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Pokémon Faces Class-Action Suit After Former Engineer Charged Over Hidden-Camera Recordings

The filing alleges the company failed to protect users of its Bellevue office bathrooms and raises new legal exposure as criminal charges proceed.

Overview

  • Prosecutors charged former Pokémon director of engineering Ben Tsai with first-degree voyeurism and multiple counts tied to child sexual abuse material, and he has pleaded not guilty in the pending criminal case.
  • Forensic examiners reportedly recovered hundreds of hidden-camera videos from devices seized from Tsai, including folders investigators say contain recordings filmed inside Pokémon office bathrooms.
  • Investigators say the probe began after a hidden camera was found under a sink in a Kirkland Starbucks and that security footage and a small credit-card purchase helped trace the device to Tsai.
  • A plaintiff using the name Jane Doe filed a proposed class-action lawsuit seeking to represent people who used Pokémon’s office bathrooms from 2017 through July 25, 2026 and alleges the company failed to supervise Tsai or address warning signs.
  • Pokémon has limited its public comment to concern for employee well-being and declined further comment on pending litigation, and the cases could affect workplace safety rules, employer liability claims, and the company’s reputation.