Troubled Waters At the Salon Spa

"It's very unusual in these types of suits to have so many people willing to sign these kinds of statements under the penalty of perjury," says Debra S. Katz, Barrett's attorney. "Clearly, Mr. Chreky has made a career out of targeting young immigrant women and subjecting them to very serious harassment, and expected to do that with impunity."

In his responses, Chreky has noted that the salon was far too busy to allow such incidents. His responses also point out that by the nature of the trade, people must stand close to one another to work, and that common sense argues against such brazen behavior going unchecked for long.

"When employees collaborated on a single client, it was impossible for those employees to do other than 'stand close' to one another," Chreky's filing says. "Defendants deny that any such positioning was sexual in nature."

The two suits are both at early stages of litigation. For example, they might be dismissed on technical grounds -- Chreky maintains in one filing that the statute of limitations has expired -- get settled out of court, or end up in trial.

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No matter how this dispute ends, it's clear when it began.

Last year, Chreky sued Thong, Buchanan and another former employee for opening their salon nearby so soon after leaving his place. He asked for an injunction to force Thong's new salon to close and for $10 million in damages.

D.C. Superior Court Judge Maurice A. Ross rejected Chreky's injunction request -- ruling Chreky would not suffer irreparable harm -- and wrote there was "a substantial question" as to whether Chreky would prevail on any of his claims. Chreky withdrew the suit, court files show.

Months later, Thong, then Barrett filed their suits.

"He needs to be stopped," Barrett said in an interview, fighting back tears. "If I'm ever going to feel better about myself, and really be able to let go of all those things . . . I need to see justice done, not just for me but for everyone else."

Thong says she filed her suit after months of psychotherapy persuaded her to fight back.

"I'm saying these things for one reason," she said in an interview. "Because he did them to me."

For one of Washington's toniest establishments, a place that promises peace and serenity, both may be in short supply in the coming months.