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1 • Thursday, December 7, 2017 - The Elmhurst Independent

Independent Elmhurst

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VOL. 22 • NO. 50

WWW.THEINDEPENDENTNEWSPAPERS.COM

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Elmhurst’s Locally Owned and Operated Hometown Newspaper

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2017

Elmhurst business on short list for sexual harassment claims Attorney General opens investigation into Massage Envy

By Dee Longfellow FOR THE ELMHURST INDEPENDENT

Massage Envy in Elmhurst has turned up on a list of locations throughout Illinois, which are currently under investigation by Attorney General Lisa Madigan, who is looking into allegations that several customers of the chain have reportedly been sexually assaulted during a treatment session. The story broke last week when it was learned that several customer complaints had been issued about several of the business locations, which are franchisees of Massage Envy. There is a Massage Envy location at 191 So. Rte 83 in Elmhurst, which included on a list of those Madigan is looking into. On Wednesday, Nov. 29, Madigan’s office announced that she had issued subpoenas to the Arizona-based company, resulting from a report that appeared on Buzzfeed, claiming as many as 180 customers had reported begin groped or sexually assaulted by employees of Massage Envy, including several accusations in Illinois. A former employee of the Massage Envy location in Naperville pleaded guilty to battery after a woman accused him of cupping her breasts and rubbing her nipples during a treatment she had received in 2013. The massage therapist reportedly told the woman he was “sorry, I shouldn’t be doing that,” according to the release from Madigan’s office. Madigan said she is looking into Massage Envy’s company policies, employee training and the handling of complaints and accusations related to sexual assault and inappropriate behavior. Massage Envy has 40 location in Illinois and more than 1,100 franchises

nationwide. “Despite multiple lawsuits, police reports and complaints by women, Buzzfeed found that many claims were mishandled and the company’s policies and procedures for reporting and addressing sexual assault allega-

tions were vague or unclear,” Madigan said. “I appreciate the women who have reported the sexual assaults they experienced during their massages. I issued subpoenas to Massage Envy because the public has a right to know what Massage Envy’s poli-

cies are and what steps the company Envy location, 191 S. Route 83, was takes to present and address sexual arrested for battery after police said he touched a client’s crotch. Two assaults.” months later, the client filed a lawsuit against the massage therapist, ThadIncident in Elmhurst in 2014 In September 2014, a massage See CLAIMS, Page 5 therapist at the Elmhurst Massage

Visitation takes part in Adopt-a-Family SUBMITTED PHOTO Elmhurst Independent

For the past several years, Visitation has taken part in an Adopt-a-Family service project and this year, the students adopted four families from St. Alexis parish in Bensenville. Pictured here are students in 5th grade and 1st grade at Visitation after working together to wrap their family’s presents and to make cheerful Christmas cards that will be included with the gifts.

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Police Reports...........6 Sports ��������������� 21-24 Viewpoint ����������������8 Classifieds..........27-28

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