Abused Malawian domestic worker wins $1.1m lawsuit

A Malawian woman trafficked to the US by a diplomat and mistreated has been awarded $1.1m in damages against her former employer. The Nyasa Times reports that court papers reveal that Fainess Lipenga began working for Jane Kambalame as a domestic worker at her Malawi home in 2002. Kambalame invited her join her when she received a diplomatic position at the Malawian embassy in Washington in 2004. Following years of mistreatment, she escaped and obtained a T visa, issued for victims of human trafficking. Lipenga filed a civil complaint against Kambalame in the state of Maryland in 2014, with claims ranging from false imprisonment to intentional infliction of emotional distress. A District Court handed down a default judgment against Kambalame, who failed to respond or participate in the case. Kambalame left the US in 2012 when she was appointed Malawi’s High Commissioner to Zimbabwe and Botswana. 'We are exploring various options to enforce the judgment,' said Lindsay Reimschussel, one of Lipenga’s lawyers.