On March 3, 2022, Miami massage therapist, Antonio Restrepo, had his license revoked following a disciplinary action brought by the Florida Department of Health Board of Massage Therapy alleging sexual misconduct at Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spain Miami, Florida. Antonio Restrepo, age 52, has been a licensed massage therapist in Florida since April 2018.
A Final Order of discipline was entered following an allegation made against Restrepo when he was working at Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spa in Miami. An administrative complaint was filed in September 2020 after Restrepo performed a full body massage on a female client. In the last five minutes of the massage, while she was lying face up, Restrepo allegedly rubbed the woman’s breast for one to two minutes and then began to touch her nipples. She immediately told him to stop the massage and leave the room. According to the Order, he then apologized, said he thought she was a beautiful woman and left the room.
The Florida Department of Health (DOH) issued an Emergency Order restricting Restrepo‘s massage therapy license on October 29, 2020, on account of this complaint. Restrepo never replied and the Board of Massage Therapy did find the allegations were credible. Subsequently, his license has been revoked, and he has to pay a $2,500 fine. He also must pay the investigation fee of $2488.
There are numerous pending civil lawsuits involving sexual misconduct against Hand & Stone franchises 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.
Restrepo violated the massage therapist-patient relationship according to his own admission to law enforcement. 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 patient in sexual activity outside the scope of practice or the scope of generally accepted examination or treatment of the patient.
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.