greenberg of the Blizzard Greenberg law firm, who represents several alleged personal injury victims across the state against the company.

“Working under any kind of underwear is a zero-tolerance violation according to Massage Envy’s own policies,” Greenberg said. “And that requires immediate termination.”

But instead, the suit claims Massage Envy allowed him to continue working. After he completed additional training, they transferred him to another location in Fort Worth. He worked there, the suit says, until he was later fired.

“They let him continue unhindered,” Greenberg told WFAA. “It’s time for Massage Envy to stop protecting its brand and sex offenders and start protecting its customers.”

Greenberg’s client sued not only Massage Envy, but also her alleged attacker and the franchisee who owns and operates the establishment. She is now telling her story, she said, to make her message loud and clear:

“I don’t trust you,” she said. “And I wouldn’t trust you if you were using massage services either.”

Massage Envy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.