Ruby Memorial Hospital Hidden Camera Cases
Were You Recorded at Ruby Memorial Hospital?
If a hidden camera may have captured you in a restroom at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, you have the right to answers — and to be represented as a person, not a case number. Rod Smith Law PLLC and attorney Sean Cook are pursuing these claims for victims individually, with complete confidentiality.
You deserve to be heard — and to be protected.
Learning that you may have been secretly recorded in a place where you expected complete privacy is a profound violation. If this happened to you at Ruby Memorial Hospital, you are not alone, and you have options. Our role is to stand between you and the institution that was supposed to keep you safe — quietly, respectfully, and entirely on your terms.
Our Approach: Your claim is personal. We treat it that way.
For a privacy violation this personal, we believe the strongest path is to handle each case individually. Rod Smith Law PLLC and attorney Sean Cook are pursuing these claims on an individual basis — every client we accept has their own attorney, their own strategy, and their own voice.
That means your case is built around what happened to you: your experience, your harm, and the outcome that reflects your specific circumstances. You stay informed and in control at every step.
The strength of individual representation:
- Your damages are evaluated on your circumstances
- Direct access to your own attorney throughout your case
- A case strategy built around your goals and your story
- Key decisions — including any settlement — remain yours
Who We Help: Who may have a claim
Investigators are still working to identify everyone affected. You may have a claim even if no one has contacted you yet.
- Hospital employees and staff who used affected restrooms at Ruby Memorial Hospital
- Medical professionals, contractors, and personnel on the Ruby Memorial campus
- Anyone who reasonably believes they may have been recorded
- Family members seeking guidance on behalf of an affected loved one
Accountability: Examining the institution’s responsibility
Our focus is the institution. A hospital has a duty to provide restrooms that are private and safe for the people who work in and pass through its facilities. Where that duty may not have been met, the question is not only who placed a device — it is how it could have happened, and whether more should have been done to prevent it.
We are investigating and, where the facts support it, are prepared to pursue claims against WVU Medicine, West Virginia University Hospitals, and their affiliated entities on behalf of victims — including claims for invasion of privacy and for alleged failures in supervision, security, and the protection of the people in their care. These would be claims we may bring; no court has found these institutions liable, and any such claim would have to be proven.
About the allegations
Two hidden recording devices were reported in non-public staff restrooms at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in late June 2026. Authorities have charged a former WVU Medicine physician, Dr. Lance Parks, with multiple counts of criminal invasion of privacy and a related offense in connection with the devices. These are criminal allegations being handled by prosecutors, and Dr. Parks is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Our work is separate: we look at the civil justice that may be available to victims and at possible claims regarding the institution’s responsibility for how this could have happened.
Two independent firms, one shared focus: employees
Your Co-Counsel Team
These cases are handled jointly by attorney Rod Smith of Rod Smith Law PLLC and attorney Sean Cook — separate firms, working together as co-counsel so you have the strength of both. Each has built a practice representing West Virginia employees who stood up to powerful employers, including workers in the medical field.
ROD SMITH LAW PLLC
Rod Smith
A West Virginia trial lawyer with deep ties to the state, Rod Smith has built his practice representing employees — including healthcare and hospital workers — in sensitive, high-stakes matters such as workplace sexual harassment and West Virginia Patient Safety Act cases, always handled with discretion.
Recognition & Results
- $100 million in verdicts and settlements
- Over $10 million recovered in sexual harassment cases
- Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year,” Employment Law (2024)
- Recognized by Super Lawyers and the National Trial Lawyers
CO-COUNSEL SEAN W. COOK LAW
Sean Cook
A West Virginia trial attorney and the founder of Sean W. Cook Law, Sean Cook devotes his practice to fighting for aggrieved employees — primarily throughout West Virginia, and also in matters across the country — standing up for workers’ rights and dignity against employers and institutions.
Recognition & Results
- Successfully argued Tabata v. CAMC, a landmark West Virginia privacy case against a hospital
- Represents aggrieved employees primarily in West Virginia and nationwide
- Courtroom-tested, client-first advocacy
Rod Smith Law PLLC and attorney Sean Cook are separate law firms serving as co-counsel on these matters. Each attorney’s recognitions and results reflect that attorney’s own practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
ANSWERS FOR VICTIMS
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How long do I have to take action?Strict legal deadlines (statutes of limitation) apply to these claims, and evidence is best preserved early. Please contact us promptly so we can protect your rights.
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What if investigators haven't contacted me yet?You may still have a claim. Victims are still being identified, and you do not need to wait to be contacted to learn about your rights. It is better to ask early.
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What will it cost to hire you?Nothing up front. Consultations are free, and we handle these cases on a contingency basis — no recovery, no fee. You owe no attorney's fee unless we obtain compensation for you.
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Why handle these claims individually?Because your experience is unique. Handling your claim individually lets us build the case around your specific circumstances, keep you in direct contact with your own attorney, and pursue an outcome that reflects what happened to you — with the key decisions, including any settlement, remaining yours.
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Is my consultation confidential?Yes. Your consultation is free and confidential, and we handle every matter discreetly. Reach out and we’ll explain your options privately, with no obligation.
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Who might be held responsible?Beyond any individual, we look at the possible responsibility of the institution — WVU Medicine, West Virginia University Hospitals, and affiliated entities. Where the facts support it, we would pursue possible civil claims on behalf of victims, including for invasion of privacy and for alleged failures to keep restrooms private and safe. Whether any institution is legally responsible is something that would have to be established.
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Do I have a case if I was recorded in a hospital restroom?Possibly. Being recorded without consent in a place where you expected privacy can give rise to possible civil claims, including for invasion of privacy and for an institution's alleged failure to protect you. The only way to know is to speak with an attorney about your specific situation.
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I think I may have been recorded at Ruby Memorial Hospital. What should I do?Reach out for a free, confidential consultation. We'll listen, explain your rights, and help you understand your options — with no obligation and complete privacy. You do not have to have all the answers before you call.
