eavesdropping in a public situation

[kate brown]

State is Texas

Someone who works for the same company I do, came with his brother into a restaurant where I was having lunch with a friend who used to be a customer of the company. He sat two tables away and eavesdropped on our conversation. It wasn't until we had finished eating that he let us know he was there. This was a personal, even though not entirely private, conversation with a personal friend on a weekend. There was loud music playing and other patrons talking all around us.

My friend and I cannot think of anything that was said that would be a problem, but this man is a very close friend of my supervisor who has a grudge against me anyway. My supervisor made it clear that the two of them discussed the "chance" meeting. (There is a certain amount of malice at work here.)

If what he says is not accurate and it becomes a matter of his word against mine, or even his and his brother's against mine and my friend ("he says, she says"), can the company use anything he says against me?

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

My response:

There is no "expectation of privacy" protection in a public place, or in public at all; e.g., overhearing a conversation while at a park, or walking on a sidewalk.

IAAL