NASHVILLE, March 7, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — After a six-hour deliberation, a jury reached a unanimous verdict.
Erin Andrews, sports reporter and “Dancing with the Stars” co-host, was awarded $55 million for damages sustained after her stalker, Michael David Barrett, secretly filmed her in the nude in 2008 at the Nashville Marriott and then shared the video online.
According to TMZ, the judge ruled that Barrett is responsible for $28 million while West End Partners, the Windsor Capital Group that manages the hotel, will pay $27 million.
Andrews had initially sued the franchise owner of the Nashville Marriott, West End Partners, and Barrett, for $75 million. She claimed the hotel was negligent by giving Barrett her room number and providing him a room next to hers.
Prosecutors convinced the jury Barrett was able to film Andrews, who was naked in her room, by removing the peephole from her door and pointing his cell phone camera into her room. He pleaded guilty to stalking in 2009 and served two years in prison.
“I’ve been honored by all the support from victims around the world,” Andrews said in a statement after the verdict. “Their outreach has helped me be able to stand up and hold accountable those whose job it is to protect everyone’s safety, security and privacy.”
