VANCOUVER — The former operator of a wedding decor supply business in British Columbia is facing more legal action following his conviction for secretly recording two workers while they used the employee washroom.
Andy Anthony Raddysh is named in two civil lawsuits filed by the Workers Compensation Board of B.C., the body that investigates workplace injuries or illnesses and provides medical or rehabilitation services for injured employees.
The board filed the nearly identical lawsuits on behalf of two women who worked for the Vancouver-area wedding design studio, until March 2016 when they were informed by the RCMP of video recordings taken in the company's bathroom.
Two statements of claim say police determined the videos were taken between January 2011 and November 2014, beginning when one of the women was hired for seasonal work at the age of 14, joining the other woman who was in her '20s and had worked for Raddysh since 2008.
The Canadian Press has chosen not to name the women in the lawsuit because of the nature of the case.
The Workers Compensation Board civil claims allege Raddysh, who was in his 50s at the time, "made the recordings with the intention that they would be watched for his own enjoyment and sexual gratification."
The allegations in the statement of claim have not been proven in court. A statement of defence has not yet been filed, although the 21 day time limit for the document to be submitted has not expired.
The lawsuit says Raddysh pleaded guilty last March to charges of voyeurism and possession of child pornography.
Provincial court records show Raddysh was sentenced to 90 days in jail and must serve three years probation. He was also ordered to provide his DNA and must be registered with the National Sex Offender Registry.
He could not immediately be reached for comment.
The lawsuits say both women have been unable to work since then and have received compensation benefits for a range of injuries that include depression, panic attacks and nightmares.
"The conduct of the Defendant is worthy of condemnation and warrants punitive damages," say the statements of claim filed earlier this month in B.C. Supreme Court.
The lawsuits also ask for general, special and aggravated damages on the women's behalf.
The statements allege a consequence of Raddysh's "negligence, breach of trust, intentional invasion" and the women's "breach of privacy" is that they continue to suffer a limitation of activities, loss of enjoyment of life and has had their capacity to earn income impaired.
