A nanny from Colombia, Kelly Andrade, won a $2.78 million judgment against Michael Esposito, a wealthy Staten Island restaurant owner. Andrade discovered a hidden camera in the smoke detector of her bedroom that had been recording her without her knowledge for weeks.
Nanny Wins $2.8 Million
In 2021, Andrade moved to the U.S. to work as a live-in nanny for Esposito’s family. She was hired to care for Esposito and his wife Danielle’s four children while the family’s home was being renovated. Andrade quickly grew suspicious of Esposito’s strange behavior, especially when he frequently adjusted the smoke detector in her room.
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Less than three weeks into her job, Andrade decided to check the smoke detector. To her shock, she found a small hidden camera inside, which contained “hundreds of recordings,” including many of her undressing. Horrified, Andrade realized she had been filmed without her consent.
When Esposito came home shortly after her discovery, he began banging on her door, making Andrade fear for her safety. In a panic, she jumped out of a first-floor window and hurt her knees. She spent the night hiding in a bush and the next day gave the camera footage to the police, leading to Esposito’s arrest.
Initially charged with unlawful surveillance, Esposito later accepted a plea deal that included a year of counseling. His charge was reduced to a misdemeanor, and he received only two years of probation. This lenient sentence angered Andrade and her legal team, who felt it was not enough for the serious crime he committed.
During the civil trial, Andrade shared her emotional struggles and the trauma she faced. The jury awarded her $780,000 for emotional distress and $2 million in punitive damages against Esposito. While this verdict brought some relief, Andrade expressed disappointment, stating it did not fully address the pain she endured.
Now living in New Jersey with her husband, Andrade hopes to inspire other victims of abuse, especially au pairs and immigrants, to speak out and report their aggressors. She also settled a lawsuit with the agency that placed her with the Espositos, although details of that settlement are not public.
Andrade continues to focus on her healing and moving forward, feeling that the punishment given to Esposito was not sufficient for the irreversible harm he caused her.
