Intellectual Property Law

A manager at a motivational coaching firm in Utah waterboarded an employee with assistance from co-workers and then told employees he wanted them to work as hard at selling as the waterboarded employee did at breathing, according to allegations in a civil lawsuit filed in Utah state court in January.

Former Prosper, Inc employee Chad Hudgens alleges he was waterboarded last spring and is suing the firm and his former manager for unspecified damages. Hudgens alleges that the waterboarding damaged him physically and emotionally and that the company's human resources department ignored his immediate complaint.

Utah-based Prosper, Inc provides "executive-level coaching for individuals,"  which includes "the education and hands-on experiences they need to achieve their personal and professional goals."

The suit describes Joshua Christopherson, a Prosper, Inc manager, as a supervisor who routinely punished employees by drawing fake mustaches on them, removing their chairs and slamming a paddle down on their desks. On May 29, 2007, Christoperson asked for volunteers for an unspecified "new motivational exercise," which plaintiff Chad Hudgens volunteered for to prove his loyalty, according to the suit. 

Christopherson then marched his subordinates up a hill near the office, told Hudgens to lay with his head facing downhill and ordered other employees to hold him down, according to the suit.

Christopherson then "slowly poured a gallon of water over Hudgens' mouth and nostrils, thereby making it impossible for Hudgens for breath (sic) for a sustained period of time."

Hudgens soon developed depression and anxiety due to the trauma and left Prosper, according to the suit.

Prosper did not immediately respond to a call for comment.

Via Courthouse News which has the complaint (.pdf)