Culver City, CA, United States
In 2001, Elizabeth Jackson arranged to have Nena Ruiz (of the Philippines) brought to the U.S. to work as traveling companion and caretaker for Jackson's mother. After arrival, Ruiz lived with Jackson and her husband James. Jackson then confiscated the victim's passport, and used intimidation and threats of deportation to keep her from leaving. The victim was forced to work 16-18-hour days while being paid less than $400 a year. The victim, Nena Ruiz, was also forced to sleep on a dog bed in the family's living room. Elizabeth also hit the pulled the victim's hair, and hit her.
Location
United States · Culver City, CA · 2008 (location generalized to protect survivors)
Response & intervention
Elizabeth Jackson pleaded guilty to a count of forced labor, and James Jackson pleased guilty to a count of alien harboring. James was sentenced to 200 hours of community serviced, and fined $5,000 for harboring the victim. He had previously pleaded guilty for allowed the woman to live in their home from August 2001 to February 2002, knowing that her visa had expired.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the FBI, and the Department of Labor.
The victim received assistance from ICE and the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST). Ruiz sued the Jacksons for damages. In August, 2004, a Los Angeles jury ruled in favor of the victim. She was awarded $825,000, for punitive damages and back wages.
Documented on the original SlaveryMap (2008–2016). We don't have a verifiable source on file yet — use “Report a problem” below to add one.