Pokémon faces class action over hidden-camera claims
Pokémon Company International faces a proposed class action after a former engineering director was arrested for allegedly secretly recording people in restrooms at its Bellevue office.
The Pokémon Company International faces a proposed class action after a former engineering director was arrested on allegations he secretly recorded people, including women and children, inside restrooms at the company’s Bellevue, Washington office. The complaint seeks to represent anyone who used those restrooms between 2017 and July 25, 2026.
The suit was filed by a former employee identified as Jane Doe, who says she worked at the company for five years. The complaint alleges recordings occurred over several years and that company managers ignored or failed to respond to indicators that could have stopped the alleged conduct.
Local police began a criminal investigation after a hidden camera was found under a sink in a Starbucks restroom in October 2025. Investigators traced the device to the former engineering director using surveillance footage and transaction records tied to a small purchase.
The former director, Ben Tsai, was arrested in January and charged with first‑degree voyeurism. Prosecutors later filed additional counts involving child sexual abuse material. A forensic review of devices seized from his home reportedly uncovered hundreds of covert recordings, including dozens allegedly filmed inside Pokémon office bathrooms.
The proposed class action seeks damages and asks the court to certify a class of current and former employees and other visitors to the Bellevue office. The complaint focuses on the company’s supervision and response and seeks civil remedies for the alleged failure to provide a safe workplace.
Attorney Bradley Barshis wrote in a court filing that his client “has entered and will enter pleas of not guilty to all charges.” Plaintiff attorneys have urged the company to adopt measures to protect children and others from similar risks in the workplace.
The criminal case and the civil proposed class action are proceeding separately. The company has not been charged criminally in connection with the recordings; the civil complaint remains pending.
Articles by this author
