From CBS Chicago: Two more women have filed lawsuits against Massage Envy, accusing the company of failing to protect them against sexual assaults by two of their therapists.
The latest women who came forward said they don’t want to be identified, but hope these cases prevent what they say happened to them from happening to anyone else.
Meantime, an Illinois state lawmaker is renewing efforts to put more protections in place in the industry. […]
[…] A spokesperson for The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, which licenses massage therapists, confirmed they didn’t get involved until January of 2026, temporarily suspending Campbell’s license as they continue to review.
The department said it also is reviewing Campbell’s conviction, and “will take any additional disciplinary action authorized under the Massage Therapy Practice Act as appropriate.”
The state hasn’t taken any disciplinary action against the second therapist named in the lawsuits.
“The way IDFPR works is, you get your initial background check, and then after that we rely on people to call in and self-report,” said Illinois state Rep. Tom Weber (R-Lake Villa)
Weber first pushed for stricter regulations in Illinois in 2023, when a series of reports from CBS News Chicago exposed the state wasn’t automatically barring massage license applicants with criminal histories. Those reports revealed lapses in communication between the state agencies taking criminal complaints and the agency maintaining those licenses.
Weber has no firsthand knowledge of this case.
“That a conviction of an assault on a woman would not immediately remove someone’s license is shocking and appalling,” he said.
Weber introduced bills years ago that would have ensured the state’s licensing office has all records of felony convictions and require a worker, like a state licensed massage therapist, to undergo the same checks and reviews other health care workers would. They’re protections he’s still working to get into place.
“We need to implement the same background checks and the same requirements for these individuals as we do someone that’s literally a [certified nursing assistant] or a maintenance person at a nursing home,” Weber said. […]
To read the complete story from CBS Chicago – Click Here.