HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – A former Harris County Hand & Stone massage spa therapist who was convicted of sexual assault is now being sued along with the establishment he used to work for by the victim in his criminal case.
Like the criminal complaint, the civil suit states Gregory Quintero sexually assaulted a client while doing a massage back on December 28, 2021. He was convicted sexual assault and was given five years probation.
The civil suit asks for damages over $1 million.
The lawsuit says “The massage began normally, but Defendant Quintero took advantage of Plaintiff’s vulnerable state to sexually assault her. The massage first proceeded normally, but then Defendant proceeded to touch Plaintiff’s genitalia without her consent.”
Following the massage, the victim says she stayed there on the massage table in shock for several minutes before putting on her clothes. Then she mentioned what happened to a receptionist.
“The woman told Plaintiff that the manager was unavailable, leaving Plaintiff with no one at the Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa to speak with about the sexual assault she had suffered,” the suit claims.
“Plaintiff then went to her car where she called her friend and her husband who encouraged her to call Defendants’ corporate office and the police. Plaintiff called Defendants’ corporate office and left a message regarding the assault. Plaintiff was concerned Defendant Quintero would sexually assault another person, so she called another Hand & Stone location for the area manager’s information,” the suit states.
The civil suit also states the victim got a genital infection from the unauthorized contact.
Quintero was fired after the allegations came to light.
The victim’s attorney spoke out about the case.
”When people get massages, they trust they are in a safe environment in which the massage therapists have been carefully vetted. When my client was sexually assaulted at Hand & Stone, she thought she would receive care and instead she was harmed. I commend my client’s bravery in coming forward, not just for her own justice, but to ensure Hand & Stone and other chains take their obligation to provide a safe environment seriously,” said, Michelle Simpson-Tuegel who is the attorney for the victim.
