Arkansas Court: Invasion of Privacy Suit Against J.B. Hunt Proceeds

An appeals court has ruled that an invasion of privacy lawsuit by a former worker who was inappropriately photographed during a J.B. Hunt Transport Co. retreat can proceed.

The Arkansas Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that David Coombs can pursue his claims that two managers took his clothes off and photographed him while he was asleep after having too much to drink.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports J.B. Hunt vice presidents Rich Allensworth and Mark Emerson, who were Coombs’ supervisors, took the photos and showed them to others.

Coombs sued J.B. Hunt Transport, Allensworth and Emerson on several grounds. Wednesday’s ruling reverses a circuit judge’s dismissal of the case.

The incident came to light when an executive who was leaving the company alerted other managers about what happened.