A civil lawsuit has been filed on behalf of a client who alleges she was sexually assaulted by a massage therapist during an appointment at a Massage Envy location in Lexington.
The lawsuit, filed on April 17, follows the arrest of Caleb Howard, who has been charged with first-degree sexual abuse in connection with an incident reported on March 14, 2026, at the Massage Envy located at 1908 Bryant Rd, Suite 140 in Lexington. According to the police report, the client reported that during the course of the massage, she became alarmed by the therapist’s conduct and believed she was about to be assaulted. She then reported that an unknown substance was expelled onto her back, after which she immediately alerted staff.
The report further states that the therapist later admitted the substance was his own.
Attorneys Investigating Potential Additional Survivors in Lexington Massage Envy Case
The arrest has already generated extensive news coverage by local media outlets. The survivor is being represented by Stewart Ryan and Alexandria MacMaster, partners at Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan, along with co-counsel Christopher Goode, founding attorney of Goode Lawyers. A civil lawsuit filed on April 17 seeks to hold Massage Envy accountable for Howard’s alleged misconduct, including for potential failures in hiring, supervision, and client safety protections.
“Our firm has handled numerous cases involving misconduct in massage settings, and unfortunately, there are often common breakdowns in oversight and safety protocols,” said Stewart Ryan, Partner at Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan. “This case raises serious questions about what protections were in place and whether they were followed.”
“These environments require a high level of trust. When that trust is violated, the impact on a client can be profound,” said Alexandria MacMaster, Partner at Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan. “Our role is to fully investigate what happened and determine whether the business took appropriate steps to prevent this kind of conduct.”
“We are continuing to investigate and are aware of information suggesting there may be others,” said Christopher Goode, Founding Attorney of Goode Lawyers. “Anyone who believes they may have had a similar experience should feel encouraged to come forward and speak with counsel confidentially.”
The massage sexual assault lawsuit includes claims related to negligence, failure to supervise, and failure to implement appropriate safeguards designed to protect clients during therapy services.
Attorneys at Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan have represented survivors in cases involving sexual assault in massage therapy settings across the country. These cases often involve failures in screening, supervision, and enforcement of safety protocols designed to protect clients. The firm’s work in this area focuses on uncovering patterns of misconduct, identifying institutional failures, and pursuing accountability for both individuals and the companies responsible for client safety.
If you or someone you know may have had a similar experience, please contact our office for a free confidential consultation.