Posting a sign may not be enough- especially if you are recording audio. This judge thought it was ok to record people because “…she got a tip that officials were discussing county business in the break room” and she believed those conversations should be public.
Do you have any overzealous employees who might think the same way about your corporate meetings? Contact us if you have concerns about covert cameras that might be hidden in your place of business.
In October, Washington County Courthouse installed a camera in one of the break rooms. Judge Marilyn Edwards said they put a sign up informing people about the camera.
A sign is important but may not be enough to prevent a law suit- especially if you are recording audio.
However, Justice of the Peace Eva Madison doesn’t like the fact that audio is being recorded.
“We’re all used to video-monitoring,” said Madison. “We see that all the time. That’s how we catch thieves, but we don’t pick up people’s private conversations. That’s the part of it. It’s the audio component that’s troubling to me.”
Edwards said they installed the camera because of reports of theft in the break room, and because she got a tip that officials were discussing county business in the break room, too. “They were discussing county business, county issues that should’ve been open to the public,” said Edwards. “It should not have been discussed in a closed room.”
Madison said that Edwards is breaking the law by monitoring peoples’ conversations. However, Edwards said she’s not.
“I know Ms. Madison was trying to talk about federal violations,” said Edwards. “But I was assured by my county attorney and chief of staff that I was not violating any laws.”
The camera is currently turned off. Chief of Staff George Butler said the only recording the county had was deleted. Butler said no one watched the recording.