It is true that stalking may not sound like a big thing until it happens to you, and sometimes, it can be an outright nightmare for some, especially when you’re being recorded in a so-called safe space, which you think is safe, but it isn’t actually. That’s pretty much the same thing that happened in Erin Andrews Lawsuit, and it made her feel horrible. Her video, recorded in a hotel room through a peephole, went viral, but when she went down the legal route against it, she was awarded by the law. Let’s get to the details of this case.
What Actually Happened?
So, we’re going to tell it all sequence-wise, so here is what really happened: Back in 2008, Erin was at a Marriott Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, on a business trip. Well, a stalker of hers by the name Michael David Barrett somehow figured out which hotel she was at, and he made the staff a call. Then, somehow, the staff managed to verify Erin’s room, and also, they went on to alert the security guards to keep an eye on Barrett. But the hotel staff placed him in the room adjacent to hers.
And it is in the details that after the arrival, Barrett messed with the peephole of Erin’s hotel room door and filmed her secretly. The length of the video was about four and a half minutes. At a later time, it was posted on the internet and seen by millions before the account was closed. Erin had no idea that she was being recorded until a very long time after.
And without a single doubt, when she found out about all this, she felt terrible. You know, like, a hotel room in usually considered a safe place, yet this horrible thing happened to her. Her privacy was breached.
How Did the Case Go to Court?
Well, no doubt, later down the line, Barrett’s actions led to the investigation of this whole thing, and it came to be that he had already been convicted for similar crimes before. And in this matter, when confronted, no doubt, he admitted guilt in the trial and spent approximately two and a half years behind bars. Nevertheless, Erin still thought that punishment through the legal system was not sufficient, and it wasn’t enough for what it made her feel.
For that very reason, she went on with this case, and in the start, she actually demanded a whopping $75 million in damages. And just so you know, the case was heard in 2016 in Nashville, and it gained national coverage.
The Jury’s $55 Million Verdict
No doubt, when the case was heard, the jury, upon going through all the evidence, came to the conclusion that Erin was right. And? Well, it was kinda a happy ending for her because in the end, she received $55 million as total compensation. As for what went on in the case, the blame was shared, with Barret being the most to blame at 51% and the hotels at 49%.
The hotel was trying to make it sound like all the fault was with Barrett, and they had nothing to do with it, but sure enough, the jury didn’t side with that opinion. Yup, that was just their opinion, nothing else.
What Came Next?
Well, right after winning this case, Erin didn’t just stop working; she went on with her broadcasting career, and later down the line, she actually became a huge advocate for victims of stalking and privacy violations.
As for Barrett, well, he admitted his wrongdoing and went on to finish his punishment.
