Michael Johnston, the now-former owner of Chicago-based company Audiotree and several Chicago venues, has been sued in a civil suit that alleges he installed hidden cameras in his home to capture nude images of his nanny. Audiotree has since shared a statement saying that Johnston has been "removed as President & CEO of Audiotree, Audiotree Presents, Lincoln Hall, Schubas, and Tied House."
The suit was filed by two unnamed women, one of whom worked as a home manager, child caretaker, and personal assistant to Johnston and his wife Kelly Halverson. In one instance alleged in the suit, "Jane Doe" was asked to organize some boxes in the couple's bedroom closets, which turned out to be filled with sex toys. A month later while housesitting, Jane and "Julie Doe" were "encouraged to use the Jacuzzi bathtub in the master bathroom" and to "help themselves to the Johnstons' wine and beer while they were away." Both women allege that they were secretly videotaped by cameras that the couple had set up to catch them undressing.
About a month after that, the suit alleges that Jane Doe found a hidden camera disguised as a picture frame that sat near the bathtub. She then searched the home and found two more cameras, one in the bedroom where she slept and another disguised to look like an iPhone dock charger.
On November 10, Johnston was in court on a felony charge of making an unauthorized recording in a bathroom. Halverson has not been charged.
In a statement about the incidents, Jane Doe said, "My life is forever changed because of what they did to me…I hope that by speaking out about this I can empower other survivors to do the same."
Audiotree was founded in 2011 by Johnston and Adam Thurston. The company is a self-described "music discovery platform" and is probably best known for its Audiotree Live Youtube broadcasts.
See Audiotree's statement on Johnston's removal below.
The suit was filed by two unnamed women, one of whom worked as a home manager, child caretaker, and personal assistant to Johnston and his wife Kelly Halverson. In one instance alleged in the suit, "Jane Doe" was asked to organize some boxes in the couple's bedroom closets, which turned out to be filled with sex toys. A month later while housesitting, Jane and "Julie Doe" were "encouraged to use the Jacuzzi bathtub in the master bathroom" and to "help themselves to the Johnstons' wine and beer while they were away." Both women allege that they were secretly videotaped by cameras that the couple had set up to catch them undressing.
About a month after that, the suit alleges that Jane Doe found a hidden camera disguised as a picture frame that sat near the bathtub. She then searched the home and found two more cameras, one in the bedroom where she slept and another disguised to look like an iPhone dock charger.
On November 10, Johnston was in court on a felony charge of making an unauthorized recording in a bathroom. Halverson has not been charged.
In a statement about the incidents, Jane Doe said, "My life is forever changed because of what they did to me…I hope that by speaking out about this I can empower other survivors to do the same."
Audiotree was founded in 2011 by Johnston and Adam Thurston. The company is a self-described "music discovery platform" and is probably best known for its Audiotree Live Youtube broadcasts.
See Audiotree's statement on Johnston's removal below.