By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Monday, March 7, 2016
Former Atlanta sports reporter Erin Andrews was rewarded $55 million by a jury in her civil case against the Nashville Marriott for its role in the peephole video case from 2009.
Michael David Barrett stalked her and took video of her nude through a hotel peephole. He later tried to sell the video but ultimately just posted it online. He ended up going to prison for 30 months. She testified that the hotel's lax security measures allowed Barrett to end up in a room next to her, making it easier for him to invade her privacy.
Barrett was told to pay $28 million and Marriott $27 million.
Andrews sought $75 million in damages. She testified that since 2009, she has been attacked on social media and in person almost every day over the video and has been more withdrawn and cautious since the incident happened. She now goes through elaborate security measures whenever she stays at a hotel.
She used to work at ESPN but is now working for Fox Sports. She also co-hosts "Dancing With the Stars."
Andrews left Atlanta around 2010-11 after living her for several years. She now resides in Los Angeles.
She posted this note on Twitter, thanking the jury, family, friends and legal team.
"Hotel guests have an expectation of privacy, and the hotel's actions fell far below the standard of care," said Aaron Bloom , an expert entertainment and real estate lawyer at Los Angeles-based TroyGould Attorneys who has been quoted in Entrepreneur and other media outlets on the Andrews case. "Hotels have learned today that they have to be as vigilant about stalking and voyeurism as they might be about burglary and other such crimes."
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