After jury awards more than $10 million in sexual abuse case, one woman speaks out
LANCASTER ― A Fairfield County Common Pleas Court civil trial jury recently awarded 10 women about $1 million each after they came forward about sexual assaults during massage therapy sessions at Natural Remedies Massage.
The women said they were assaulted by massage therapist Matthew Schaitel, who was ultimately found liable by the jury. The verdict included more than $5 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, plus attorney fees and certain out-of-pocket costs.
Natural Remedies Massage, its owner Hollie Aneshansley, Broad Street Properties and multiple John/Jane Does were also named as defendants in the civil suit, according to court records. But this judgment was only against Schaitel.
Before the trial, the women also received an undisclosed "multi-million" dollar settlement from the Natural Remedies' insurance company, according to FeganScott, the law firm representing the women.
Yet, one victim, who spoke to the Eagle-Gazette on condition of anonymity says, she will never see the approximately $1.1 million she was awarded and feels like Schaitel got off too easy in his criminal case, as well.
"We will never collect that money," the woman said. "It was against Matthew, the sex offender. We will never see a penny from it. We did settle with the insurance company. But it will never be enough to ... it will never erase what happened. That $10 million, we'll never see it. He doesn't make enough to pay $10 million. So even though we did get a verdict, it really doesn't mean anything."
The victim said she filed a police report the same day she said Schaitel assaulted her in March 2021. The Eagle-Gazette obtained a copy of the report which says Schaitel inappropriately touched her.
Fairfield County Municipal Court records show Schaitel pleaded no contest on Dec. 9, 2021, and was found guilty of one count of sexual imposition, a third-degree misdemeanor. He was fined $500 and sentenced to 60 days in jail, with 59 days suspended. He must also register as a Tier 1 sex offender for 14 years.
The court dropped five other M3 sexual imposition charges against him.
Natural Remedies Massage, at 323 S. Broad St., is still in business. The victim the Eagle-Gazette interviewed said Schaitel no longer works there. Its owner, Aneshansley, declined to comment for this article. Scott Wood was Schaitel's attorney during the criminal case. When asked comment, his office said he would not be available for comment until next week.
Schaitel could also not be reached for comment.
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But the victim called Schaitel's sentence a slap on the wrist.
"I don't think he actually did any prison time, any jail time," the victim said.
But the victim said she's glad she will never have to see Schaitel or Aneshansley again.
"That part is over," she said. "But the healing part, I don't even know when that part starts. I don't know when the healing part starts."
Lead trial attorney Lynn Ellenberger also commented on the case.
“We are grateful to our clients who endured a long and painful path to hold Schaitel accountable for his actions,” she said in a statement. “It is their collective courage that helped bring these issues to light, ensuring that Schaitel can never prey upon women in his role as a massage therapist again.”
jbarron@gannett.com
740-681-4340
Twitter/X: @JeffDBarron
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: One victim discusses sexual assault after jury awards more than $10 million
