Former ESPN sportscaster Erin Andrews said Monday she will be forever haunted by her secretly-recorded nude video in a hotel room, but defense lawyers pointed out the video helped her career. Now, here's the latest round-up of update about Erin Andrews' lawsuit against Marriott hotel.
Attorney Marc Dedman, who represents the man who recorded the video at the Nashville Marriott, said Andrews' career have done very well after the nude video surfaced online. The lawyer added Andrews received multiple contracts and product endorsements since 2009 -- the year the video was released.
Dedman pointed out that Andrews has bigger salary after leaving ESPN. Also, he noted she have appeared in commercials and become a host on Dancing with the Stars. Andrews is now in Fox Sports.
Buzzfeed reported Andrews is seeking $75 million in damages from Michael Barrett, the man who secretly filmed her in 2009 at the hotel room. The Nashville Marriott is also included in the suit. The reporter argued that the hotel allowed Barrett to request the room next to hers without informing her. Barrett uploaded the videos online in October of that year. He also attempted to sell them to media networks. The Associated Press said Barrett pleaded guilty in stalking Andrews by renting hotel rooms in three different cities. He was charged with two and half years in prison in 2009.
On Monday, Andrews issued statements about why the hotel should be held responsible for the actions of the convicted stalker Barrett. The reporter cried while detailing the scandal's emotional impact on her. She also explained that the leaked video affected her career.
However, Marriott's lawyers said that Barrett is solely responsible for his actions. The attorneys stressed that the huge hotel franchise shouldn't be held accountable for the leaked video.
To cope with the crisis that she's dealing with, Andrews admitted she has sought counseling, and she knows that she will need other treatments for the rest of her life. Young women see Andrews as a role model and inspiration in sports, but the video could change that. Some people perceive the case as a publicity stunt for Andrews.
Years after the incident, Andrews said she now takes precaution when traveling, including checking air conditioner vents, TV sets, alarm clocks, and bathrooms in hotel rooms for cameras. She confessed that feelings of humiliation and anxiety persisted until now. And she has difficulty in trusting people, which affected her personal relationships.
