Shady NYC spa forced elderly woman to spend $65K on ‘snake oil treatments’ — and wouldn’t let her leave
A New York City spa is facing allegations that it coerced a 77-year-old woman into spending more than $65,000 on so-called “snake oil” treatments she repeatedly declined. Elizabeth Childs-Johnson claims a spa worker cornered her in an office and refused to let her leave until she agreed to buy the expensive services.
The semi-retired Sinologist, an expert in Chinese art and archaeology, was on her way to work in December 2024 when she was approached outside Olle Beauty Clinic on the Upper East Side. According to her Manhattan Supreme Court lawsuit, an employee flattered Childs-Johnson in an effort to lure her inside.
“It was around my birthday,” the widow recalled. “And this was going to be my unwanted birthday gift.”
She initially agreed to try the spa’s offerings, ultimately paying roughly $40,000 for a package of 12 facials over a year, her lawyer Andrew L. Kincaid told The Post.
But the situation escalated in November, as Childs-Johnson approached the end of her year-long facial program. An employee allegedly confronted her, insisting she renew the treatments despite her protests that she couldn’t afford them.
The worker reportedly cornered her in a room and would not let her leave until she purchased a new series of “outlandishly expensive and dubiously effective” sessions, the lawsuit states.
“It all happened in a matter of minutes,” Childs-Johnson said. “I was stunned. I hardly said a word, all I really did was hand over my credit cards.”
Three days later, Childs-Johnson realized she had been charged $65,322. She claims the spa has refused to refund the money.
Childs-Johnson is seeking at least the full amount she says she was charged in a lawsuit filed against OP Creation Inc., Madison Apothecary Inc., and Olle LLC.
Kincaid called the alleged behavior “tremendously deceptive and abusive as a business practice,” noting that the woman repeatedly insisted she did not want the services and could not afford them.
A Madison Apothecary spokesperson said the company has “no clue” about the claims and denied charging anyone $65,000 or offering the services described. Olle did not respond to requests for comment, and OP Creation could not be reached.
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