$55M award excessive in Erin Andrews case: Your Say

TV broadcaster Erin Andrews was awarded $55 million in a suit over secretly taken nude videos. The jury found her stalker, a hotel’s management group and its owner at fault. Letter to the editor:

The Andrews verdict against the hotel management group is a travesty. It would be like someone attempting suicide by driving their Ford Escape into another vehicle, then having that victim who was hit sue Ford (“Erin Andrews awarded $55 million in civil case over nude video”).

Is it a requirement for jurors these days to lose all their common sense before they deliberate?

Dave Kopelcheck; Danville, Pa.

POLICING THE USA: A look at race, justice, media

Comments from Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

Not doubting guilt on behalf of the stalker and hotel ownership, but $55 million? Come on. Andrews was violated, but it did not affect her ability to earn what she has since this crime happened, or what she might earn in the future. There wasn’t this much damage. What a legal shenanigan. Why can’t a more realistic award be provided in the first place to avoid an appeal process?

— Paul DeFlorio

I can’t believe people think she doesn’t deserve this award. It’s not even totally about the money, but sometimes you have to hit corporations where it hurts to get process and training in place. There is no way a hotel employee should accommodate someone who wants to stay near someone without checking with that person first.

— Jim Alba

I agree that $55 million far exceeds actual monetary damages, but the award wasn’t for actual damages. In any case, given that the perpetrator is on the hook for 51% of the award, I don’t see him being able to come up with much of it.

— Daniel Mocsny