In a case that has captivated public attention, Kelly Andrade, a Colombian woman, was hired as a nanny by Michael Esposito, the owner of LaRosa Grill, a fast-food chicken restaurant. She moved into his upscale Staten Island home to care for his four children. However, Kelly was shocked to discover that her employer had secretly installed a hidden camera in her room, capturing her every move, including private moments while changing clothes.
Upon discovering the camera and its memory card filled with numerous videos of her undressing, Kelly felt she had no choice but to confront Esposito, who returned home in a panic shortly after her discovery. Fearing for her safety, she jumped out of a window, injuring her knee in the escape.
Once outside, Kelly quickly contacted law enforcement, handing over the memory card as evidence. Her attorney, Zachary Holtzberg, shared that after fleeing, she had nowhere to go and ended up sleeping in a bush on the street that night. Esposito was arrested on March 24, 2021, facing charges of illegal surveillance, a felony that could have resulted in a four-year prison sentence. After completing a year of counseling, he managed to reduce the charges to attempted illegal surveillance, ultimately receiving a two-year probation.
Reflecting on the outcome, Kelly expressed her deep frustration with the leniency of Esposito’s sentence, arguing that it does not come close to addressing the emotional pain she has endured over the past three years. She highlighted that the damage done to her is irreparable and expressed a desire for him to serve time for his actions.
The case proceeded to trial in a Brooklyn federal court, lasting four days. Kelly attended three of those days while Esposito notably chose to be absent. In the end, a Manhattan jury ruled that Esposito must pay Kelly $2.78 million in damages, which includes $2 million in punitive damages and $780,000 for emotional distress. Despite the ruling, both Kelly and her lawyer felt that the compensation was inadequate, given Esposito’s wealth.
Now living in New Jersey with her husband, Kelly is undergoing treatment to address the trauma from the incident. She opened up about the difficulties of the litigation process, noting that it forces her to confront painful memories she would rather forget. Additionally, she encourages other au pairs and immigrants who have faced similar injustices to come forward and report their abusers, emphasizing the importance of speaking out without fear.
