Wegmans Faces Suit Over Peeping Employee

FAIRFAX, Va. (CN) - A customer who discovered a Wegmans employee filming him using the urinal has sued the grocery store for not firing the employee after his first reported videotaping incident.

William W. Harkins entered the Wegmans Food Markets store on Monument Drive in Fairfax on May 3, 2014, to grocery shop with his wife. While using the urinal during his shopping trip, he noticed an object moving underneath the stall wall next to him. A cellphone camera was pointed up toward Harkins while he used the urinal, the man says in his complaint.

Harkins confronted Bryce Glasoe, who was on the clock and wearing his Wegmans uniform and name tag while he videotaped Harkins from inside the stall. Glasoe admitted filming Harkins using the restroom, the complaint states.

Glasoe's phone contained a collection of videos and photographs of similar incidents.

On at least one occasion before the violation of Harkins' privacy, a similar incident involving Glasoe filming a customer using the urinal was reported to Wegmans, but Wegmans did not discipline or fire Glasoe, according to Harkins' lawsuit. The store intentionally and recklessly continued to employ a person it knew had a propensity to video or photograph customers using the restroom, Harkins says.

Harkins filed his lawsuit against Wegmans and Glasoe on Feb. 27 in Fairfax County Circuit Court. He has charged the grocery store with negligent retention of an employee, and both defendants with assault and invasion of privacy.

Glasoe pleaded no contest to filming a nonconsenting nude person and was convicted in Fairfax General District Court.

Harkins demands $50,000 in compensatory damages and $100,000 in punitive damages. He is represented by Matthew C. Perushek, of Sickels, Frei & Mims.

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