The Erin Andrews lawsuit was a high-profile civil case involving sportscaster Erin Andrews, a stalker who secretly recorded her in a Nashville hotel room, and companies connected with the hotel.
The case resulted in a $55 million jury verdict in March 2016. However, Andrews later reached a confidential settlement with the hotel owner and operator. The amount of that settlement was not publicly disclosed.
What Was the Erin Andrews Lawsuit About?
The lawsuit arose from an incident at the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University in 2008.
Michael David Barrett secretly recorded Andrews through the peephole of her hotel-room door while she was undressing. The video was later posted online.
Andrews sued Barrett as well as companies associated with the hotel, alleging that the hotel had failed to protect her privacy and had allowed Barrett to obtain a room next to hers.
Barrett had previously pleaded guilty to stalking Andrews and was sentenced to prison.
Why Did Erin Andrews Sue the Hotel?
Andrews’ lawsuit alleged that the hotel was negligent and that its actions or failures contributed to the privacy invasion.
One issue at trial was how Barrett was able to obtain a hotel room next to Andrews and gain information about her room.
Her lawsuit sought $75 million in damages. The case included claims related to negligence and invasion of privacy.
It is important to distinguish the allegations from findings. The hotel defendants disputed responsibility, and the eventual settlement did not constitute an admission of wrongdoing.
How Much Did Erin Andrews Win?
In March 2016, a Nashville jury awarded Andrews $55 million.
The jury assigned:
- $28 million to Michael David Barrett
- $27 million to the hotel-related defendants
The verdict followed a trial in which Andrews described the continuing emotional impact of the incident.
The verdict was therefore $55 million, but that does not mean Andrews ultimately received $55 million in cash.
Did Erin Andrews Receive the $55 Million?
The answer is more complicated.
After the jury verdict, Andrews reached a settlement with the hotel owner and operator. Her attorney confirmed that the litigation was over, but the terms of the settlement were confidential.
Therefore, the exact amount Andrews ultimately received from the hotel settlement has not been publicly disclosed.
It would be inaccurate to state that she definitely collected the entire $55 million verdict.
Who Was Michael David Barrett?
Michael David Barrett was the man who secretly recorded Andrews.
According to reporting from the trial, Barrett stalked Andrews and altered the peephole of the hotel-room door so that he could record her.
He later pleaded guilty to stalking-related charges and received a prison sentence.
His actions were separate from the legal claims against the hotel and its related companies.
What Happened at the Nashville Hotel?
The incident occurred in 2008 while Andrews was staying at the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University.
The lawsuit alleged that Barrett obtained information about Andrews’ room and arranged to stay in an adjacent room.
He then tampered with the peephole and secretly recorded Andrews inside her room.
The recordings were eventually distributed online, creating a significant and continuing invasion of Andrews’ privacy.
What Did the Jury Decide?
The jury found Barrett and the hotel-related defendants responsible for damages and awarded Andrews $55 million.
According to reporting on the verdict, Barrett was assigned 51% of the responsibility, while the Nashville Marriott and West End Hotel Partners were assigned the remaining 49%.
The verdict was a major part of the case, but it was not the final financial outcome because Andrews subsequently settled with the hotel defendants.
Erin Andrews Hotel Settlement
In April 2016, Andrews settled her lawsuit against the hotel owner and operator.
Her attorney said the litigation was over and that Andrews was satisfied with the settlement.
However, the settlement terms were confidential.
This means there is no verified public figure for the amount of the hotel settlement.
Was the Settlement $55 Million?
Not necessarily.
The $55 million figure was the jury verdict.
The later settlement with the hotel defendants was a separate agreement, and its financial terms were not publicly disclosed.
Did Marriott Pay Erin Andrews?
The case involved several hotel-related entities, including the Nashville hotel and companies connected with its ownership and management.
The lawsuit also named Marriott International in related litigation, but the 2016 Nashville trial and settlement should not be confused with every lawsuit involving the Marriott brand.
The hotel-related settlement with Andrews was reported as confidential.
Was Erin Andrews’ Lawsuit a Class Action?
No.
The Erin Andrews case was an individual civil lawsuit, not a nationwide class action.
Andrews brought the lawsuit based on what happened to her personally.
Therefore, people searching for an “Erin Andrews class action lawsuit” should not confuse this case with consumer class actions involving hotel companies.
Did Erin Andrews Sue Marriott?
Yes, Marriott-related entities were involved in litigation connected with the incident.
A separate appellate court record lists Erin Andrews v. Marriott International, Inc. and other defendants. The Illinois appellate decision involved an earlier case and affirmed the judgment under review.
However, the major $55 million verdict that receives the most attention came from Andrews’ Nashville lawsuit over the 2008 hotel incident.
Why Was the Case Important?
The lawsuit received substantial attention because it raised serious questions about:
- Hotel guest privacy
- Protection against stalking
- Hotel employee procedures
- Access to guest information
- Room assignments
- Surveillance and recording
- Liability for privacy violations
The case also highlighted the lasting consequences of nonconsensual recording and online distribution.
What Happened to the Lawsuit After the Verdict?
The case did not simply end with the $55 million verdict.
Andrews later reached a confidential settlement with the hotel owner and operator in April 2016. Her attorney stated that the litigation was over.
As a result, the current status of the original dispute is that it was resolved, rather than remaining an active lawsuit seeking a new jury award.
Erin Andrews Lawsuit Timeline
| Date | Event |
| 2008 | Andrews was secretly recorded in a Nashville hotel room |
| 2009 | Barrett pleaded guilty to stalking-related charges |
| 2016 | Andrews’ civil case went to trial |
| March 2016 | Jury awarded Andrews $55 million |
| April 2016 | Andrews settled with hotel-related defendants |
| 2016 | Settlement terms remained confidential |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much was Erin Andrews’ lawsuit?
The jury awarded Andrews $55 million in March 2016.
How much did Erin Andrews actually receive?
The amount of the later settlement with the hotel defendants was not publicly disclosed.
Who did Erin Andrews sue?
The litigation involved Michael David Barrett and hotel-related defendants, including West End Hotel Partners and Windsor Capital Group. Marriott-related entities were also involved in related litigation.
Why did Erin Andrews sue Marriott?
The lawsuit alleged that the hotel and related parties failed to protect her privacy and that hotel procedures contributed to Barrett being able to stay next to her room.
Was Erin Andrews’ lawsuit a class action?
No. It was an individual civil lawsuit.
Did Erin Andrews win her case?
A jury awarded her $55 million. She subsequently settled with the hotel defendants for an undisclosed amount.
Is the Erin Andrews lawsuit still active?
The original litigation was resolved through the subsequent settlement with the hotel defendants.
Did the hotel admit wrongdoing?
The confidential settlement should not be treated as an admission of liability by the hotel defendants.
Bottom Line
Erin Andrews won a $55 million jury verdict in 2016 after suing over a secret hotel-room recording, but she later settled with the hotel defendants for an undisclosed amount. The case was not a class action and is no longer an active lawsuit.