The Pokémon Company is facing a proposed class action lawsuit after former engineering director Ben Tsai was accused of placing cameras in bathrooms at the company’s Bellevue office and nearby businesses.
The case adds to a story that began in January, when Tsai was arrested over the alleged camera installations. RETROCADE’s gaming news coverage follows developments affecting the wider games industry.
What the lawsuit alleges
A woman using the pseudonym Jane Doe has brought the lawsuit against The Pokémon Company. She alleges that the company failed to protect employees and visitors because of inadequate supervision and an alleged failure to respond to warning signs connected with Tsai’s behaviour.
Doe says she worked for The Pokémon Company for five years. She is seeking to represent people who visited the company’s office and used its restrooms between 2017 and July 2026.
The lawsuit follows reports from local authorities that investigators discovered hundreds of videos recorded inside a Pokémon office bathroom. Authorities also reportedly found videos connected with a local Starbucks and Tsai’s home.
The company’s response
The Pokémon Company said its priority was the welfare of its employees but declined to comment further while litigation is pending.
“Our focus remains on the well-being of our employees. We are unable to comment further on pending litigation.”
The allegations concern privacy and workplace safety, issues that matter across the games and entertainment industries. Readers tracking broader arcade industry developments can find more coverage in RETROCADE’s video section.
Criminal charges and plea position
Tsai was charged last month with first-degree dealing in depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, first-degree possession of those depictions, first-degree voyeurism and second-degree possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
His lawyer, Bradley G. Barshis, told Law360 that Tsai will plead not guilty to every charge. The lawyer also emphasised that Tsai is presumed innocent throughout the proceedings and said there would be no further comment unless circumstances change.
Earlier reporting by the Seattle Times said Tsai allegedly told investigators he was “mainly curious about transgender people and was not attracted to children.” That reported statement does not resolve the charges, which remain allegations unless established in court.
The civil lawsuit and criminal case are separate proceedings. The allegations have not been proven, and the proposed class action will determine whether the claims can proceed on behalf of the wider group described by Doe. For more gaming and home-entertainment coverage, explore RETROCADE’s arcade machine range.
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