Erin Achenbach//November 14, 2024//
A massage spa in Kansas City will have to pay a $2 million settlement stemming from an incident where a massage therapist inappropriately touched a client and did not possess a valid license.
The plaintiff was not named in the suit against Rainforest Massage and Spa, operating as Fusion Spa. It was settled outside of court on Oct. 3 and is the fourth such incident stemming from the spa.
According to the suit, the plaintiff purchased a massage at the spa on Dec. 22, 2022. One of the spa’s employees, Gui Jiang, was assigned to perform the massage. Allegedly, he did not have a valid license, and throughout the course of the massage, repeatedly touched the plaintiff in an “inappropriate and offensive manner.”
The owner of the spa, Kemin Geng, allegedly knew Jiang did not have a license and that prior customers had complained about Jiang’s inappropriate touching.
The plaintiff suffered mental and emotional trauma from the incident.
A settlement was reached between the two parties on Oct. 2 for the $2 million policy limits. The plaintiff was represented by lead attorney Wes Shumate and Kevin Buchanan of Davis, Bethune & Jones in Kansas City. Defendant’s insurance carrier is Great American Insurance Company.
Shumate said that even though they received the full policy amount for that year in the settlement, the underlying issue remains as the spa is still in operation despite repeated settlements for similar incidents.
“We did everything we could for them (the plaintiff), but I know that they would have much rather have had this stop years before … they (the spa) had knowledge and continued to let it happen,” Shumate said.
Shumate added that victims may feel like they have no recourse in these types of situations, but that help is available.
“Too often … they felt like there was nothing that could be done. With some legal help, there is,” he said.
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- Amount of verdict, judgment or settlement: $2 million
- Type of action: Other personal injury
- Case Number/Date: 10/3/2024
- Plaintiffs’ Experts: None
- Defendants’ Experts: None
- Injuries: emotional, psychological, PTSD
- Caption: Confidential v. Rainforest Massage and Spa, LLC d/b/a Fusion Spa, Kemin Geng, Gui Jiang
- Plaintiff’s Attorneys: Wes Shumate and Kevin Buchanan of Davis, Bethune & Jones
- Defendant’s Attorneys: None listed
This article credit to MOLawyersMedia