An au pair was awarded $2.78 million in a court case after discovering that her fast-food mogul employer had secretly recorded her in various stages of undress using a hidden camera in her bedroom. The incident involved a 25-year-old Colombian au pair, Kelly Andrade, who was hired by La Rosa Grill franchisee Michael Esposito to care for his four young children.
Esposito hid a camera in a smoke detector in Andrade's bedroom, capturing her nude and dressing/undressing on hundreds of recordings. Andrade, who underwent extensive training before being placed with Esposito, noticed the smoke detector being tampered with and eventually found the hidden camera inside.
Upon discovering the camera, Andrade confronted Esposito, who appeared nervous and agitated. In a bid to escape, Andrade jumped out of a window, injuring her knee in the process. Esposito was later arrested for unlawful surveillance but managed to avoid prison time through probation and counseling.
Despite the lack of severe consequences for Esposito, a jury ruled in favor of Andrade, ordering him to pay $2 million in damages and an additional $780,000 for emotional distress. Andrade, who now resides in New Jersey with her husband, expressed her disappointment with the outcome, stating that the compensation was insufficient considering the trauma she endured.
During the civil trial, Esposito did not testify, further adding to Andrade's distress. She emphasized the importance of speaking out against abuse and encouraged other au pairs and immigrants to report any mistreatment they face.
Andrade's case sheds light on the vulnerability of domestic workers and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. The verdict serves as a reminder of the legal protections in place to safeguard individuals from privacy violations and exploitation in the workplace.
