Nanny Awarded $2.78 Million After Hidden Camera Discovery
Kelly Andrade, a Colombian nanny, has been awarded $2.78 million after discovering her employer, millionaire Michael Esposito, secretly filmed her using a hidden camera in a smoke detector. The nanny, employed by the Espositos in Staten Island, found explicit recordings of herself. Esposito was arrested in 2021 for illegal surveillance but received only probation after pleading a misdemeanor. Andrade described her trauma as “irreversible” despite the payout.
The hidden camera scandal
Andrade, who cared for Esposito’s children while residing in their home, grew suspicious after noticing Esposito frequently adjusting the smoke detector in her room. Her worst fears were realized when she found a memory card containing hundreds of videos, some showing her undressed. Esposito rushed back to the house when she made the discovery, appearing visibly nervous.
Legal repercussions
Though initially arrested on felony charges, Esposito’s punishment was limited to probation after completing a year of counseling. Andrade has expressed frustration over the lenient treatment, calling it a “slap on the wrist.” Despite the jury’s multi-million-dollar award, Andrade says it doesn’t compensate for the psychological toll of the invasion of her privacy.
Background and fallout
Andrade had been hired through an agency to work for the Esposito family, living with them in their Staten Island home. The case has raised concerns over the treatment of domestic workers and highlighted the legal system’s handling of such privacy breaches.
The legal victory for Andrade underscores the importance of protecting vulnerable employees from exploitation and abuse.