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Geek Squad Gone Wild

post #1 of 11
Thread Starter 
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busin...ness-headlines

Quote:
Best Buy, 'Geek Squad' sued over videotaping
A technician on a service call at a home is arrested after a woman is taped while in the shower.


By Ashley Surdin | Times Staff Writer
Posted April 12, 2007

A woman and her mother sued Best Buy and its "Geek Squad" computer repair team Wednesday, claiming they were legally responsible for dispatching a technician who allegedly videotaped the daughter taking a shower.

The suit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on behalf of Sarah Vasquez, 22, and her mother, Natalie Fornaciari, 46, both from city of Industry, alleges that Geek Squad technician Hao Kuo Chi, 26, placed his cellphone in Vasquez's bathroom during a computer service call March 4 and recorded her showering.

Chi was arrested the same day on suspicion of using a camera to view a person without their consent and of annoying or molesting a child under 18, both misdemeanors, said Sheriff's Sgt. Bob Skudlarski.

The family said that they relied on the national chain to screen and train agents before sending them into people's homes.

They also relied on the Geek Squad's brochure, which promised to provide "agents you can trust."

"Businesses need to do a better job of screening the employees whom they send to their customers' homes," said attorney Gloria Allred, who is representing the family.

A Best Buy spokeswoman said she learned of the lawsuit shortly after it was filed Wednesday.

"Best Buy was not informed of this action prior to being contacted by the media today," the company said in a statement. "Obviously, we intend to cooperate fully with any investigation into this matter."

According to the suit, Chi came to the family's home last month for a scheduled computer service appointment. After starting to work, he asked to use the bathroom and was shown to one shared by Vasquez and her 13-year-old sister, Kelly Rocha, the lawsuit said.

Vasquez later showered in the same bathroom. When she stepped out of the stall, she noticed a cellphone propped up on her cluttered sink, the suit said. The phone was covered in a leather case; a small camera with a red, blinking light was sticking out, she said.

Suspicious, Vasquez left the bathroom to tell her sister Kelly and when she returned, the phone was gone. Kelly then found the phone in her bedroom. Believing the phone was programmed to record her as well, she removed its memory chip and she and Vasquez took it to a Verizon store to see what was on it.

"You could see him on the video setting it up," Vasquez said. "I was shocked."

The sisters called their stepfather, who reported Chi to police, and he was arrested at their house.

The family is seeking compensatory and punitive damages for alleged fraud, negligent misrepresentation and hiring, invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress and breach of warrant.
I'm surprised this fella had to resort to this to get his kicks. You'd think he'd be able to land a lot of ass cruising around in one of those VW Bugs.
post #2 of 11
So.... where's the video?
post #3 of 11
Thread Starter 
It's included as a bonus DVD with all purchases of BOBBY at Best Buy.
post #4 of 11
I miss the good old analog days.

post #5 of 11
You know you're dealing with classy people when the mother and two daughters all have different last names.
post #6 of 11
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeShaynePI
You know you're dealing with classy people when the mother and two daughters all have different last names.
Hey, maybe the daughters were asking for it!
post #7 of 11
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeShaynePI
You know you're dealing with classy people when the mother and two daughters all have different last names.
Hey Mike, how about this for class-

Go Fuck Yourself
post #8 of 11
So annoying someone under 18 is a misdemeanor? I annoy not only my own kids but my nieces and nephews all the time; I hope they don't report me!
post #9 of 11
Isn't the real issue here that these so-called "geeks" resorted to the same sort of simple tactic a drunk frat boy might use to get his kicks? If they are true tech geniuses, shouldn't they have been able to invisibly plant some tiny spy camera? Also 24 hours later they apparently still haven't figured out how to get this video on the web. Their professionalism is certainly in question.
post #10 of 11
The geek doesn't have the video anymore. The girls took the card out of the phone that stored the video. The police have it and are most likely "going through it" for possible "visual evidence".
post #11 of 11
"Businesses need to do a better job of screening the employees whom they send to their customers' homes," said attorney Gloria Allred, who is representing the family.

How do you better screen these guys?

Employer: "Do you like naked chicks showering?"
Potential Hiree: "No, sir."
Employer: "You're hired."

I've seen some pretty sketchy/skeevy/shifty/dirty plumbers, contractors, and utility service-men and technicians in my day. I don't know if it's possible for the employers to find out if any are closet perverts "smart enough" to use their cell phone as a video camera.

Who in their right mind would admit to dirty little secrets while filling out a job application? And how far can you go as an employer (besides the US government) during background checks? Many of the companies I've worked for in the past (including Suncoast which was owned by Best Buy at one time) can't even give negative responses to reference/employee checks. Just verifcation of actual employment history/timeline. Besides an actual criminal record (and perhaps a strange entry on their resume) and if you're lucky some bad vibes during the interview, you got no red flags.

Potential Hiree: "Who are those hot chicks in that pic on yer desk? I'd totally do them."
Employer: "My wife and daughter."
Potential Hiree: "Dude... High-5!"
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