Up-Skirt Videos Of Minors: 2nd Lawsuit Against Frankfort Man

FRANKFORT, IL — A second lawsuit has been filed against a Frankfort restaurant owner after eight employees, some as young as age 14, say he secretly shot up-skirt videos using a shoe camera and a camera over a bathroom toilet, according to their attorney.

The former employees' attorneys, David Axelrod and Lindsay Proskey, of David A. Axelrod & Associates, P.C., said in a news release that there could be 500 more victims going back several years.

The civil lawsuit was filed in Cook County on Thursday and names Michael Papandrea, 59, and his three restaurants, Parmesans Wood Stone Pizza in Frankfort, Parmesans Station in Tinley Park and Parmesans Manheim in Chicago.

Papandrea was charged in March 2020 with unauthorized video recording after police say he filmed up-skirt videos of several of his employees without their consent. Illinois State Police launched an investigation after receiving a tip about the alleged video recording, and during a search of the business, police said they found and seized electronic devices containing several unauthorized videos of female employees.

He is facing 17 charges in Will County Court and is scheduled to appear on April 22 for a pre-trial hearing.

A lawsuit was also filed in September in Will County by four ex-employees. The complaint stated the employees have suffered great harm and that Papandrea's actions were "outrageous and intentional." The case was dismissed without prejudice — meaning it could be refiled — in December.

For the lawsuit filed in Cook County, the former employees' attorneys said in a news release that a hard drive seized by police from Papandrea's Frankfort restaurant contains deleted files that have recently been retrieved by their forensic expert.

According to the complaint, Illinois State Police found more than 1,000 up-skirt videos of female employees on Papandrea's cell phone.

Citing police, the former employees' attorneys said the files contained more than 24,000 photographs and videos that appear to have been taken over a decade of covert filming up the skirts of many young women. The attorneys also hired a computer forensic expert, Andrew Garret of Garret Discovery, who retrieved deleted files, according to a news release.

Garret Discovery found 1,900 covert videos created from a hidden webcam in a shoe and 14 videos that were taken from a video camera over a bathroom toilet, the release states.

The complaint states that most of the employees who were recorded were teenagers under 18, including girls as young as 14.

“Mr. Garrett estimates there could be at least 500 more victims. 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,” the plaintiff’s attorney, Lindsay Proskey, said in a statement.

“I am honored to represent these courageous young women who came forward to share their stories and identify themselves on video footage. What we’ve seen so far violates Illinois law and shocks the conscience,” Proskey said. “The Illinois Human Rights Act protects employees from sexual harassment, and our office is committed to holding employers accountable for their actions and to obtain relief for victims. It is time to put a stop to sexual harassment in the workplace.”

The complaint states that Papandrea required employees to wear dresses and skirts while working as hostesses and waitresses. He would also rub their backs and shoulders to place himself within close enough proximity to film the girl’s buttocks and genital region, the complaint says.

“Our lawsuit claims the defendant committed this heinous act to multiple servers at his three restaurants,” attorney David Axelrod said in a release. “It’s unfathomable how this wouldn’t scar any woman for life. We are determined to bring our decades of legal expertise to (bear), in bringing some semblance of deserved restitution.”

The attorneys asked that anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Michael Papandrea contact David A. Axelrod & Associates at 312-782-4600.