Tennessee Woman Sues MGM Grand Over Alleged Spa Assault

A Tennessee woman filed a lawsuit against MGM Resorts International. She alleges a massage therapist sexually assaulted her during a 2024 appointment at the MGM Grand Spa in Las Vegas. The complaint, filed Friday in Clark County's Eighth Judicial District Court, names MGM Grand-related entities as defendants for negligence and premises liability claims. According to the complaint, she fell asleep during the September 7, 2024 massage and woke to unwanted contact from therapist Steven Thomas. She reported the incident to spa staff the same day. Thomas has not been named as a defendant in the civil case.

Inside the Alleged Assault and Its Aftermath

According to the complaint, the woman's husband scheduled the spa appointment during a family stay at the resort. Spa staff instructed her to lie face-down on the massage table. The lawsuit states staff recommended she wear no undergarments during the session.

Court documents state she fell asleep partway through the massage and woke to repeated unwanted contact from Thomas. She left the treatment room and asked to use a restroom, and reported the incident to the spa's front desk. A Las Vegas Justice Court judge later ordered Thomas to stay away from her. He has not been named as a defendant in this civil case.

Lawsuit Claims MGM Ignored Prior Warning Signs

The lawsuit accuses MGM of failing to protect guests despite earlier warning signs involving spa staff.

According to the complaint, MGM knew its spa employees, "particularly including massage therapists, sexually assaulted MGM Spa guests." The lawsuit claims this knowledge predated the alleged incident. It further alleges MGM failed to conduct an adequate background investigation of Thomas. This applies both before and during Thomas's employment at the resort.

The suit claims MGM did not properly train spa staff on professional boundaries and failed to adequately monitor Thomas's conduct with clients. MGM continued employing workers despite behavior patterns that should have raised concerns, the complaint alleges.

Woman Seeks Damages as Case Awaits Trial

The woman is seeking damages for past and future losses exceeding $15,000. She is also seeking special and exemplary damages to be determined at trial. The damages include compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity tied to the alleged assault. Because the damages sought exceed $15,000, the case falls under the mandatory jurisdiction of Nevada's district courts. Neither MGM, the woman's attorneys, nor Thomas has issued a public comment on the allegations so far. No trial date has been set yet.