Erin Andrews Awarded $55 Million Over Secretly Taped Video of Her Naked Inside Hotel Room
After nearly eight hours of deliberation, there is a verdict in the Erin Andrews trial.
The sports reporter and Dancing With the Stars co-host won her civil suit against West End Hotel Partners over an incident eight years ago in which Andrews was secretly videotaped naked inside her hotel room.
The jury found the hotel operator, hotel owner, and Michael David Barrett, the man who filmed the 37-year-old journalist, at fault and awarded Andrews $55 million.
Following the verdict, Andrews was tearful as she hugged her attorneys and parents.
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Andrews was staying at the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University, which is owned by West End Hotel Partners, in 2008 when her now-convicted stalker filmed her through a peep hole. Barrett uploaded the footage -- which included Andrews nude -- online, where 16.8 million people have seen it, according to testimony during the trial.
In 2009, Barrett pled guilty to the crime and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. Andrews' current suit, in which she sought $75 million, was over whether the franchise owner was negligent with regard to keeping her safe.
"It's always there. It's always on my back. I can never get rid of it," the sportscaster said during her two-day testimony, revealing she suffers from depression and anxiety because of the video. "All I wanted to do is be respected, be the girl who loves sports, and now I'm the girl with the scandal. It's embarrassing."
Following the verdict, Andrews released a statement of appreciation on social media:
"I would like to thank the Nashville court, the court personnel and the jury for their service. The support I've received from the people of Nashville has been overwhelming. I would also like to thank my family, friends, and legal team. I've been honored by all the support from victims around the world. 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."
Meanwhile, an attorney for the defense, Anne Dee McClane, told ET in a statement, "Our clients were manipulated by a criminal who had honed his skill at several prior hotels before coming to Nashville to commit his intentional act against Ms. Andrews."
"It is very difficult to overcome the perception that Michael Barrett’s acts, acts he also committed at other hotels and against other women, should be the responsibility of our clients," she added. "We are discussing with our clients their options at this point in light of the ruling.”
The Dancing With the Stars host emotionally detailed during her testimony how the stalking incident and leaked video have affected her life. Find out what she said in the video below.