Judge says more women can join lawsuit over hidden camera in John Hancock’s dressing room

Seven women spied in a John Hancock dressing room were given the green light to join a lawsuit against the company six years after the voyeurism occurred.

In an order issued on November 17, Judge David Deakin of the Suffolk High Court ruled that the additional women should have come forward earlier, but as the delay did not unfairly prejudice John Hancock, they can join the case.

On June 6, 2019, a hidden camera connected to a live feed was discovered in the ceiling of a women’s gymnastics locker room in the former John Hancock headquarters, located at 601 Congress St. At the time, no employees worked in the building, as the company had moved to its Back Bay location.

According to a WBR reportthe additional women said they had not come forward sooner because they had trusted the company to properly investigate the incident. However, after the 2022 lawsuit first filed by Jane Doe 1, the women came to believe that John Hancock had mishandled the investigation.

According to court records cited by WBUR, the company waited 49 days before notifying police and employees. Invoices also show that the same type of camera found in the locker room ceiling was purchased with company money, according to the report.

The company says the camera was not recording. However, the plaintiffs are seeking damages to cover the costs of an extensive digital examination of their images.

No one has been accused of spying on the women.