A woman is suing a student therapist who admitted to touching her breast during a massage and the Decatur institute where the incident occurred.
Sonya Smith told Channel 2 Action News that the American Professional Institute and student therapist Jamall Young were negligent for allowing the massage last May to get out of hand.
“The worst part is that it happened,” Smith said. “The other part is that I will never be able to forget it.”
Smith, a full-time student and mother, had received a gift certificate for a massage and was 15 minutes into the session when she said Young handled her breast.
“I think, initially, I was in shock because I kind of shook my head and was like, ‘What just happened?’” Smith told Channel 2.
She said she pushed Young away, reported what happened to school officials and called police.
The Decatur Police Department said Young admitted to the incident and he later pleaded guilty to one count of sexual battery.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s policy is not to identify victims of sex crimes, but Smith willingly disclosed her identity to Channel 2.
Smith’s attorney, S.K. Rod Dixon, told Channel 2 the institute was “negligent in hiring him [Young], in supervising him and in allowing this to occur.”
The American Professional Institute provides training for a variety of careers, including massage therapy.
Young and the school declined to comment on the pending lawsuit.
Smith said she wants to empower women “and protect our children against predators.”
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