LOS ANGELES - James Jackson, 53, former Sony vice president for legal affairs, and his Filipino wife Elizabeth, 54, were sentenced last January 28 by Los Angeles U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer in the forced labor of Filipino maid, Nena Ruiz. Jackson, who was silent in court, was ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and was fined $5,000 while his wife Elizabeth who told the judge that she took full responsibility for her actions, was sentenced to three years in prison. Elizabeth pleaded guilty last August to a charge of forced labor while James pleaded guilty last year to a count of alien harboring and acknowledged he kept Ruiz at their home even though he knew her work visa had expired. Defense lawyers argued against a jail sentence for Elizabeth Jackson saying the couple had already suffered enough by being forced to declare bankruptcy but U.S. District Judge Fischer denied a request for home confinement saying, “It seems she (Elizabeth) treated her dog much better than she treated her victim (Nena)," U.S. District Judge Fischer said at Monday’s sentencing. Elizabeth admitted, “In my life, I have always tried and strived to do the right thing. I failed in this case." In 2004, the jury awarded Nena $825,000 that includes $551,000 in compensatory damages and $275,000 in punitive damages. The couple’s maid, Nena Ruiz, who is a former schoolteacher in a rural village in the Philippines, arrived in the U.S. at age 58 and entered the country on a special work visa at the request of James and Elizabeth Jackson whom she refers to as “Sir Judd" and “Ma’am Beth." She was supposed to work as a traveling companion and caretaker of Elizabeth Jackson’s mother. However, when she arrived in California, speaking very little English, the Jacksons almost immediately transferred her to their own home as their maid, where they reportedly exploited her in their Culver City condominium to become their domestic slave for several months from 2001 to 2002. They allegedly took her passport away from her and threatened to report her to the immigration lawyers. Elizabeth allegedly hit her and frequently pulled her hair. Nena said that she received only about $300 for a year of working up to 18 hours per day. A neighbor finally reported that Elizabeth hit Nena with a water bottle. Too timid and afraid to tell the police about her plight, Nena finally had the courage to run away after the water bottle incident in 2002. In a CNN interview, Nena revealed that she kept silent for nine long years without seeing her children, until one day she and another woman escaped. That is when the FBI and immigration authorities got involved. She soon found help from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (Cast), a group that helps people like Nena to seek community services that can help them break out of abusive circumstances. Through this group, she found her lawyer, Delia Bahan of Pasadena, California and civil rights attorney Dan Stormer who filed a civil lawsuit against the Jacksons. According to Matthew Heller of Whole Life Times in his article “The Joy of Freedom,": “Frequently, the trafficker is a naturalized U.S. citizen who originates from the same country as the trafficked - Elizabeth Jackson, like Ruiz, is a native of the Philippines. Their own success in ‘making it’ in America only adds to the appeal of their sales pitch to a compatriot struggling to break out of Third World poverty. If the trafficker comes from a higher social class or caste, they can use that, too. “Class differences…are used by traffickers to exploit victims," observes Michael J. Gennaco, a former federal prosecutor in Los Angeles who is a Cast board member. Nena sued the Jacksons claiming involuntary servitude, false imprisonment, invasion of privacy, negligence, fraud and violations of California wage and hour laws, as well as assault and battery. Nena claimed during the civil lawsuit that she had strict daily, weekly and bi-weekly schedules for her to follow which included meticulous care of the couple’s two dogs, Andrew and Stella. She said in a CNN interview, “I had to brush the dogs’ tails, clean their ears and even give them vitamins everyday, but I was forced to sleep on a dog bed." She said that she had to prepare hot food for the dogs such as chicken nuggets that had to be warmed and bananas and pears while she was forced to eat three-day-old leftovers. She also gave the dogs daily vitamins while she even had no doctor. She said that aside from sleeping in a dog bed in the living room, she was also forced to change her clothes and store her personal effects in a tiny laundry room. James, who was first suspended and then later on terminated from his job as a vice president of legal affairs at Sony Pictures Entertainment, has filed for bankruptcy with his wife. “These defendants subjected their victim to what amounts to modern-day slavery," said assistant U.S. Attorney Wan Kim. “They (the defendants) used their power and affluence to coerce a vulnerable woman into their personal service for several months," added Grace Chung Becker, acting assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s civil rights division. Nena Ruiz did not attend the sentencing of the Jacksons, but watched it on closed-circuit television. She, however, did not address the court. These days, Nena Ruiz, the once shy schoolteacher-turned-maid, is now speaking out about contemporary slavery and earning certification as a nursing assistant. Now 63, Nena Ruiz in a news conference said, “Slavery still exists, and I want to tell victims they should not tolerate it and should not be afraid to seek help." - Philippine News
Serves them (Jacksons) right!!!!Being a teacher is much more than a parent considering that u have ur own family at home and school and students are the next one that is why teaching is a noble profession !!!!Jacksons has no right to disrecpect ,maltreated and underestimate such a wonderful person like Mam Nena!Elizabeth Jackson is a devil crazy person,good for her
renell simon it’s a shame Elizabeth only got sentenced for 3 years. It should have been 10+ years. What she did was disgusting and inhumane. I live in America and I find it disgusting that the maximum sentence for human traffickers is only *14 years* . That’s outrageous. These people deserve to go to jail for a long time and be treated worse than the way they treated real, innocent human beings. Disgusting.
I cant stop my tears falling watching your story at MMK, my mom is a teacher too and having lots of debts just to educate us. You story gives me more courage to help my mother pay her debts. God Bless you
this video really breaks my heart.i just couldn't imagine mrs.ruiz suffered from slavery.i met her once during our graduation day in highschool...she's a very soft spoken person and a very loving,supporting mother to her children...i thanked to CAST and to the 13 yr.old girl who helped her out from the people who treated her badly....
Kung sino man ang bruha na naging amo mo sa America sana magdusa siya Hanggang sa huling hininga niya. Sana dapuan siya NG lahat na mga nakakadiring sakit
No human being should be treated like that. Man, 55 years old, far from home, and being treated like an animal, that's just too much for one person to bear. But, it is a testament to the endurance and resilience of Nena that she survived that ordeal. Thank you, Nena. We Filipinos are proud of you.
Thanks for all the team CAST for all the support you gave to Nena... ! We really appreciate it very much... Please continue doing good to people in need... Thanks to you all... More power & Godbless.
Ma'am Nena: Now I like to take care of the elderly because I feel that Im taking care of my mom. When my mom was sick I wasnt able to take care of her. God bless you always, Teacher Nena! Love & Respect. 🙌❤
it really touches my heart.. nena is really a brave person.. i am also a teacher.. and it's a very noble profession.. in spite of the very horrible experience of her for years, she's still brave and fighting.. this will be a call for all people to still salute and give high respect to teachers. i really salute you nena,, you're such a living hero.. God bless you!!
Nakaka iyak po 😭😭😭 I'm also license teacher here in the Philippines and it's true the salary and the opportunity for teachers is not that high unlike from different position and industry here in this country 😭😭😭
It's so painful to see you suffered. I just watched this video in MMK replay. I can't help to cry and cry alot. God is so good that you were able to find help and I want to thank them again for saving you from this miserable situation. I have read the article and it really breaks my heart. Thank you for everyone who helped you Ma'am Nena. We love you even we have not acquainted personally. God be with you always.
naiyak aq habang pinapanood q. grabe tlga ang pakiramdam ng pag aabroad. i felt so sad but i have to sucrifice tjis kind of a job. its me jimrey working at cruise ship as diswasher. 9 months contract no day off 11hrs++ work. thanks for inspiring me this shoot. 😢
Napadaan lng tong video sa reels ko sa FB then i was in shocked and confused.Grabe pinagdaanan ni mam mismong kababayan pa ntin ang nag alipin sa knya.Grabe nakakadurog ng puso 😭
I watched your story po. Tears couldnt stop running down my face. You are such an inspiration ma'am. You are an amazing human being. Thank you for sharing your story because we need to be reminded to be good people in a world full of evil. You are a hero, Ma'am Nena.
Im so proud of you teacher nina . You are one the inspiration the filipino be proud to have . It made me cried so hard when i saw your story in mmk. Thank you for sharing your story to us and being a strong women . Thank you
sana mapanuod yan NG mga pamilya s pinas para alam nila n nd masarap ang buhay s ibng bansa... at sana waq puro asa s padala....... relate ako sobra ramdam ko kc ofw din ako
I know this was way before, but until now I am still pissed with that abuser, tapos filipina pa. Nakakahiya ka ma'am. And I'm so happy because justice prevail! Nena, We're so proud of you for being a strong woman despite all that happened to u! May God bless you ❤️
Godbless po mam nena. your story was indeed awakening for our government to give importance to the noble profession. Thank you CAST and to all the people who helped mam nena, may Godbless you all 😘 Restoration of Humanity
We saluted you Maam Nena, you had survived after struggled from their hands. God will care for you because of your good heart like your family and the people who help you. Thank God the woman who maltreated you had to face her consequence by her being sentenced. Hopefully you be better while they bounce back suffering in jail.
She is Educator where ever she goes it is embedded to her the love of Children.. Mindie being a Child proof that young lady is raised by her parents right!
I salute you maam nena you are brave and strong women. don't worry those evils will pay for what they've done to you. god bless you and your family.....
mabuhay po kayo nay nena i was watching the show and i was crying it is so unbelievable that yong kapwa mo gagawa and also for the people who brought may consciemce bother you just passed her away like a dog wow and they know that her daughter is mean not only that lied to her in the beggining as a filipino i used to have a yaya too but notat one time my parents never lay a hand on them this message is not for filipino DOMESTIC VIOLENCE cab kill a person as well as HUMAN TRAFFICING ONCE AGAIN NAY NENA MABUHAY KAYO I SALUTE YOU 100% justice is serve i hope they rought in JAIL
kaya ako lahat cinsbi k s mga anak k kng ano work ko d2 s abroad, at kng ano ang pg treat ng mga amo ko.... cnsbi k rin n medyo mhirap magwork s abroad, para alam nila ang situation k d2.... at pahalagahan nila ang pera n pinapadala ko....my iba kc n ayaw nila sbhin s anak nila. kng ano nagyyri s knila, paano nila malaman kng ayaw m e share ang karamasan m kng ilihim mo
