Landlord Spied With Hidden Cameras on Renters in East Hampton Home, Lawsuit Claims
A family who rented a plush $6,500-a-week home in the exclusive enclave of East Hampton, N.Y., is suing their landlord for $4.6 million, claiming that he spied on them with hidden cameras set up in the house, the New York Post reported.
The landlord, Donald Torr (pictured at left), recorded the family of nine -- two grandparents, their adult children and three young kids no older than 7 -- "in the nude" and captured "their bedroom activities" on camera, the lawsuit alleges. The family members leveling the charges were not identified in the suit.
"They felt completely violated," by the landlord's use of hidden cameras, said attorney Judd Burstein, who is representing the family. "We believe it also violates the child-pornography statutes."
Court documents say that around Labor Day, one of the guests in the East Hampton rental (pictured below) noticed a camera lens while watching TV, ABC News reported. Then, when the family searched the home, they discovered cameras aimed directly at beds throughout the home, the documents state.
The family called police, who searched the home and found cameras hidden in walls, air conditioning ducts and electrical outlets, the lawsuit claims.
In a video on the Post's website, Torr explained that he had the cameras installed for security reasons and to fend off squatters and burglars. The landlord said that he was unaware that any children had been filmed.
"We had break-ins and problems," Torr said. "People have stayed in the house that were unauthorized."
The lawsuit said that when the family confronted Torr about the cameras, the landlord admitted to watching the footage from his home computer.
The family ended up leaving the rental early, and Torr refunded the cost of their stay, ABC reported.
Another recent case involving home security cameras also created a big problem for the person who installed them -- though for a different reason. A resident at a New York City public housing complex was served an eviction notice after she installed security cameras on the premises. Though her neighbors said that they felt safer with the cameras, the eviction notice claimed the woman breached her lease agreement.
See also:
El Paso 'Cave Man' Says Neighbors Shouldn't Fear Him
Neighbor Nabs 'Contractors' Breaking Into Vacant House
Home Security: Staying Safe in Your New House
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