Nordstrom Denies Fault In Cool Springs Upskirt Suit

FRANKLIN, TN — All the blame in the surreptitious upskirt photography incident at a Cool Springs Nordstrom lies with the man who allegedly took the pictures, the high-end retailer argues in a response to a lawsuit filed by a 19-year-old Williamson County woman last week.

The woman, identified in the suit as Jane Doe, says that Nordstrom was negligent and that negligence essentially allowed Houman Shirinouei to take pictures up the woman's dress. Shirinouei was arrested and charged with unlawful photographing in violation of privacy, a misdemeanor, after the woman alleged he approached her while shopping at the Nordstrom Rack location in Cool Springs, squatted down and took pictures up her dress.

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In the suit, she claims that as she was shopping she noticed Shirinouei following her and was approached by a person, believed to be a loss-prevention officer, who told her that people had complained about Shirinouei taking upskirt shots. The woman said the employee flashed a badge and she was under the impression initially that he was a police officer. The employee told Doe he'd "be right back" and disappeared. About 10 or 15 minutes later, the alleged invasive photos were taken.

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The suit says that Nordstrom should have removed Shirinouei immediately and was negligent in not doing so, but Nordstrom says its employee "acted with reasonable and prudent care at all times and ... did not commit any acts" leading to the photography.

Doe seeks $1.5 million from both Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack and another $4 million from Shirinouei.

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