On October 25, 2024, Jane Doe filed a lawsuit in the Middle District of Tennessee under 15 U.S.C. § 6851—the federal law prohibiting the nonconsensual disclosure of intimate images. But this wasn’t just another privacy violation. This was a deeply personal betrayal involving a hidden camera in her own home.
The defendant, Brett Dillon Parsons, had secretly installed a video recording device in Doe’s living area. Without her knowledge or consent, he recorded her nude after she exited the shower—capturing intimate and vulnerable moments. On September 12, 2023, Parsons took things a step further: he sent two explicit images of Doe—depicting her uncovered pubic area, breast, and anus—to another individual via Facebook Messenger.
Doe didn’t stay silent. She pursued criminal charges and ultimately filed a federal civil suit. The case, Doe v. Parsons, quickly gained attention, not only because of the disturbing facts, but because the defendant had already admitted guilt in criminal court.
By September 3, 2024, Parsons had pleaded guilty to unlawful photography under Tennessee law, and by February 6, 2025, U.S. District Judge Jon Phipps McCalla issued a judgment in Doe’s favor. The court awarded her $300,000 in liquidated damages and issued a permanent injunction prohibiting Parsons from ever displaying or disclosing the images again.
This wasn’t just a legal win. It was a clear message: digital sexual exploitation—even without widespread publication—is a violation of civil rights, and survivors have real remedies under federal law.
Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll explore how the federal statute 15 U.S.C. § 6851 operates—and how it helped deliver justice in this case.
