SAN FRANCISCO – A woman is seeking damages following an incident in which she claims she was filmed by a hidden camera in an Airbnb property.
Yvonne Edith Maria Schumacher filed a complaint Dec. 14 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against Airbnb Inc., Fariah Hassim and Jamil Jiva, alleging invasion of privacy and negligence.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff, a German citizen, was a guest at an Airbnb property owned by the defendants from Dec. 16, 2013, to Jan. 12, 2014. While staying at the property, the plaintiff would close the blinds at night and sleep unclothed, assuming that she was concealed, the suit says. On the third day in the property, the plaintiff's acquaintance noticed a light coming from a shelf, only to discover a remote-controlled camera with the ability to capture sounds as well as video, the suit states. The plaintiff is suing, claiming that she no longer feels safe in rental properties, and fears the release of the footage.
Schumacher seeks damages for money damages, punitive damages, costs of suit and prejudgment interest. She is represented by Peter H. Liederman of the Law Offices of Peter H. Liederman in Berkeley and by Michael R. Jackson of The Jackson Law Firm in Winter Park, Florida.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California Case number 4:15-cv-05734