Seventeen women have filed a civil lawsuit against an Illinois restaurant owner Michael Papandrea, 59, who is accused of secretly filming up their skirts with a camera placed on his shoe
Seventeen women have filed a civil lawsuit against an Illinois restaurant owner accused of secretly filming ‘up-skirt’ videos with cameras placed on his shoes.
The women were all employed by Michael Papandrea, 59, who owns two popular eateries in suburban Chicago – Parmesans Station in Tinley Park and Parmesan’s Wood Stone Pizza in Frankfort.
Papandrea was initially arrested and charged with unauthorized video recording in March 2020 after state police received a tip-off about his alleged use of covert cameras.
Investigators seized several of Papandrea’s electronic devices and discovered multiple videos of female employees.
He is now facing 17 charges pertaining to that investigation, and his first court appearance is set for April 22.
Meantime, last month, eight female employees filed a separate civil suit against Papandrea, claiming that a forensic expert had examined one of the hard drives seized by police during the criminal investigation and retrieved more than 24,000 deleted up-skirt photographs and videos.
According to the former employees’ attorneys, the videos were taken over the span of almost a decade, and most of the servers who were inappropriately filmed were teenagers.
One of them was reported to be just 14 years old at the time.
On Tuesday, nine more former employees joined the civil suit, taking the total number to 17.
Papandrea, 59, who owns two popular eateries in suburban Chicago – including Parmesan’s Wood Stone Pizza in Frankfort (pictured)
‘They came forward as they learned more about what was going on and the extent of the video footage,’ attorney Lindsay Proskey told FOX 32.
‘These girls are in a state of shock right now. Disbelief.’
The civil complaint states that Papandrea ‘required employees to wear dresses and skirts while working as hostesses and servers’ at this establishments.
Proskey alleges that her clients were inappropriately touched by Papandrea as he attempted to film up their skirts.
‘He would approach the employee, rub their backs, get close to them, hug them and while he was doing so, we allege that at the same time he was covertly recording up their skirts and dresses,’ she stated.
‘What these girls didn’t know and what they couldn’t complain of, is that their privacy was being stolen from them’.
More former employees may soon be joining the suit, and is urging any other former employees of Papandrea to contact her with their concerns.
Some of the alleged offences took place here at Parmesans Station in Tinley Park – an eatery owned by Papandrea
‘We need help at this time gathering dates. When the former employees were there. We’re asking everyone to search their computers or cell phones for work schedules,’ she stated.
Meanwhile, Proskey previously told Patch that the forensic expert who examined the Papandrea’s hard drive estimates that there could be up to 500 victims.
Some of those may not have even been employed by Papandrea, as his alleged penchant for covert recording continued outside of the workplace.
‘The photos and videos include many sickening images including more ‘up-skirt shots’ and appear to be shot at various locations including shopping malls, other restaurants, inside bathrooms, offices, backyard parties, and even some that appear to be shot on vacation,’ Proskey stated.
Papandrea has refused to comment on the civil case.
Attorney Lindsay Proskey is leading the civil case against Papandrea. 17 women have now joined the lawsuit