Tribeca spa gave 'inappropriate' massage by unlicensed masseuse - New York Daily News

[massage]

A swanky Tribeca spa that offers wine and olive oil “rituals” also offered an unlicensed massage therapist who sexually abused customers, a shocking new lawsuit says.

In papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, a 40-year-old Ulster County lawyer said she and her boyfriend indulged in a visit to Aire Ancient Baths on Franklin Street in March 2014, when she was coping with a relative’s declining health.

“In an attempt to comfort plaintiff, (her) boyfriend splurged on Aire Ancient Baths because the spa promoted itself as providing one of the most extravagant and relaxing experiences in New York City,” the suit says.

Among the services offered on the spa’s website is a $564 “red wine ritual,” which includes “a relaxing wine bath in a private thermal tub.”

Cops release photo of perv who slapped woman, 23, on buttocks

The lawyer and her boyfriend got massages, but when she was taken to her table for her rubdown, there were no sheets or towels — just “a small hand towel,” the suit says. When she complained, her masseuse, Egeman Seker, gave her another hand towel, the filing says.

She attempted to cover herself and Seker went to work — and quickly creeped her out, lingering for an extended period of time on her rear end. He also “intermittently touched plaintiff offensively and inappropriately on the intimate parts of her body,” the suit says.

“Seker built up his offensive touching incrementally,” with “increasing frequency and duration,” the suit says.

Toward the end of the massage, he touched her vagina, the filing says. “Plaintiff felt frozen, emotionally and physically paralyzed, fearful, in shock and utterly helpless,” the suit says. When he finished the “massage,” he leaned over and whispered in Plaintiff’s ear, ‘I hope you enjoyed that,’ ” the suit says.

Perv tries to force himself on woman, 24, in Prospect Park

She reported what happened to a manager, who apologized and told her he’d tell his supervisors, the filing says.

The woman, whose name is being withheld because of the nature of the allegations, said the spa told her it had investigated the incident and determined no wrongdoing had occurred — but they’d fired the masseuse anyway.

The frustrated lawyer then reported the assault to cops, who later told her that Seker was not a licensed massage therapist and “at least two other victims had reported offensive sexual contact” in the months before her visit.

Cops also told her spa employees weren’t cooperating with the probe.

Chris Brown sued by fan claiming singer's crew bullied him

Seker was eventually charged with sexual abuse and unauthorized practice of a profession. He later copped a plea and completed a sexual offender program.

The victim’s lawyer, David Shanies, said his client is still traumatized by what happened, but felt she needed to come forward with a lawsuit.

“My client wants more than anything to prevent assaults like the one she was subjected to from happening to anyone else,” Shanies said.

The lawyer for Aire, Joan Toro, said the spa hasn’t yet been served with the lawsuit, but “we vehemently deny the allegations set forth in plaintiff’s complaint.”

Unsealed playbooks for Trump U reveal questionable tactics

“We intend to vigorously defend the company against the allegations ... including the baseless allegations that Aire failed to cooperate with authorities or were nonresponsive to the NYPD’s inquiries,” Toro said.

“From opening day to the present, Aire works tirelessly to offer the highest standards of service to our clients, including offering a safe environment for all our clients.”

Tags:
lawsuits
tribeca
Send a Letter to the Editor
Join the Conversation:
facebook
Tweet

Let's block ads! (Why?)