AP
Sportscaster and television host Erin Andrews with attorney Scott Carr as they wait for the jury to enter the courtroom before closing arguments on March 4 in Nashville, Tennessee.
A Tennessee jury found that Michael David Barrett, the man who filmed the video and pleaded guilty to stalking Andrews in 2009, was 51% responsible for the emotional distress on her, and that the Nashville Marriott, the hotel, was 49% responsible.
They were ordered to pay $28 million and $27 million, respectively, totaling a $55 million settlement for Andrews. Barrett was responsible for the criminal act, and the hotel for sharing Andrews' information and allowing Barrett to get a room next to hers.
But according to reports on Tuesday, Andrews may not see most of that $55 million.
First, Barrett is unlikely to be able to pay the $28 million for which he's responsible. After legal fees, he may have to file for bankruptcy. CNN reports that Andrews could attach a percentage to his future earnings, but that it may not be worth it for Andrews to continue to seek money from him.
It's more complicated on the hotel end. It is likely to file for an appeal, in which judges could decide to lower the payment. According to CNN, in cases like this, the two sides may negotiate a settlement before the appellate court rules.
As CNBC notes, an appeal could go two ways. They could increase the payment and make the hotel solely responsible, in which case the Nashville Marriott may not be able to pay the full $55 million and thus go to bankruptcy court. Or they could lessen the payment, arguing that the hotel couldn't have known that it would have been fooled by Barrett, to get Andrews' hotel-room information, and know that he would film her.
Thus, a settlement between the two sides could be likely and could lessen what Andrews gets. Additionally, CNN says that Andrews' lawyers likely took the case on contingency, so they will receive part of the settlement. Andrews also has to pay her legal fees.
CNN says that the settlement and what Andrews receives will likely still be a multimillion-dollar deal, but the payout may not be close to $55 million and could end up being far less than half of the amount awarded.