ADT Alleges “No Control” Over ADT "Sexual Gratification" Technician
ADT filed to dismiss a class-action lawsuit and claimed it had "no control" over its technician's actions, who pleaded guilty to hacking surveillance video 9,600+ times for "sexual gratification."
In this note, we examine the court filings, ADT's claims, the court's response, and whether ADT truly had 'no control' of what it described as an 'unforeseeable' event.
ADT ***** ***** ****** *******
** *** **, ****, ***** ********* * ***** ****** ********* ******* ADT, "***** ** *** *********** *** negligent ******** **** ** ********* ******** services ** *** ********* **** ******-******* capabilities."
**** *** ********* ** ***** **** by *** *** *** **** *** installation ********** *** **** *** ****** access ** *** ** *** ******, including *** ***** ***, ** "******* amount ** *****":
** **** ****, **** ***** ********* ***** ****** *********, ***** ***** ********* ******, *** offending **********, ********* *** ** * defendant.
Main ****** ** ********* ******* ***
******** ***** **** ** ****** ** action ***** ******* ***, *** ***** and ****** ****** *** **** ***********: ADT's ****** ** ******** *** **********.
******** ****** *** ******** *** ******** with *** ********* "** ******* ** acknowledge *** ******** ************* ** *** ADT ***** ****** *** *** ******* of * ***** ***** ** ****** the ******** ****** *** ******* ********* security ******* ********* **** ***** *** cameras." ***'* ******* ** ****** **** contract ***** ******* *** ********* ** contractual *******:
***'* ******** **** *** ******** ******** the ******** ** ******** ** *** services ******** ** ***, *** *** plaintiff ****** ***** ** * ***** "implied ********" ** *** ******** *** a ****** ******** ******:
*** ********* **** ****** *** *** negligent *** *** *** **** ** make **** ********** **** ** ***** for *** ******* ** ** ******. Further, ** *** *********** **** ********* would ** ** **** ** *** did *** **** ****** ******** ********* in *****.
Court ****** *** ******* ** *******
** ******* **, ****, ******** ** ********** ** *** *********'* ******. *** court *** ************** ***'* ****** ** ******* *** entire ****, **** **** ** *** plaintiff's ****** ******* *** ****** ******.
******** *** ****** **** ** ***** not ** **** *********** *** ** "implied ********" ** * ********, *** court ***** ** ** ********** **** ADT's ******* ******** ******* **** ** would **** ****** *******, ******* "* contract *** * ******** ********** ******* that ** ****** ******** ** * contract *** '******* ** ***.'"
*******, *** ***** ***** **** *** negligence ***** ****** ** ***, ** selling * ******** ****** ** ******* intrusion, **** *** * **** ** protect *** ********* **** ********* ** privacy:
*** *********'* ***** *** ********* ******/*********** also ***** ******* *** ********** ***** have ********** **** ********* *** ** been ****** **********:
ADT **** "** *******"
*******,***'* **-**** ******* *** ******* ************* **** **** *** "** *******" over *** ** *** *******.
ADT **** "*************" ******
** *** ******* *****, *** **** they **** ****** ** "*************" ****** beyond *** ******* ** ***.
Months ****** *** ***** "***** **** **************"
*******, * ****** ******, ***'* ***** Customer ************ *********** ****** ******* ****:
We **** **** ************** *** **** and our goal and our mission from the beginning of this is to regain their trust and their peace of mind. [emphasis added]
***** ***'* ********* ** ****** ******* below:
*** ******** ** ******* ** **** how *** *** ***, ** **, that ** ***** "**** ************** *** this' ***** ***** ********, ** ***** filings, **** **** *** '** *******' and **** **** *** '*************'.
Lack ** ******** *****
**** ****'* ****** ** *** ********* elements ******** (** **** *******), ** conclude **** * ********* *********** ****** have ******** *** ********* ***** ******** from ********** **** ****:
- *** **********'* ************ ****** ** ******* of ******* ** ********* **** **** on *** **** * ***** *** was *** **** ********** ** ***, but ** * ******** *** ******** to ****** ** ********** ***** ** her *******, *********** ** ***.
- *** *********** *** ******* ** *** their *** ****** ** *** ****** during ************ *** *******, *** ***** is ** ***** ****** ** **** sure **** *** ***** ** ***** off **** *** ************ ** ********.
- ******, ** *** ***'* ****** ******** to ***** *********** ** ***** ***** emails ** *** ***** *****, ***** could **** **** ******* ******* *********** management **********, *.*., ****-******* ****** ** the ******* **** ****** *** ***** of *** ******.
- *******, *** **** **** *** ******* notifications **** ****** *** ***** ** the ****** ** **** ** ****** the ******. ** ** ********* *********** if *** ***** ****** ** *** their ***** ******* ** ******* ** audit ******, **** ***** **** *** system ** ** *****. *** ****** to ********* ****** ********* ** ******* their ********* **** ************ ****** **** there **** **** ********* ** ******* this **** *********.
Plaintiff ********'* *******
*** ** *** *********'* ******* ********* to **** ******:
**** ** ****** * *** *** video ************ ********, ********** **** **'** talking ***** **** ******** *******. ** the ******** ***’* **** ** ****** that ***** ******* *** ******, **’* hard ** ********** *** ** ******** the **** ** ******** *****.
*** ***** ********** ****** ** *** is ****, ** *** ********* ** video ************, ******** *********** ** ***** their ***** ********* **** ******** ******** is ********. *******, *** ******* **** remains ** ****** **** ***** ************ providers *** ******* *********** ****** *** their ********* ** **** ***** ************ of ***** ********'* **********.
ADT ** *******
*** **************** *************** ** ******* ** **** ******* for ************* ***** *** ****** ** "no *******" *** "****** **** **************" as **** ** *********** ** ****, if ***, ******* **** **** **** to *** ******* ******** ** ***** of *** ******* *********.
* *********** ******* ******** ******** *** cyber ********
**** *********** ** ********* ******* ** technology *******. *** ***'* **** ** be * ***** *** ****** ** the ******* ****** *** ** *** your ***** ******* ** *** **** not **** ******** ** ***** ** ensure ************ ****** ** *********. ** the ****** ** ********** **** ******* outside ** ********** *****, ** ** really ********** **********? *'* ********** *** a ******, *** ** ******* ** peeking ** ** **** ******* * don't **** ********** ****** *** ***** assume **** ** ******** *** ********. The **** ******** *** *** **** access ** ***** * ********* *** disarm *** ******.
**** ******* *** ********* ** *** case, ** ***** ** *** ************ access *** **** *** ** ****** get *** ********* ** *** *** email ** *** ****** ** ** had ** ** ** ***** ****** as *** *********.
*** ****** ** *** ******** ** potentially ********** ** ************ *****, **'* why * **** ******** ****** *** multiple ****** ** **********, *********, *** auditing ** ***** *** ***********.
******,
***'* ******** ** * ******** **********, by ********* **, *** *** ********** will **** ** ***** **** *** could **** ******* ***** ****** *** been **** ** **** ****** ** prevent **. **** **** *** ****** of ***** **** ** *** ********** rather **** ***. ** ******** ** your ***** "**** *****'* ******** *****", the **** **** **** *** * policy ** ***** ********* **** **** were ********* *** ****'* ** *** enough ** ******* **. **** ** gross **********. **** ***'** ********** ** a ******* ** ***********, ***** ** much ****** ** ********* **** **********, you'd ********* **** ** ***** **** didn't ** *** ****** **** ***** cyber ********.
* ***** *** ******** ** *** ruling ** ********* ******* *** ******** really *** ******* ** ** **** the ******* ** **** **** ** I'm *** **** *** ** ** even *********.
** *** *** ******** * ******* or ******* **** ******** ** * network ** *** ********, *** *** going ** ** ******* ****** *** any ******** ******** ** **** ******* or *******, ****** *** *** ***** the ******** ********* ************* *** ****** to ***** *** * ******. *** can *** ** ***** *** ********* via *** ******** *** **** **** of **** ******** *** ** **********.
*/*
**** *** ******** **** ** *** noted **** ** **** **** *** tech ** ******** ***** *** ********* add *** *****, ***** ***** **** point ****.
** ***** **** ** **** ** in “***” *****, **** *** *** case. *** *** ******* ********* ****, at ***** ** **** *****, *** technician *** ****** *** ********** ** add ***** *****, *******?
*** *** ********** ******* ** *** world ***** *** **** ********* **** because ** **** *****, *** ********** applied "****** ***********" ** *** *** homeowner ** *** *** ***** ** their *******.
*****, *** **** *********, ** ***** some ** ***** ***** ***** **** been ****** ***** *** *** **** social ***********, *******? *** ** **** one *** ******, ** ***** **** stopped *** *** ***** ***** ****** it ******* ***?
** *** *** ******** *******, ** course ** *** ***** ** ******* as ** *** *** **** *** published **** ***** **** **** ** they ********. ** **** **** *********** or *** ******** ** ** ****** of ***?
**** **** *********** **** ******** ****** their *****, *** *** * **** strong ******** **** ****** *********. **** is **** **** ** *** ***** of ********** ***, *** ** *** event ** ***** **********. ** *** that *** *** **** *** ******* to ** **** *** ******** ** to ************* *** ******* ** *********. The ********* ******* *** ******** *** company ** ***** ** *** ****** didn't **** ******* **** ***** *********.
*** ******** *** ****** **** ** industry ********* ** ******* ********* ****** accounts **** ** ****** ***** *******. For *******, ** ** ** ****** in *** ******** *** *********** ** use ***** *** ***** ******* ** set ** ******** *******, *** *** a ******** ******** **** ** ****** control (****, "********** ******* ** ******* to ******** *****."). ** *** ***** hand, ** ** ** ******** *** providers **** *** ** ******* *********** advising *** ******** ** ****** *** users ******* ********** *** ** ****** the ************** ******** ***** *** ************ is ******** (***** ** **** * think ****** ** *** ******), **** there *** ** ** ******** *** gross **********.
*** ***** ** **** ******* ** to **** **** *********** ******* *** not ******, ************* *** ******** * strict ****** **** ******** ***** ** remove ***** ********* *** ** ******* the ******** ************ ** *** ** change *** ***** *********. ***** "*******" may *** ******* ********, **********, ******** and ************* **** **** ** ******* this **** *********, ***** **** **** many *** ***** ** *** ** pierce *********** ** ********* **** ** those **** ** ***...**** ** *** all **** ******.
**** ****'* ****** ** *** ********* elements ******** (** **** *******), ** conclude **** ********************* ****** **** ******** *** ********* their ******** **** ********** **** ****:
** **** ******** ** *** ********* or *** ** ******** ** ** competent? ** *** *****, **** **** that ****?
**** ** ******** ** **** "*********". *'** ******* **** ******** ***********. Thanks *** *** *****, ***!
***** ** *** **** ** *** and ***** ********* ******** **** ** auditing *********, * ***** ******* ***** has ** ** **** **** **** this *** ****.
*** * ** ******** **** *** searched ******* ********* *** **** ***** accounts ******** ** **** ************ ********* **** **** ****** **** **** lawsuit - *** *** **** **** how **** **** *****.
** *** ***** ** **** *** ADT ***** ** ******, **** ***** they ******** ** **** **** ****?
***** ** ** *** **** **** will **** ******** ****** ***** *****.... so ** **** ******* ********* *** others **** **** *** *** **** kind ** ****** ******** ** *** with *** ******* *** ** ********* to **** **** *****?
***** ** ** *** **** **** will **** ******** ****** ***** *****.... so ** **** ******* ********* *** others **** **** *** *** **** kind ** ****** ******** ** *** with *** ******* *** ** ********* to **** **** *****?
**** *****'* * *********. ** **** know ** *** ***** ********* **** have ********* ******* ****, **** *********** is ************. **** ***** ** ** my ***** ********* *******.
** ********* ******* ******** ** ** remain ********* ********. ***** ********* *** be ******* ******** ** *****-******* **** as *** ********* *** *** ******** holders, **** ** * **** ******** at ****.
**, ******** **** *** ***** **** there **** ***** ********* ** **** behavior, **** **** **** **** **% of *** ***** **** ******* ******* judgement, **** ** ******* ** ********* before *****.
**** ***** ** ** ** ***** discovery *******.
*** - **** ** ******* **** I *** ********... ******* ***, * can't *** *** **** ***** ****************.
*** ***** **** ***** *** **** of ******* ******** ** **** ***'* know?
(*********** *** **** *******)
'* ******** *** * ******** ********** service **** ** ****** ******** ** a ******** *** "******* ** ***." '
*** *** ******* ****** *** ** be *****-******* ********* **** ***** *** have ******** ** *** ******* ** the ********. *** ***** ***** *** those ****** ***** **, *****? "******* at ***," ******!
*** ************ ************ ** **** ******* *** ****** ** ***'* ****** to *******:
*** *********** **** *** ****** ** dismiss, ********** ** **** * *** issues ***** *** ********* **** *** on * ****. ********* *** ****** causes ** ****** ** ****** *** it **** ** *********** ** *** how **** ***** ***. ** *********** on **** ***.
***** ** *** ***********'* ******** ** February ****, *** **** ****** **** can ** ******* ** *** ********** is ****** ** ******** *** ********* hiring/supervision. ****, ***** ** ***'* ********** of ********* ******* ** ***** ********, which **** **** ** ** *** majority ** ***** ** ***** ********** brought ********* ******.
*** **** **** *** ****** **** the *****'* ******** ** *** ******* judgement ****** ** ****, *** ******** necessarily ******* ** ********* **** *** security ********** ******** ***** ** ****** from ********* ** ***'* *********. ***** the ***** ****** **** *** ********* noting **** "* ******** *** * security ********** ******* **** ** ****** unsecure ** * ******** *** "******* at ***," **** ** * ****** for *** **** (** ***** ** a ***** *****). ****, *** ********* can ******** ** ****** ** **** conclusion. ********* *******
- *** ****** ****** ***'* * "security ******" ** *** **** ****** as ** ***** ******.
- *** ******** ** *** ****** in ***** ** ********* ******** **** was ********* ** ****** ** ** the ******** *** **** *** ******** did *** ******* *** ********** ******* cyber ********...*** ** ****** *** ******** disclaimers ** **** ******.
- *** *********** ****** *** ******** would ** ******** ** ******** ***********.
** ******** ** **** *****, ***** isn't **** ******* ** *** ********* decision *** ***** *** *********** ******** by *** *********. ***, ***** *** reasons **** *** *** **** ** settle *** ****** ****** ********* ** complete. ** **** **** ***** *******, this **** ****** ** ******** ****** trial.
*** ******** *** *** ******* *** assurances ******* ***** ********
* ** *** **** ** *** will *** **** ******** *** ** they ***, * ***'* ********* ** how * ***** ***** ****.
*******, ***** **** *** ******* * premium *** *** *******, *** * great ****** ******** ** ***'* ******** is **** *** **** "*** ******* any ********** ******* ***** ********".
*** * ***** ****** ******** ** ADT's ******** ** **** *** **** "not ******* *** ********** ******* ***** security".
**** *** ******* ** ** ********* regarding ***** * ********* * ****** ******** **** **** provide ** ******* ******* ***** *?
** ***** * ** ** ************ and ***-****** *****, **** ** *** appropriate ******** ** **** ** *** your ******* ******* ******* ***** *?
*** ****** *** ******** ****** ***** how **** ******* ******* ***** * might ** **** ** *** **** strategy, **?
** ***** ** ********** ** *** only ********* ***** *** ******* ** not *** ******** ********* ******* ***** security. ***'* **** ***** * ********* issue **** ******* ** *** * representative ** *** *** * ***********? Isn't ***** * ********** ******** **** this ********* *** ******* ********** **** access ******* ** ****** ** ***** a ************** ** ***, ****** **** a ******* ***** ******** ****?
******:*** ******** *** ******* ****** ****** ***** to **** ** **** ***** *************.****'* ******** ** ****:
**** *** ***** ** ** ** take ***** ****** ** *********’* ******* to ******* * ***** ** **** matter: *****, ** *** ******** ***** (which ** ******* ****); ******, ** the ****** ** ********* (***** ** is ****** ** ** ***); *** third, **** ********* ******** ***** ** certify *** *****—*** ******** *** ***** the ******* ******* ******. *** *** no ***** ***** *** **** *******, and ********* *** *** ************ **** cause ** ****** *** ******** ********. ADT’s ****** ****** ** ******.
*** ***** ****** **** **** ***** not ********* *** ******** ********,******* ***'* ******:
********* *** **** ******* ***** ** raise *** ****** ** ***** *** relevant ** ***** ************* ** *** response ** *********’* ******, *.*., ********* is *** ******* ** ********** ** Plaintiff’s *********. *** *****’* ********** ***** does *** ********* *********. ***********, ** is ****** ******* *** ******** **** Defendant *** ***’* ****** *** ***** to **** ****** ** **** ***** Certification (** [**]) ** ******.
*** **** *** ********* **** *********.
******: **** ************* **** ********* ***************** * ********** ** ***'* ******** of ********* ********:
*********** *** *******, ********* ** ********* that **** ********* ******** ** *********’* investigation (************,***** ***, ***’* ******** ** ********* ********). ADT *** ****** ** ******* **. Day *** ********** *** *********** **** he ***** ******* ** *** ************* and *** ******* ******* ** *** investigation, ***** *********** ***’* ********* ********** as ** ******* *********.
******: ***** ****, ***** ****'* *******,***** * ******** **** ******* ***** *** **** ******** ***** (******** District ** *******) ** ***** ****, with ******* ********** ******* ***.
** **** *, ****, *** ***** a****** *** ********* ** *** *********** *** *** ***** ** ******* 2 ******** ****** ** ******, ***** the ******** ******** ******* ***** ** *** ********* in ***** ****'* ****:********* **** ********* (***** ***) *** Privacy ********** (***** ****). *** *** motion **** **** *** ***** ** not **** *** ****** *** *** of ******' *********** ***** (*.*. *** is *** "*********** ******"), ***** *** district ***** *** **** ****** ** in ***** ****'* ****. **** ***** ADT ** ****** *** ***** ** not **** ** ****** *** ******' intrusion **** ********* ** ********** ** emotional ******** ******* *** **** **** not "****** *** ****** *** ***** of *** **********."
*** ****** **. **** ***** *** own **** ** ** ********** ********* a ***** ****** ******* *** *** the ***** ** ****** *** "****** in * ********* **** ** *** Pulse ******** ******but *** *** *** ******* ******" [emphasis added]. Shana Doty was the account holder in their household, but the argument is Mr. Doty was also affected by virtue of living there.
** *** ****** ** ******* ** approved ** *** ******** ***** (*** is **** ********* **** *** ***** Doty ****), *** **** **** ***** continue *** *** ***** ** **** a ******** ** *** ********** ******. Note **** *** ***** ***** **** Shana **** ** *** ********** ******, saying **** **** ********** ****** ** action ******* ***.
*** ***** ***** **** ******** ******** in **** **** ***** (*** *** ********) **** *** *** ****** ****** techs ****** *** *********** *** **** thing **** *** **** ****** ** accused **.
************ ****** **** ******* **** ***** voyeurism ** **** ***** | ****
** **** ****, *** ***** ****** voyeur **** *** ****** ** *** homeowner *** *** *** ****** ****** tech *** ****** ** *** ************* into *** *** ****** ****** ****.
** ***** ** *********** ** **** the ****** **** **** - *** how *** ******** *** **** ** notice ****** ******* ** ** ***** system **** *** ********* ******'*?
****'** ***** **** *** ********** *** their ******** ** **** **** **** no ******* **** **** ***** ********* do? ****... **** **** ** *********'****** **** ***** **********? "************" ******... right. ** **** *****'* ******** *****. THAT ** ******* **** ********** **, THANK ***.
*'* * ****** **** ** **** part ** *** ***** ******: "* contract *** * ******** ********** ******* that ** ****** ******** ** * contract *** '******* ** ***.'" ** my ****, *'** ****** **** * distinction ******* ******** ******** *** ***** security *** ** *** ****** ********* skill **** *** ******* ********. *****, I ***** ***** **** **** ** a**************** ********** ******* **** ** **************, ********* *** ******** ** *** for ******* ******* *** ****** ********* to ******* **********. ** **** * distinction **** *** ** ***** *****?