A lawsuit has been filed against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S. Inc. in connection with a disturbing incident involving a former employee accused of filming up the skirts of female guests at Walt Disney World in 2023. The lawsuit, filed in the Circuit Court of the Ninth Judicial Circuit, alleges negligence on Disney’s part in failing to prevent the actions of former employee Jorge Diaz Vega, who was arrested for video voyeurism in March 2023.
The Incident at Hollywood Studios
The events that led to the lawsuit began on March 30, 2023, when a woman reported to Disney security that a man dressed in a Star Wars-themed costume used his cellphone to take a photo up her granddaughter’s dress while they were in the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge merchandise store at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. According to the investigative documents, the woman immediately alerted Disney security, which led to an investigation by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
The following day, a Disney employee witnessed a man, later identified as Diaz Vega, recording an “upskirt” video of a 19-year-old female guest at the same park. The employee reported the incident, leading to further investigation by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Diaz Vega, then 26 years old, was employed at the Star Wars retail store at the time.
A Long History of Misconduct
During questioning, Diaz Vega admitted to recording videos of female Disney World guests for approximately six years, describing the act as a “guilty pleasure.” He also revealed to authorities that he had stored 600 such videos on his phone, which he later showed to investigators.
Diaz Vega was subsequently arrested and charged with video voyeurism. The investigation uncovered that he had been exploiting his position as a Disney employee to secretly record videos of unsuspecting female guests and colleagues, raising serious concerns about the park’s ability to safeguard its guests, especially minors.
The Lawsuit Against Disney
The lawsuit was filed by the plaintiff, the grandparent of the 14-year-old girl who was filmed by Diaz Vega. It alleges that Disney failed to take appropriate action after a previous incident where Diaz Vega was reportedly caught filming a female coworker without her consent. According to the lawsuit, this earlier report of misconduct was not adequately investigated by Disney, nor was there proper supervision of Diaz Vega, despite the previous warning signs.
The lawsuit claims that Disney “knew or should have known” about Diaz Vega’s propensity to commit acts of video voyeurism. Furthermore, it asserts that the company “ratified the prior misconduct” by failing to take necessary action to prevent the incident in March 2023. The plaintiff argues that Disney’s negligence allowed Diaz Vega to continue working with guests despite the earlier signs of problematic behavior. An excerpt reads:
“DISNEY, through its employees, agents, servants, and/or apparent agents knew or should have known of JORGE DIAZVEGA’s propensity to commit acts of video voyeurism and to otherwise film other employees and guests without their consent and DISNEY ratified the prior misconduct of its employee when it failed to take appropriate action to prevent the incident from occurring.”
Seeking Justice and Accountability
The grandparent of the 14-year-old victim is now seeking a judgment of more than $50,000 in damages and is requesting a jury trial. The case has drawn significant attention, as it highlights concerns about how Disney, a company known for its family-friendly image, handles allegations of misconduct involving its employees.
As of now, Diaz Vega is no longer employed by Disney, but the fallout from the incident raises critical questions about the company’s internal policies, the safety of its guests, and its responsibility to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
This legal action could set a precedent for future cases involving employee misconduct at theme parks, and it underscores the importance of thorough background checks and swift action when addressing complaints or concerns about employee behavior.
The lawsuit continues to unfold, and the outcome may have far-reaching implications for Disney’s approach to employee conduct and guest safety.
