'Geek Squad' Technician Accused Of Recording Video of his Customer Taking a Shower

**TXCharlie** · 04-13-07, 11:25 AM

http://www.nbc5i.com/news/11751597/detail.html

'Geek Squad' Worker Accused Of Recording Woman
Phone Allegedly Found In Child's Bedroom

POSTED: 6:07 pm CDT April 12, 2007

POMONA, Calif. -- A 22-year-old woman and her mother are suing Best Buy and its "Geek Squad" computer repair team for dispatching a technician who they say videotaped the daughter taking a shower.

Sarah Vasquez and her mother Natalie Fornaciari filed a Superior Court lawsuit Wednesday claiming technician Hao Kuo Chi, 26, placed his cellular telephone in Vasquez's bathroom during a service call March 4 in the family's Walnut home and recorded her showering.

The suit also claims the phone was found in the bedroom of Vasquez's 13-year-old sister, Kelly Rocha.

"I couldn't believe this was happening to me," Vasquez said. "I felt embarrassed and dirty because he did this when I was naked."

Chi was arrested and later charged with misdemeanor counts of using a camera to view a person without consent and annoying or molesting a child under 18, said Sgt. Bob Skidlarski of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. A court hearing will be held May 3.

Best Buy officials released a statement saying the company learned of the lawsuit shortly after it was announced Wednesday.

"Obviously, we intend to cooperate fully with any investigation into this matter," the statement said.

Chi was at the family's home for a scheduled appointment, according to the lawsuit.

Vasquez claims she noticed a cell phone positioned on her bathroom sink when she exited the shower. A red light on it was blinking, she said. Vasquez went to tell her sister, but when they returned the phone was gone. Kelly later found it in her bedroom.

The sisters removed the memory chip and took it to a Verizon store to see what was on it. They alerted their stepfather, who reported Chi to police.

"I was shocked and felt angry and upset for my daughters when I learned what was on the video," Fornaciari said.

The family is seeking compensatory and punitive damages for alleged fraud, negligent misrepresentation and hiring, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

A telephone listing could not be located for Chi in Walnut or the surrounding area. The plaintiffs' attorney, Gloria Allred, said she did not know if he had a lawyer.

**countybear** · 04-13-07, 11:46 AM

Jeez, what a maggot...

"Obviously, we intend to cooperate fully with any investigation into this matter," the statement said.

-- Literally translated, this is politically correct corporate legalese for "Aww, shit..."

**Ducky** · 04-13-07, 01:51 PM

I'd wind up owning all of that guy's paychecks for the rest of his life. Not to mention Best Buy would be meeting ANY and ALL of my present and future electronics needs, even if I decide to start selling them on eBay after I decide I don't like them.

**E-man** · 04-14-07, 11:43 AM

Best Buy threw that peeping tom under the bus faster than CBS dropepd Imus.

**TwanimusPrime** · 04-14-07, 11:49 AM

You'd think a guy working for the "Geek Squad" could think of a more advanced way to do it than sticking a Cell Phone video (with the record light brightly ON) in the shower. yeah, thats not noticable.

You work for the Geek Squad for god sakes. Put a james Bond micro camera into a shampo bottle with satillte uplink to your laptop in your little geek sqaud VW or something.

You call him a pervert. I just call him lazy.

**KaiGywer** · 04-17-07, 09:58 AM

OK, so call me different. I don't see why Best Buy should be sued. Have criminal charges pressed against the guy, but his employer wasn't condoning his actions, and they likely fired him immediately, hence they should not be held liable.

Sometimes (fine...all the time) I hate the damn lawsuit happy culture and mentality in this country.

**Hannibal** · 04-17-07, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by KaiGywer

OK, so call me different. I don't see why Best Buy should be sued. Have criminal charges pressed against the guy, but his employer wasn't condoning his actions, and they likely fired him immediately, hence they should not be held liable.

Sometimes (fine...all the time) I hate the damn lawsuit happy culture and mentality in this country.

I agree.

I also think we need more evidence... roll the video.

**TXCharlie** · 04-17-07, 11:14 AM

Yeah, the extent of the employeer's responsibility should be to run background checks, establish company policy (which very likely forbids illegal acts), provide training, and enforce their policy.

They cannot always predict illegal actions of employees. All they can do is do is fire the employee when it occurs and report them to the police.

Now if there were prior complaints on this employee and they failed to fire him, that opens up a completely different ball of wax.

**10-42Adam** · 04-17-07, 11:47 AM

Props to the sisters for removing the memory chip! haha...

**KaiGywer** · 04-17-07, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by 10-42Adam

Props to the sisters for removing the memory chip! haha...

*waiting for Ebaumsworld to find it*

**KaiGywer** · 04-17-07, 01:37 PM

Not the best picture, but:

**TXCharlie** · 04-17-07, 01:38 PM

I wonder if his cell phone was set for automatic uploads?

Mine won't do that, but it sounds like a nifty feature for such applications.

**Star Man** · 04-17-07, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by TXCharlie

Yeah, the extent of the employeer's responsibility should be to run background checks, establish company policy (which very likely forbids illegal acts), provide training, and enforce their policy.

They cannot always predict illegal actions of employees. All they can do is do is fire the employee when it occurs and report them to the police.

Now if there were prior complaints on this employee and they failed to fire him, that opens up a completely different ball of wax.

+1