Therapist at Tinley Massage Spa Touched Client Inappropriately: Lawsuit

TINLEY PARK, IL — A former client at a local massage business is suing the company on claims that a male therapist touched her inappropriately.

The incident occurred over the summer, when Tinley Park police were called to the Tinley Park Massage Envy, 7270 W. 191st St. The therapist denied the allegation to police, ABC7 reports.

Former customer Catherine Smith on Thursday filed suit against the facility and its parent company.

"Ms. Smith immediately stopped the massage and said, 'I need to be done, you need to leave,'" said Smith's attorney Jessica Arbour in a television interview Thursday.

Smith declined to speak on camera with television news reporters, but offered a statement.

"I have had my struggles since this happened," Smith said. "I am in therapy because of it. But there is no amount of therapy that can make this go away."

Spokesman for Massage Envy, Gana Ahn responded to the allegations with a statement:

"Massage Envy Franchising, LLC has a strict Zero Tolerance Policy that addresses various types of inappropriate conduct, including making clear that such conduct is impermissible and will not be tolerated. We require franchisees to conduct a thorough investigation of any allegation and, should a therapist employed by a franchisee violate our Zero Tolerance Policy, the franchisee is required to terminate the therapist ...."

The therapist was reportedly suspended pending investigation at the time of the incident. ABC7 reports that the therapist has since been terminated from the Tinley Park location.