March 25, 2025 – Bucks County, PA — A class action lawsuit has been filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County against Jonathan Elliot Moyer and Empower Life Coaching & Counseling, a mental health counseling practice operating in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. The lawsuit alleges that patients were secretly recorded while using a bathroom located within Moyer’s private office.
Filed by law firm Sauder Schelkopf LLC, the complaint asserts that Moyer, a licensed therapist, installed hidden surveillance devices inside the restroom of his office suite at Empower. On March 6, 2025, Moyer was criminally charged with multiple offenses, including invasion of privacy and unlawful interception of oral communications.
According to the complaint, Empower Life Coaching & Counseling failed to prevent or detect Moyer’s conduct, despite warning signs and prior concerns. The lawsuit seeks to hold both Moyer and Empower accountable for negligence, invasion of privacy, emotional distress, and violations of consumer protection laws.
“Empower Life Coaching & Counseling was entrusted to provide mental health care to vulnerable individuals,” said attorney Joe Sauder of Sauder Schelkopf LLC. “Instead, our clients were exposed to deeply inappropriate conduct by Jonathan Moyer. This lawsuit aims to hold both Moyer and Empower accountable for the harm caused.”
The proposed class includes individuals who received treatment at Empower’s Quakertown location or used the restroom in Moyer’s office suite during the relevant time period. The lawsuit alleges that the secret recordings caused significant emotional distress, particularly for patients who were minors or survivors of prior trauma.
Anyone who believes they may have been affected is encouraged to contact Sauder Schelkopf LLC by calling 888-711-9975 or by completing the form here.
Sauder Schelkopf is a nationally recognized law firm specializing in sexual abuse litigation, with a proven track record of securing significant settlements and achieving systemic reforms for survivors.
Notable Achievements:
- University of Southern California (USC) Settlement: The firm, in collaboration with co-counsel, secured a historic $215 million settlement on behalf of female patients of Dr. George Tyndall, a USC gynecologist accused of sexual misconduct since the 1990s. This settlement is among the largest in sex abuse cases and includes provisions for systemic changes in reporting and investigating sexual abuse on campus.
- Ohio State University (OSU) Litigation: Representing former students and athletes, Sauder Schelkopf is involved in litigation concerning sexual misconduct by Dr. Richard Strauss, a former OSU doctor. In June 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear OSU’s appeal, allowing the case to proceed to trial.
- As of January 2025, Ohio State University has paid approximately $40.9 million to settle lawsuits from 162 men who alleged sexual abuse by Dr. Richard Strauss, a former team doctor.
- In June 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear OSU’s appeal, allowing lawsuits brought by alleged sexual abuse victims of Dr. Strauss to proceed.
- As of October 2023, five lawsuits involving 236 men remained pending.
- University of Michigan Settlement: The firm achieved a class action settlement against the University of Michigan, resulting in landmark institutional reforms addressing on-campus sexual misconduct.
- Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health Lawsuit: Sauder Schelkopf filed a lawsuit against Devereux, alleging sexual, physical, and emotional abuse of children in their care. The firm is seeking compensatory and other damages for the victims.
- Glen Mills Schools Abuse Lawsuit: The firm is representing former students of The Glen Mills Schools, a now-closed detention center, in a class action lawsuit seeking damages for physical and sexual abuse suffered during their time there.
Through these and other cases, Sauder Schelkopf has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to advocating for survivors of sexual abuse, achieving substantial financial settlements, and driving meaningful changes within institutions to prevent future misconduct.