Singleton Schreiber Files Lawsuit Against Homewood Massage Therapist and Escape Day Spa Alleging Sexual Assault
BIRMINGHAM, AL – Singleton Schreiber has filed a civil lawsuit on behalf of our client, a courageous survivor, who was sexually assaulted by Matthew Owen Jones while he was acting as a massage therapist for Escape Day Spa in Homewood, Alabama. The assault occurred on July 2, 2025, during what Plaintiff "Alpha" (a pseudonym used to protect her identity) had as booked a routine relaxation massage.
The lawsuit, filed in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama, names Matthew Owen Jones and Escape Day Spa as defendants. Jones is alleged to have subjected Plaintiff Alpha to repeated non-consensual sexual contact over the course of the ninety-minute appointment, including touching, fondling, and other sexual contact she did not consent to and could not physically resist. Jones was arrested by the Homewood Police Department and charged with two counts of first-degree sexual abuse after two women separately came forward with allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct during massage appointments.
Escape Day Spa is alleged to have known that Jones' massage therapy license by the Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board had expired, and to have known of prior similar conduct by Jones during past massage sessions, yet continued to employ him and grant him unsupervised access to clients. When Plaintiff Alpha called the spa's owner immediately after the assault to report what happened, the suit alleges she was met with a refund and an offer of a free massage with a different therapist, rather than any meaningful response, investigation, or report to authorities.
"Our client went in for a routine massage and instead was assaulted by someone entrusted with her care, someone the spa knew shouldn't have been alone with customers in the first place," said Blake Milner, Senior Counsel at Singleton Schreiber. Milner formerly served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama and as an Assistant District Attorney for Jefferson County. "This is not just about one bad actor. It's about a business that had every opportunity to prevent this and chose not to, both before the assault and after our client came forward. Our client came forward not only seeking justice for herself, but to ensure that no one else is harmed. We've walked alongside her through every part of this process, and we intend to hold both defendants accountable” said Sara Williams, Partner at Singleton Schreiber.
The lawsuit alleges that this response was not an isolated lapse, but the product of systemic failures in how Escape Day Spa hired, trained, and supervised its staff.
According to the complaint, the spa failed to establish basic policies and procedures to protect customers during massage sessions, failed to properly train Jones and other staff on safeguards to prevent misconduct, and failed to supervise or monitor sessions in any meaningful way, leaving Jones with unfettered, unobserved access to clients in a closed room. The complaint further alleges that Escape Day Spa continued to employ Jones despite lacking a valid professional license on file and despite being aware of his prior conduct, and that even after Plaintiff Alpha reported the assault directly to the owner, the spa took no steps to suspend or terminate Jones, notify law enforcement, or otherwise investigate the allegations against him.
The suit alleges that these failures reflect a broader disregard for the basic oversight that massage and wellness businesses owe their clients, who are placed in a uniquely vulnerable position, undressed, alone, and reliant on the business to have properly screened and supervised the person providing their care. Singleton Schreiber attorneys have worked closely with Plaintiff Alpha throughout both the criminal and civil processes, supporting her at every stage and ensuring her voice is heard as each moves forward.
Singleton Schreiber represents survivors of sexual abuse and institutional misconduct in professional and caregiving settings nationwide.
The case number is 01-CV-2026-903067.00 and is filed in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama.
About Singleton Schreiber
Singleton Schreiber is a client-centered law firm specializing in civil rights, sexual abuse, mass torts, and personal injury/wrongful death. With over a decade of commitment to justice, the firm stands up for marginalized and harmed communities. As leaders in litigating sexual assault and abuse, Singleton Schreiber relentlessly pursues accountability for perpetrators and enabling institutions. Home to the nation’s largest fire litigation practice, the firm has represented more than 30,000 wildfire and explosion victims and played leading roles in cases such as the 2025 Eaton Fire, Moss Landing Battery Fire, Esparto Fireworks Explosion, and the 2023 Maui Fires. Singleton Schreiber is also pursuing cases against Tesla for its misrepresented autopilot system, leading national hair relaxer litigation, and advocating for survivors of abuse involving major hotel chains. The firm fights to restore dignity and secure justice for all who have suffered systemic wrongdoing.
