On January 12, 2023, Naples massage therapist, Christian Garcia Rodriguez, had his license suspended following a disciplinary action brought by the Florida Department of Health Board of Massage Therapy alleging sexual misconduct at Massage Heights in Naples, FL. Garcia Rodriguez was arrested for the alleged incident; therefore, the Emergency Suspension prohibits Garcia Rodriguez from practicing massage therapy in the State of Florida until his hearing. Garcia Rodriguez has been a licensed massage therapist in Florida since March 2020.
According to the Emergency Order, on May 5, 2022, Christian Garcia Rodriguez performed a 60-minute massage on a 34-year-old female at Massage Heights in Naples. At the beginning of the massage, Garcia Rodriguez allegedly asked the client to disrobe and lay face down. Mid-through, he then asked the client to flip over and lay face up. The client claims that she was covered with a sheet when Garcia Rodriguez reached his hands underneath and massaged her breasts. She then stated that Garcia Rodriguez made his way down to her genitals and digitally penetrated her vagina. The client immediately sat up and told him the massage was over. On October 10, 2022, Garcia Rodriguez was arrested for sexual battery, as the victim did not consent to get her vagina or breasts touched.
There are numerous pending civil lawsuits involving sexual misconduct at various massage and spas in the State of Florida. Under Florida law, massage therapists occupy positions of trust, and all sexual activity between the massage therapist and clients is strictly prohibited. Garcia Rodriguez violated the massage therapist-patient relationship, according to the Department of Health. 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 client in sexual activity outside the scope of practice or the scope of generally accepted treatment.
Horowitz Law has filed numerous sexual assault lawsuits against massage therapists on behalf of clients who were sexually assaulted during massages at Hand and Stone and other 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.