MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — One of the eight identified victims whose image was captured by a hidden camera in the employee restroom at Ruby Memorial Hospital has filed a lawsuit over the matter.
The suit was filed Friday in Monongalia County Circuit Court. It seeks compensatory and punitive damages from WVU Hospitals, WVU Health Systems, and University Health Associates for being negligent in supervision, workplace security, and in their response after the discovery of the first device. The plaintiff’s case also claimed a hostile work environment against WVU Hospitals under the West Virginia Human Right Act. The suit also included claims of invasion of privacy and emotional distress.
Also named is Lance Parks, a former anesthesiologist at he hospital who was charged with placing the cameras in the restroom. Law enforcement was able to identify eight employees who were recorded against their knowledge and in a partial state of undress.
One device was discovered mounted under a sink. The second device was discovered by maintenance workers when they repaired a clogged toilet in the anesthesiology department four days later. The memory card of that camera had no images. According to the lawsuit, investigators discovered additional videos which appeared to have been recoded at Ruby on devices sized from Parks’ home.
Along with the compensatory and punitive damages, the suit seeks attorney fees and other relief including protection against unnecessary disclosure of recordings of the plaintiff.