You can sue massage therapist Roland Nieves personally for alleged non-consensual contact during paid massages. You can also sue the salon, spa, owner, or operator that employed him if evidence shows failed hiring, supervision, or response to warnings. Omaha police first arrested Nieves, 67, on Sept.
15, 2026, after a client reported misconduct during a paid massage. WOWT First Alert 6 described the arrest in its October 6 arrest report. According to WOWT First Alert 6, after police invited others to come forward, about 30 women did, and Nieves faces eight counts of third-degree sexual assault across two cases. Signal News Omaha reports two civil lawsuits filed against Avant Salon and Day Spa in its November 3 lawsuit report.
Official resources:
- Read the official notice from Gtv Cdn — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
- Read the original report from Victimscivilattorneys — Use this primary source to review the complete report.
Table of Contents
- Can You Sue the Therapist Directly?
- When Can a Salon or Spa Be Sued?
- Does the Criminal Case Decide the Civil Claim?
- What Limits and Next Steps Apply?
Can You Sue the Therapist Directly?
Yes. Survivors can bring a civil assault claim against Nieves himself. A civil case is separate from the state criminal case.
The criminal case seeks punishment, while the civil case seeks money for harm, according to Andreozzi + Foote in its civil-liability summary. This option applies to a client who says Nieves subjected her to non-consensual contact during a paid massage. The claim follows the person, not the salon address. A survivor does not need to wait for a criminal verdict to explore a civil filing.
When Can a Salon or Spa Be Sued?
A salon, spa, owner, or operator that employed Nieves can also be named. Liability generally turns on what the business knew and did. Andreozzi + Foote explains employer claims may rest on earlier warnings or hiring, supervision, and retention failures in its employer-liability summary. For readers deciding whether an employer claim fits, these are the questions lawyers usually test.
Keep any receipt, appointment confirmation, message, or note written close in time. Do not contact the business to investigate on your own. A court affidavit places alleged incidents from March 2025 to Sept. 2026 at Avant Salon in Omaha and Sakoon spa in Elkhorn. Andreozzi + Foote, citing KETV reporting, identifies both workplaces as possible employer defendants.
- Did the salon receive an earlier complaint or warning about Nieves and keep booking him?
- Did it check credentials, enforce draping and consent rules, and supervise rooms?
- Did it keep him on after a report that should have prompted removal?
Does the Criminal Case Decide the Civil Claim?
No. The criminal prosecution and a civil lawsuit move on separate tracks. According to WOWT First Alert 6, Nieves faces eight counts of third-degree sexual assault, a misdemeanor, across two cases.
A guilty plea or conviction is not required before filing a civil claim. Civil claims use a different standard and focus on harm and damages. Keep criminal paperwork separate from medical, therapy, and expense records.
What Limits and Next Steps Apply?
An arrest and lawsuit filings are not findings of guilt or liability. Nieves is presumed innocent, has pleaded not guilty, and posted bond after each arrest, according to Signal News Omaha and WOWT First Alert 6. Nebraska listed Nieves as licensed since Jan.
2012 and still active through Nov. 2027, according to Andreozzi + Foote. Active licensure alone did not prevent salon employment. Anyone who believes she was harmed should preserve records and seek confidential legal advice promptly about filing deadlines.