Nearly three dozen employees have brought a lawsuit against Del Valle Independent School District (ISD) in Central Texas, following a shocking privacy breach that involved hidden cameras in the restrooms. According to CBS Austin, the former head custodian, Juan Manuel Del Toro, is alleged to have placed cameras in staff restrooms at the Del Valle Opportunity Center, capturing invasive photos over a span of nearly three years.
Del Valle ISD police started their investigation into the case after an unrelated discovery by a contractor in December 2022, as reported by MySA. The contractor was installing vape detectors when they found a pouch with USB drives and SD cards that held sensitive images and videos of Del Valle ISD employees. This evidence was found hidden in a staff bathroom, collected between April 2020 and December 2022.
The lawsuit was filed this past Tuesday, claiming negligence, invasion of privacy, and other violations. It further accuses the district of mishandling previous complaints about Del Toro's conduct. As early as 2018, he had been reported for inappropriate behavior and sexual harassment. Despite these reports, Del Toro was not fired; instead, he was shuffled around within the district, which arguably allowed the continued endangerment of employees. Del Toro has been charged with Invasive Visual Recording and is now on administrative leave.
The 35 plaintiffs, who remain anonymous for their protection, are seeking over $1 million in damages. A spokesperson for Del Valle ISD told MySA through email that the district has only just received the filing and therefore "cannot comment on pending litigation." All plaintiffs are listed as "Jane Doe" or "John Doe" to maintain their privacy, and their lawyers were unable to provide comments to CBS Austin due to an ongoing jury trial in California. Meanwhile, CBS Austin reached out to the district for a direct statement, but it declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.
As the lawsuit progresses and the F.B.I. takes the lead in the investigation, the district's handling of Del Toro's prior behavior and the subsequent privacy breach will come under close scrutiny. With the surveillance footage showing Del Toro disposing of a trash bag containing a box labeled "Mini Spy Camera, No WI-FI needed," the unfolding legal dispute underscores the severity of the intrusion faced by the unsuspecting employees. Amidst the plaintiffs' search for justice and recompense, the Del Valle community awaits further developments on the case.
