Photo courtesy of Forbes.
Erin Andrews wins $55 million verdict in lawsuit over nude video
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A jury awarded sportscaster Erin Andrews $55 million after deciding that the Nashville Marriott hotel at Vanderbilt University and Michael Barrett, her stalker, were both liable for a viral nude video of her.
After the nude video taken by a stalker in an adjacent room went viral in 2009, Andrews, a Fox sportscaster, sued the Marriott for damages, seeking $75 million. The two-week trial concluded on the first Friday of March and jurors began contemplating the final verdict afterwards.
“I’ve been honored by all the support from victims around the world,” Andrews said.
During the trial, she testified to experiencing severe depression and insomnia due to the trauma of knowing that millions of people had watched the video. Her lawyers argued that the incident could have been prevented had the hotel been more cautious about the room placements.
Barrett, who pleaded guilty to taking the video and stalking Andrews, had been given a 30 month prison sentence.
The Marriott’s lawyers have expressed disappointment over the jury’s decision. They argued that only Barrett was at fault in this case since he acted on his own accord. Defense attorney Marc Dedman said that he will be working with Marriott officials to decide whether they should appeal the decision or not.
As of now, the decision of the jury still stands. The decision stated that the hotel is 49 percent liable, while Barrett is 51 percent liable for the damages. The $55 million verdict will be split between the two parties, with Barrett paying roughly $28.05 million and the Marriott paying $26.95 million.
