55 MILLION DOLLAR VERDICT
The Tennessee verdict in the Erin Andrews’s civil lawsuit
against a hotel group and the man who stalked her in 2008 was a staggering $55
million!
Many folks I talked to said something like, “Fine, film me
and post it on the Internet and--for just a couple million bucks--I will be
happy!”
The stalker, Michael David Barrett, a former insurance
company executive, managed to get her room number and then film her nude
through the peephole in her hotel door.
Then, after a failed attempt to sell the film, it wound up going viral
on the Internet, where over 17 million people watched it. He did time in prison
for this.
Ms. Andrews never knows who has seen it and who hasn't. She
was emotionally affected by the events, and spent time and money trying to get
the video offline.
The pervert was found by Nashville jurors to be 51% liable
for the $55 million award. He is unlikely to pay a cent. West End Hotel
Partners, the hotel owner, and Windsor Capital Group, the hotel management
company, are responsible for the other 49%, and they will likely settle for far
less than $26,950,000 they owe.
Ms. Andrews had to endure the defense attorneys’ strategy
that argued her career actually flourished as a result of the video. I do not think the jury liked that one little
bit.
She was embarrassed because of assumptions people made as
well. “Everybody thought it was a
publicity stunt. That ripped me apart, “ she testified.
Jury members really wanted to make a point. "We were
sending a message out to the hotels and the chains to do better than what
they've done," explained one juror.
Andrews repeatedly blamed the Nashville Marriott at
Vanderbilt for giving out her hotel room number to the stalker. She further
felt violated that they did not reveal to her that the stalker had actually
asked to be put in a room next to hers.
While the hotel companies denied this, it appears that the jurors blamed
the hotel.
I recently have noticed that hotel front desk clerks no
longer state my room number out loud, and just scrawl the number down on the
room key packet.
Under so-called “tort reform” laws now in effect in
Tennessee, this verdict could not have been handed down for over $750,000
currently. Legislators in Tennessee have thus decided all cases ever to occur in
Tennessee in the future, all without hearing one fact!
Mr. Peel seeks justice for those injured in car
accidents, medical malpractice, and nursing homes. He often addresses churches,
clubs and groups without charge. Mr. Peel may be reached through PeelLawFirm.com wherein other articles may be
accessed.
