Erin Andrews won her civil lawsuit against Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University for allowing peeping Tom, Michael David Barrett's, request to have a room next to her without her permission. As a result, Barrett secretly recorded the former ESPN college football reporter undressing through the hotel's peephole. Andrews nabbed $55 million after winning the case, but she is understandably not in the mood to celebrate.
“There hasn’t been celebrations that have come from the verdict because Erin knows that there is a long way to go and she is still scarred from the whole ordeal emotionally," an insider close to the reporter told HollywoodLife exclusively.
JUST IN: Jury awards Erin Andrews $55 million in lawsuit. https://t.co/V5tQ1xPTL3 pic.twitter.com/f2EHrBF5ke
— ABC News (@ABC) March 7, 2016
The 37-year-old Dancing with The Stars contestant initially demanded $75 million for invasion of privacy, but the jury rewarded her with $55 million though she is expected to go home with much less.
The judgment is to be split between her stalker and the hotel. Barrett is responsiblie for paying the 51 percent while the hotel owners and operators are accountable for the remaining 49 percent. But since Barrett doesn't have the money to pay her more than $28 million, Andrews will likely not get that amount from him, but she is still going to cash in from the hotel.
"The fact that the jury gave him only 51 percent and the hotel 49 percent is about as good as Erin Andrews could have asked for because now she's got a big number coming from the hotel," ABC News legal expert Dan Abrams said.
Barrett was arrested for stalking Andrews back in October 2009. He was sentenced to 2-1/2 years in prison after pleading guilty to the charges. Although the incident has scarred Andrews, fortunately, she had a strong person in her life to help her keep her head up high.
“The one constant has been Jarrett [Stoll]," the source shared. "It has taken a toll on the relationship but he has been a rock and she appreciates him being there for her throughout. It has been tough but he makes her happy and tries to separate things as much as possible."
