A Chicago Equinox club is now at the center of a civil lawsuit after a client says a massage therapist sexually assaulted them during a 2025 appointment at the Lincoln Park location. The complaint claims Equinox kept the therapist on staff despite what it describes as earlier complaints and an alleged criminal history. Equinox says it fired the worker once the incident was reported and plans to fight the case in court.
What the complaint alleges
Filed in Cook County this week, the lawsuit alleges the assault took place during a 2025 spa session and that Equinox hired the massage therapist despite an alleged record of convictions and lifetime sex offender registration, according to WGN-TV. The filing further claims the club received multiple complaints about the therapist before the encounter described in the suit. It seeks damages and argues that businesses offering hands-on services must thoroughly vet and closely supervise their staff.
Licensing history and prior arrest
Local coverage last year detailed a criminal case involving a massage therapist at Equinox Lincoln Common in Lincoln Park, where prosecutors said the therapist sexually abused a client. Regulators later imposed a chaperone requirement and disciplinary measures, according to CWBChicago. That reporting traced how Illinois licensing rules can leave gaps when juvenile adjudications are expunged, a concern the new complaint leans on heavily.
Equinox's response
An Equinox spokesperson told WGN-TV that the company "prioritizes member safety" and said the therapist was promptly terminated once the incident was brought to management. The spokesperson said the worker had a juvenile offense from 1998 that was expunged in 2018 and was not disclosed when he applied for licensure. Equinox added that it will cooperate with law enforcement and "vigorously defend" itself as the lawsuit moves through the courts.
How state rules shape the dispute
Illinois law generally prevents agencies from considering juvenile or expunged convictions when they make licensing decisions, which can limit what shows up in background checks, according to the Illinois General Assembly statute on professional regulation, 20 ILCS 2105/2105-135. At the same time, the Massage Therapy Practice Act allows the state to require a licensed therapist to work only with a chaperone in place if criminal charges are filed, a tool regulators have already used in related cases, according to Justia.
Next steps
The civil case remains pending in Cook County. The complaint argues it could drive more scrutiny of how gyms and spas hire and oversee massage staff. Regulators and prosecutors may also pursue separate administrative or criminal actions while the lawsuit unfolds, according to CWBChicago. Hoodline will continue tracking court filings and regulatory moves as the case develops.
