Headline Of The Week Weak

Filed under: Headline of the Week > Wacky, Tacky & True

"Hollywood couple sentenced in maid 'slave' case"

This is awful! CLCK HERE to read the article accompanying this headline.

Hollywood couple sentenced in maid 'slave' case

A former top Hollywood studio lawyer and his wife were on Monday sentenced by a Los Angeles judge after admitting to mistreating their Filipino maid in a case of "modern-day slavery," a court heard.

US District Judge Dale Fischer ordered James Jackson, 53, a former vice-president of legal affairs at Sony Pictures to perform 200 hours of community service for admitting a charge of alien harboring.

Jackson's wife Elizabeth, 54, was given a three-year jail term after pleading guilty to a charge of forced labor.

In passing sentence, Fischer said Elizabeth Jackson had treated the victim, former schoolteacher Nena Ruiz, worse than her dog.

Ruiz was forced to eat three-day-old food and to sleep on a dog basket after working 18 hours a day. Over the course of several months' employment between 2001 and 2002 she was paid only 300 dollars.

"These defendants subjected their victim to what amounts to modern-day slavery," said Justice Department prosecutor Wan Kim after the Jacksons pleaded guilty in August last year.

In a related civil lawsuit, Ruiz said Elizabeth Jackson regularly slapped her and pulled her hair.

The Jacksons also threatened to turn her over to immigration authorities if she left them, Ruiz said. Ruiz finally fled the Jacksons after she was hit in the mouth with a water bottle in February 2002.

Elizabeth Jackson said in a letter read out in court on Monday that she took full responsibility for her actions.

"In my life I have always tried and strived to do the right thing," she said. "I failed in this case."

Defense lawyers argued against a jail sentence for Jackson, saying the couple had already suffered enough by being forced to declare bankruptcy.

However Fischer denied a request for home confinement, telling the court: "It seems she treated her dog much better than she treated her victim."

Ruiz won 825,000 dollars in damages from her former employers at a 2004 civil trial in Los Angeles.

Posted: Jan 29, 2008 at 12:44 pm / Email this »

See All 260 Comments

260 comments to “Headline Of The Week Weak”

More comments: [1] 2 3 »

i says – reply to this

1

1
20th? says – reply to this

2

20th?
oh boy says – reply to this

3

2
master patrick says – reply to this

4

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm*
Perez... says – reply to this

5

Is a fat pig.
mark says – reply to this

6

whoa… thats fucked up…. especially since those people are probably rich as shit and still only paid her $300….
lindsa says – reply to this

7

first
Stupid says – reply to this

8

This is stupid, why didn't the maid just leave and go to the cops?
castro says – reply to this

9

damnnn that sucks
leah says – reply to this

10

that shit is CRAZY. Not as crazy ar Britbrit though!
fiona says – reply to this

11

first! thats awful!
lady J says – reply to this

12

first
first? says – reply to this

13

first!
Elizabeth Jackson is a Bitch says – reply to this

14

Don't send that Elizabeth jackson bitch to prison: send her to some frat house and make her clean up after pigs 18 hours a day. And make her fuck the horny freshmen, too. That punishment fits the crime. In prison, she'll just get waited on. Have her hubby on duty to service the gay students.
I heart Perez says – reply to this

15

Re: mark –

Actually, the article clearly states they paid her $825,000 dollars.
Sunnie says – reply to this

16

It's really sad to think that there are still people like this out in the world. It makes me wonder if America can really handle a black or woman president. I really don't want to live through an assassination.l
pooltop says – reply to this

17

first niggas!
hateeveryoneequally says – reply to this

18

ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS IS: PUNK ASS WHITE FOLKS!
pooltop says – reply to this

19

I said, FIRST niggas!
danielle says – reply to this

20

first
n says – reply to this

21

first
Woo says – reply to this

22

FIRST
sara says – reply to this

23

she needs some SERIOUS jail time for this one.
Lolo says – reply to this

24

TERRIBLE!! =(
Jehn says – reply to this

25

ughh…assholes.
katie says – reply to this

26

first!!
B says – reply to this

27

BD F
lovely_x0x says – reply to this

28

omg this is so sad! firsttt**
meghan says – reply to this

29

first
Alison says – reply to this

30

FIRST!
matt says – reply to this

31

boo
MEL says – reply to this

32

am i 1st?!?!
mylo says – reply to this

33

$825000 for being treated like a dog for a few months!! I'd have done it for half that.
tara says – reply to this

34

1stttt
dansergrrl says – reply to this

35

that's disgusting.
I hope someone makes her their bitch in the slammer.
people are really reprehensible
MIZZA says – reply to this

36

Wow..thats terribleeeeeeee..
tori says – reply to this

37

What a bunch of fucking idiots!
latina says – reply to this

38

thats nasty!!
nora says – reply to this

39

This is so sad. I'm glad in the end they were rightfully punsihed.
me says – reply to this

40

first
John says – reply to this

41

first
needajob says – reply to this

42

wonder if they're hiring… ? Sounds pretty good…
Liselotte says – reply to this

43

this is sick!
rufus says – reply to this

44

first?
Taylor says – reply to this

45

OMG THATS JUST TERRIBLE!
ksc says – reply to this

46

Horrible!
badingsiada says – reply to this

47

First!
erin says – reply to this

48

Crazy!!!
:) says – reply to this

49

first? x
jabberwocky says – reply to this

50

they should be shackled! Idi-fuckin-its.
could it be says – reply to this

51

could it be?
Leanna says – reply to this

52

That's horrible. I'm glad that she get jail time. No one should put up with that kind of treatment.
FREAKS!!! says – reply to this

53

"I have always strived to do the right thing"……..uh, reeeeeally honey? really???
they should have gotten the jail time. betcha they still have serious cash stashed somewhere on th d.l.!! $825k ain't much for that experience…wouldn't even cover the therapy!
Al says – reply to this

54

How does she plan on getting the $$$$$ after the US deports her???!!!
costamesaboy says – reply to this

55

WHAT ASSHOLES,, how could you be like that?
Shane says – reply to this

56

CHECK UR COMPUTERS, THIS SITE GIVES YOU TRACKING COOKIES WHEN YOU POST.

Just sayin.

p.s. thanks Perez………..asshole
wolvie says – reply to this

57

What do you expect? They are white people.. they can't help it. Dominating other races and doing awful stuff to them is in their genes.
death penalty says – reply to this

58

they should rott and die in jail…take it up the ass
Asheville Pete says – reply to this

59

200 hours of community service ?

What's that, a slap on the wrist
and how fortunate, the bastards managed to file bankruptcy before the poor slave was allowed to collect
IM sure that he must have $$ from SONY coming in
cariss says – reply to this

60

They should both be going to jail, regardless of who did it because the other one was well aware of what was going on. Also, the INS should be leveling fines for employing someone (and probably others) who did not have proper working papers. There is a case just like this on Long Island and the woman was sent to jail right away and the man is going in a few months. These type of people should be forced to live in the same condition that they subjected their 'employees' too. And for at least the same, if not more , time.
Cri says – reply to this

61

at least justice was served

…get all the mf-ing slave driving republicans in jail!!!
Debitard says – reply to this

62

DAMN!!!!!!
Soph says – reply to this

63

damn right
Disgusted says – reply to this

64

Fucking sick!
Carlee says – reply to this

65

They should be ashamed! Why did the girl keep going back and continue to be their maid tho? I don`t quite get it but jeezzeee fucken losers!!
mke girl says – reply to this

66

only in america can an illegal immigrant win $850,000 in a court battle. much deserved, but i wonder, does she get to stay here??
Jennie From the Rock says – reply to this

67

Re: Stupid –

DUH cause she was an illegal don't you know when you go to a foreign country and are threatened you are scared for your life so you just stick it out! You don't know how the country treats illegals they probably told her she would get worse treatment else where if she did leave.

These people are sick I hope they get theirs!
Lizzie says – reply to this

68

That's awesome she got $825,000!
Soph says – reply to this

69

Re: I heart Perez –
Actually, he meant her wage was only $300.
Not the settlement. Durrr
samANtha says – reply to this

70

thats sad. the maid didnt know any better to leave. she was doing what she had to do to get some money. those people should be in LOTS of trouble. Shame on them.
dutchy says – reply to this

71

dude. what the fuck.
idiots all of you says – reply to this

72

LAST!! lol
you have to be pretty cruel hearted to treat a person like that.
Sharon says – reply to this

73

She should have gotten a HELL OF A LOT MORE!!!!! I understand she was illegal, but she still has Human Rights
Brooklyn Lillies says – reply to this

74

we had a case like this in NY and they got charged FEDERALLY and lost EVERYTHING. WHY THE FUCk do these people still have their homes? Its a FEDERAL OFFENSE!!! WHAT THE FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCk
holy moly says – reply to this

75

OMG!!! this is crazy i cant believe it!
das says – reply to this

76

Re: mylo –

Some people actually contain esteem.
Do you think she knew she would get payed that sum? Obviously not.

At least this woman can now live comfortably, — No person needs to go through that.
FatFukPerez says – reply to this

77

Re: I heart Perez – No stupid, Mark meant that they paid the maid $300 for her services while she was there. She was awarded $825,000 to be paid by the defendents by the court. Next time read the article correctly before ansewering someones post like a smug asshole.
Heather says – reply to this

78

So the wife gets 3 years prison and the husband gets off with community service? I don't get that.

Side note, it would be nice to put a filter on your comments that screens for 1st, first, etc. Why is is it so important to be first? Idiots.
newyork says – reply to this

79

Re: hateeveryoneequally –
actually, the more recent case before this one was in new york and an indian (as in india, not native american) had TWO modern day slaves and treated them even more poorly than these pathetic humans in cali did.
Leesa says – reply to this

80

re: Stupid….your name says it all. obviously humanity isn't your middle name.
Mandy says – reply to this

81

What a bitch. She should be forced to live like a dog. what is wrong with people!
jess says – reply to this

82

that is such a horrible story it sucks she was treated that way b/c obviously only sick hearted people deserve that and it's great that she got 825k but… isn't she an illegal immigrant? i'm sorry but she needs to be sent home with the money.
Ashley says – reply to this

83

Perez, this already happened on Long Island a while ago.
DH says – reply to this

84

It's amazing how naive the majority of rich people can be. Despite them having thousands on dollars in their bank accounts, they only managed to pay her $300….Fucking assholes. Good to hear she got $825,000.00 after all this though!!
CANADIAN says – reply to this

85

WHAT A BUNCH OF FUCKER! HOPE THEY BURN IN HELL! WHAT COMES AROUND GOES AROUND!
V says – reply to this

86

the US juducial system actually working right this time! Filipino maids are making honest livings instead of milking the system or hooking themselves…I don't understand why people need to treat them this way.
jph says – reply to this

87

Re: Stupid – because, dumbass. she'd have gotten deported.
haya says – reply to this

88

Fucking Cunts, Serves them right. I hope that bitch get's the shit kicked out of her in prison. HAVE FUN IN JAIL-!!!
Sheryl says – reply to this

89

To all the people calling her immigrant, if you guys would do your research, she came to the US with a working visa. Illegal immigrants is what those mexican crossing the border without any papers are, not in Nena Ruiz's case. They hired her as a nanny & these ppl were the ones responsible for issuing her the working visa so when they threatened to deport her, she knew they can do that because her visa is from them. So stop calling her an "illegal" because she isn't. She is able to work and live in america because she has the papers to support it. Good for her for winning!!!
uggabugga says – reply to this

90

HMmmm, now it looks like Elizabeth gets to be someone else's slave in prison.
Maime says – reply to this

91

I dont understand why its only the wife being sentenced to jail time. If it were up to me they'd both spend the rest of their lives there. That woman was in hell for months and she had no one to help her! That makes me sick to my stomach. If I had the money to have someone help me in my home, I would be so grateful for them. That is just brutal.
Ms. Ang says – reply to this

92

That is a disgusting strory , the Jacksons will surely pay in jail for mistreating this poor woman…that dumb bitch ass wife would've got the beat down slap me with a watter bottle and making her sleep in a dog basket "FUK DAT"…no one deserves to be treated that way even if she was illegally in this country…im gld she sued shes rolling deep now $825 g's hell ya you go girl..!!
QUEEN says – reply to this

93

LOL LEESA.ATLEAST DEY DINT GET AWAY WIV IT.ASSHOLES.N SUM PPL DAT R AGREEING AT HER TREATMENT IMAGIN HAPENIN TO U?WULD U LIK IT NO.SO SHUT THE FUK UP.
alex says – reply to this

94

Re: I heart Perez – Actually the article clearly states that they did not pay her 825,000, the article says she won that money from them in a civil trial.
Lindsay says – reply to this

95

This is so sad… people are really screwed up and think just because they are more successful than others that they can treat the unfortunate like animals. something is wrong with society.
DUH..... says – reply to this

96

Re: Stupid – she is an illegal immigrant fuck-tard. if she goes to the police they send her back to her country. this type of shit happends every single day. immigrants are blackmailed to work for scraps. its a blackmarket crime simply because they have to choose between the lesser of two evils. put up with shit or jail time back in the country you fled. and that my friend is why she cant go to the police.
Thoy says – reply to this

97

She got more than I ever did for being with a white nazi for 11 yr. I am a legal alien Asian through my parents not by marriage and I am glad I got rid of the bastard….but I didn't get over $800k!!! Life is not fair. Can't wait til this damn country finally recognize EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL!!! Vote for OBAMA!
allison says – reply to this

98

sounds like that ugly couple from long island who did the same thing, though i think their case was worse, actually.
Jesse says – reply to this

99

She "failed in this case"? Boy, that's one serious understatement.
Lindsay says – reply to this

100

Re: I heart Perez – No, they paid her $300 as her wages … she only got the $850,000 after the trial. Can you read?