Wisconsin Dr.s who kept slave get 4 years and will probably be deported

[HereSince1628]

Can we say something went wrong with the "melting pot/land of opportunity" meme? These rat bastards did this in the neighboring suburb just a few miles down the road.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=532068

Brookfield couple get 4 years in maid case
Two Brookfield doctors have been sentenced to four years in prison for secretly forcing a maid from the Philippines to work in their home for 19 years. The government also is asking the maid be paid $704,635 in back wages for working at least 15 hours a day, seven days a week. More »

[knitter4democracy]

1. That's disgusting!

Their defense is crap, too. It's better than anything she'd have back home in the Phillipenes? They did it for her safety? WTF?! That poor woman should be getting good therapy to deal with the fall-out from this.

She's working at Sephora now and didn't even know about overtime pay or ever have much time to herself. Wow. That poor woman. Good for the ex-daughter-in-law for calling the authorities.

[Katzenjammer]

10. "It's better than anything she'd have back home in the Phillipenes?"

Crap indeed. Amazing that we let corporations that pay pennies an hour in other countries get away with that same basic argument: "They've never made so much in their lives". Right. Or needed to, either.

[NJCher]

2. not enough

And that back pay figure doesn't even include overtime! Why not? The maid should get around a million, IMO.

There's a pic of these creepy bastards coming out of the court at the link.




Cher

[UndertheOcean]

3. Unfortunately , such de facto slavery is very common in Gulf countries..

Like Suadi Arabia , UAE , Qatar.

Many poor families form Srilanka and the Philiphines send female members there to earn about $100 a month working for households there. Work agencies normally confiscate their passport to pressure them into submission.

Very ugly form of exploitation that nobody talks about.

[pnwmom]

7. About ten years ago, a Philipino woman confided in me that

there was another Philipina being held as a slave by an Arab couple who lived a few blocks away from me! They had her passport and were forcing her to work without pay. My friend was able to help the woman escape, thank goodness, and she went on to marry here and make a good life for herself. But it was sickening to think that was going on just a few blocks away from me.

[Cobalt Violet]

4. $704,635 isn't enough.

I'm so glad she is free.

[malaise]

5. Good practicing catholics

What a fugging disgrace. I cease to be amazed at those who proclaim religion while in practice they are greedy, cruel and only interested in themselves. Ah well. There are more mad people on this planet than sane.
Throw away the fugging key.

[pnwmom]

6. I see they used the "it's our culture" argument. Fortunately, it failed.

From the same story:

"The Calimlims' defense attorneys, Thomas Brown and Michael Fitzgerald, said the couple's culture, not criminal intent, dictated their actions.

According to Philippine culture, housekeepers generally work for room, board and a small salary that helps support their extended family, Fitzgerald said. The employers maintain an "ethical distance" from the servants that may be perceived by Americans as a "master/slave relationship," he said.


TOUGH LUCK. They're living in the U.S. now, and that means that U.S. culture and LAWS are the relevant ones. The fact that they kept her existence secret and lied to her and others proves that they knew they were breaking the law.

[mntleo2]

8. Dispicable!!!

This is beyond pale ~ and these hypocrites think they are "good Christians?" there is nothing about them that speaks of anything but monsters. Oh. Yeah. and she deserves far more than $704,535! They should include overtime, holiday pay and the vacation pay she never got too! Gawd sometimes I am ashamed of being an American much less a Christian.

Cat In Seattle

[Divernan]

9. 100 fools wrote letters of support for these greedy, lying, exploiting criminals.

I mean these slavers didn't just embezzle money - they stole 20 years of this woman's life, and probably her opportunity to have a family of her own. The state greatly underestimated the amount the couple owes their victim. I hope that the maid also pursues a civil action and cleans them out of every penny these two doubtlessly very wealthy doctors have profited from by coming to "the land of the FREE"! They can go back to the Phillipines and work as house servants.


"Prosecutors said the Calimlims kept Martinez, who came to the U.S. illegally to work for them when she was 19, hidden in their home. Although they did not use violence against her, they convinced her that if she did not obey them, she would be deported. They also did not allow her to seek medical care and, because they are doctors, convinced her she was not able to have children, prosecutors said. Martinez worked at least 15 hours a day, seven days a week, but was paid only about $20,000 for the entire 19 years, according to prosecutors.

The elder Calimlims submitted letters signed by more than 100 supporters that spoke of their Catholic faith and their volunteer work, including providing free medical care to low-income patients. The letters also talked about how common it is for poor people from the Philippines to work both there and abroad as domestics."

[Katzenjammer]

11. If I were la Migra, I'd be looking into those 100 supporters' domestic arrangements

Who knows, there might be quite a few other "domestic servants" to be freed