On May 14, 2021, the Board of Massage Therapy accepted and adjudged Titusville massage therapist Thomas Grasso and accepted as discipline his relinquishment of his state license to practice massage therapy in Florida. Thomas Grasso surrendered his license which constitutes discipline under Department of Health rules after disciplinary actions were brought by the Florida Department of Health Board of Massage Therapy alleging sexual misconduct on at least 21 female clients. Thomas Grasso agreed to cease practicing immediately and agreed not to re-apply for a massage therapist license in Florida. Grasso had been a licensed massage therapist in Florida since 1993.
On Thursday, December 3, 2020, Titusville Police arrested Grasso after multiple alleged victims reported incidents of sexual abuse to police. During the initial battery investigation, detectives found evidence Grasso committed crimes against 19 more female clients after they had been referred to him to get massages for medical reasons.
In November 2020, the Florida Department of Health ordered the emergency restriction of Grasso’s license for flagrantly disregarding the laws and regulations governing massage therapists.
A Final Order of discipline was entered following multiple allegations made against Luis when he was working at Dr. Daly’s Chiropractic Clinic located at 42708 Garden Street in Titusville, Florida 32796.
The disciplinary order continues a long and disturbing trend of sexual misconduct by massage therapists statewide. Under Florida law, massage therapists occupy positions of trust, and all sexual activity between the massage therapist and clients is strictly prohibited.
Grasso allegedly violated the massage therapist-patient relationship. A massage therapist may not use his relationship with a client to induce or attempt to induce the patient to engage or to engage or attempt to engage the patient in sexual activity outside the scope of practice or the scope of generally accepted examination or treatment of the patient. Sexual activity by any person or persons in any massage establishment is absolutely prohibited.
Clients book a massage to decompress from the stresses of life. They trust that the massage therapists employed at the spa will act professionally and expect they are carefully vetted and safe to engage with the public. It is unacceptable, immoral, and unlawful for any employee to touch a client in a sexual manner.
Horowitz Law has filed numerous sexual misconduct claims against massage therapists on behalf of clients who were inappropriately touched at medical offices, spas, and resorts. If you have been a victim of sexual assault or sexual battery during a massage, or if you know someone who has, please contact our law firm at 888-283-9922 or send an e-mail to sexual abuse lawyer Adam Horowitz at [email protected] for a free consultation.