A Manhattan jury has recently awarded $2.78 million to Kelly Andrade, a terrified au pair who was subjected to secret videotaping by Michael Esposito, a Staten Island dad and fast-food chicken mogul. However, Andrade expressed outrage at what she considers a mere “slap on the wrist” for Esposito from prosecutors. Esposito, 35, recorded numerous nude videos of Andrade, a 25-year-old native of Colombia, and even attempted to break down her door after she discovered a hidden camera in her bedroom, according to a lawsuit filed in Brooklyn Federal Court. In 2021, Esposito was arrested on a charge of unlawful surveillance, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison. Surprisingly, the Staten Island District Attorney and a Staten Island judge allowed Esposito to avoid jail time by requiring him to undergo counseling and complete two years of probation.Andrade, visibly upset, expressed her dissatisfaction with the outcome, stating that it was insufficient given the irreparable damage she has endured over the past three years. She recounted the traumatic incident, which unfolded in 2021, during which she discovered Esposito tampering with the smoke detector in her room. After inspecting the device, she found a camera inside, along with a memory card containing “hundreds of recordings,” many of which captured her in various states of undress.Within minutes of her discovery, Esposito arrived at the house, appearing nervous and worried. Andrade attempted to feign sleep in an effort to make him leave, but he persisted, banging on the door. Fearing for her safety, Andrade entered “fight or flight mode” and made a daring escape by leaping from a first-floor window, injuring her knee in the process. The first night after leaving the Espositos’ residence, she was forced to sleep on the street.Andrade promptly reported the incident to the 123rd Precinct, leading to Esposito’s arrest on March 24, 2021. However, in April 2022, Esposito entered into a plea agreement, which involved completing a year of counseling. As a result, he was allowed to withdraw his felony plea and instead pleaded guilty to attempted unlawful surveillance, a misdemeanor, receiving only two years of probation.During the four-day civil trial held in Brooklyn Federal Court, Andrade testified for three days, while Esposito chose not to take the stand. Andrade’s attorney, Zachary Holzberg, argued that Esposito faced no real consequences for his actions, receiving what he described as a mere “slap on the wrist.” Holzberg emphasized the stark contrast between Esposito returning to his mansion to be with his wife and children while Andrade was left homeless.The jury ultimately awarded Andrade $780,000 in emotional distress damages, holding both Michael and Danielle Esposito accountable. Additionally, they imposed $2 million in punitive damages solely against Michael Esposito. Andrade, who currently resides in New Jersey with her husband, hopes that her story will encourage other au pairs and immigrants who have experienced abuse to speak out and report their aggressors.Andrade recently settled her lawsuit with Cultural Care Au Pair, the placement firm responsible for her placement with the Espositos, for an undisclosed sum.
Au Pair Awarded $2.78 Million in Lawsuit Against Staten Island Dad for Secretly Videotaping Her
