03-09-2016, 06:13 PM
Fox Sports News Host Erin Andrews’ US$55 million award in her civil lawsuit related to the secret recording and distribution of a nude video filmed during her stay at a Marriott hotel is significant for many reasons, but it also sends a warning to hotel owners and operators about potential legal exposure for failing to protect guests’ privacy. The Nashville, Tennessee-based jury found operator Windsor Capital 49% at fault and stalker Michael David Barrett 51% at fault. It also found that Windsor was the agent of owner West End Hotel Partners, and that hotel operators were negligent for failing to protect the privacy of the sportscaster when she was a guest. Barrett, who had previously admitted to altering hotel room peepholes in Nashville and Columbus, Ohio, and taking nude videos of Andrews and posting them online, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison.