Woman sues masseuse, counselor for negligent advice

NEW ORLEANS – A woman is suing her masseuse and a pain counselor whom she claims provided her with bad advice that resulted in the worsening of personal injuries.

Frances Gremillion and Michael Shoriak filed suit against Bradley Barra, Therapeutic Bodywork Nola LLC, National Fire and Marine Insurance Company, Melanie Weller, Age Spans LLC and American Casualty Company of Reading, Pennsylvania in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on March 25.

The plaintiff asserts that she received a massage from defendant Barra on March 27, 2014, after complaining about a pain in the right side of her neck. She complained of pain during the massage, to which the defendant did not respond but to say that "he had to get deep." Following the massage the plaintiff claims that the right side of her body was descending lower than the left and she felt shoulder pain. On March 30, 2014 she scheduled an appointment at Age Spans due to her pain and symptoms. There, she was administered several  "body whispering" sessions which she was told would ease inflammation and cure nerve damage.

Starting April 7, 2014 the plaintiff claims her pain rendered her unable to continue in her work as a yoga and dance instructor and perform several other household tasks. After another consultation with her second counselor, Age Spans, she was advised against seeing a doctor and told that her pain was in her head. The plaintiff claims that she suffered injuries to her neck, shoulder, upper back and right side as a result of the massage and negligent advice of the defendants.

The plaintiff seeks an unspecified amount in damages for personal injury, medical costs, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, mental anguish and lost wages.

The plaintiff is represented by Seth J. Smiley, Bradley Aldrich and Matt Thomas of New Orleans-based Wolfe Law Group LLC.

This case has been assigned to Division B Judge Regina H. Woods.

Case no. 2015-02793.