On May 6 MASSAGE Magazine reported that the Maryland Board of Chiropractic and Massage Therapy Examiners will allow massage therapist Mercedes Clemens to resume her equine massage practice. Clemens’ lawsuit against the board had gained national press attention.
On May 8 Clemens told MASSAGE Magazine that the board’s decision is still pending. In a statement she said:
“On Tuesday, May 5, I and my wonderful Institute for Justice attorneys Scott Bullock & Paul Sherman were in court to argue against the Maryland Board of Chiropractic & Massage Therapy Examiners’ second motion to dismiss my case (not to argue the case itself).
“The judge, having read both the Board’s motion as well as our response, strongly urged the Board to rescind the cease-and-desist letter which has been in effect since February 2008, preventing me from practicing massage on animals. We are hoping that the Board will listen to the judge, rescind the cease-and-desist order and issue a public policy statement clarifying that they have no jurisdiction over animal massage. Until they do so, I still cannot practice animal massage in Maryland.”