The case filed by a TV personality against a Nashville hotel chain continued on Tuesday with a rather ghoulish assertion made from the defense team. According to the lawyers of Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University, Erin Andrews' career took off after her nude videos spread.
As reported by Page Six, the hearing continued on Tuesday, where Andrews was pressed by defense attorney Marc Dedman on whether or not her career had been negatively affected by the video. While on the stand, Dedman asked Andrews if the 2009 video had led to her "thriving" career; especially since it was able to earn 16 million views online.
The lawyer pointed out that when Andrews learned about the existence of the videos, she was working for ESPN as a sportscaster. After learning about the videos, Dedman alleged that Andrews had obtained a second, "better" contract from the company and was also offered a "better" contract by Fox Sports. To both questions, Andrews said yes.
Dedman, however, did not stop there. He pointed out that ever since 2009, Andrews had a string of endorsement deals from companies such as Reebok, Diet Mountain Dew, Degree deodorant, Victoria's Secret, and Florida Orange Juice.
Previously, Andrews sued Marriott International for $75 million for damages, after a stalker of hers was able to get a hotel room next to her and recorded footage of the sportscaster as she was naked in her room. In January, a Tennessee judge dismissed her claim against the hotel company, saying that it was no longer responsible for handling security at a franchisee. This has led Andrews to seek damages from the hotel's parent company, Windsor Capital Group, the hotel management, and Michael David Barrett; the man who secretly recorded the videos.
Throughout Tuesday's trial, Andrews gave a tearful testimony. On Washington Post's report, Andrews told the court that she would never get over the emotional distress this incident has caused her. Whenever she checks into a hotel, Andrews shares that she asks to have her room changed and to let her know if anyone asks what room she is in. The sportscaster admitted that she refuses to let anyone in her hotel room and even sweeps the room for any booby traps or cameras.
Prior to this trial, Andrews admitted that she was forced by ESPN to do an interview where she denied using the incident as a publicity stunt.
While Andrews' lawyers claim that the hotel was negligent for allowing Barrett to know what room she was in, as well as book a room right next to hers without letting her know about it. On the Tennessean, attorneys for the hotel and its management insisted that its employees never divulged information on where Andrews was staying. They insisted that the videos were purely Barrett's fault and that they had nothing to do with it.
