What the Erin Andrews Case Teaches About Privacy and Accountability in Hotels

Analysis from a Respected Sexual Assault Attorney Dedicated to Pursuing Justice on Behalf of Survivors

When television personality Erin Andrews became the victim of a horrifying act of voyeurism in 2008, few could have predicted how important her legal case would become for survivors of privacy violations and sexual abuse. The incident took place in a Nashville hotel where a stalker secretly recorded Andrews through a peephole in her door. The resulting video was later shared online without her consent, causing emotional trauma and irreparable harm.

If you have experienced a similar violation of privacy or safety in a hotel, you may have legal options. The Erin Andrews case demonstrated that survivors can pursue justice through civil litigation and that companies may be held accountable when they fail to provide basic protections.

What Happened in the Erin Andrews Case

The facts of the case were disturbing. A man followed Andrews to two hotels, including the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University. He requested a room next to hers, which hotel staff allowed without verifying his connection to her. He then modified the peephole in her door, secretly filmed her undressing, and uploaded the footage online.

Andrews later testified that she felt devastated, humiliated, and unsafe in public. The emotional toll lasted for years. She filed a civil lawsuit against the stalker, the hotel owner, and the hotel operator, alleging that their negligence allowed the invasion to occur.

A jury awarded Andrews $55 million in damages in 2016. While the stalker was found primarily responsible, the jury also held the hotel entities liable for their role in enabling the crime.

This case was a landmark not only because of the high-dollar verdict but also because it reinforced that hotels and other businesses have a duty to protect guest safety and privacy.

The Legal Claims That Made the Case Possible

Andrews’ case relied on several theories of liability that may also apply to other privacy or sexual assault cases. These included:

Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress

She claimed that the hotel’s actions caused severe emotional harm by allowing a foreseeable violation of her privacy.

Negligent Hiring, Training, or Supervision

The lawsuit alleged that staff failed to follow basic safety protocols, such as verifying why a man requested a room next to a lone female guest.

Premises Liability

Hotels must maintain a reasonably safe environment for guests. When foreseeable criminal conduct occurs because of a security lapse, the property owner may be held liable.

These same theories are often used in hotel sexual assault cases, where staff may allow unauthorized individuals to enter guest rooms or fail to respond to prior reports of suspicious behavior.

Why This Case Still Matters

The Erin Andrews verdict was a clear signal to hotels, landlords, and other property owners that guest safety is not optional. Companies cannot ignore obvious risks or skip basic procedures to save time. When they do, and someone is harmed as a result, they can be held financially and legally accountable.

This case also highlighted how deeply invasive crimes like voyeurism and unauthorized recording can be. Survivors often face years of distress, reputational harm, and fear. Like sexual abuse, these acts violate a person’s autonomy, sense of safety, and control over their body.

If something like this happened to you in a hotel or other commercial property, you may be able to file a lawsuit even if the police chose not to press charges. Civil law gives survivors a different path to recovery and accountability.

What You Can Do If Your Privacy Was Violated

Whether you experienced voyeurism, an assault, or another safety failure in a hotel, you do not have to stay silent. Civil claims can help you pursue compensation for therapy costs, lost income, and the emotional pain you continue to carry.

If your case involved multiple parties—such as a hotel, security firm, or online platform that hosted illegal content—your attorney can investigate each one and determine who should be included in the lawsuit. This process often uncovers internal records, employee emails, and surveillance footage that would never be released without legal pressure.

You may also want to explore whether your situation overlaps with other legal claims. For instance, if your case involved repeated failures by a business or school to respond to prior incidents, you might have a claim under our negligent security or sexual abuse in schools practice areas.

Talk to an Attorney Who Understands the Full Impact of These Violations

You deserve to be treated with dignity and taken seriously. The law provides you with tools to demand accountability, even when powerful companies are involved. A civil claim is not just about the money—it is about truth, closure, and preventing this from happening to someone else.

Our firm represents survivors of sexual abuse, privacy violations, and safety failures in hotels, schools, and other institutions. We understand the long-term impact these events have and know how to hold negligent companies accountable.

If you are ready to learn more, call us today at (615) 485-1584 for a confidential consultation. There is no pressure and no cost to speak with someone about your experience. You are not alone.