Day on Torts
It was reported several months ago that nude videos of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews were circulating on the Internet. The pictures were taken in several hotels. The man accused of taking the videos, Michael David Barrett, has been arrested.
It turns out that a majority of the videos were taken at the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University. Apparently, the photographer was able to learn which room Ms. Andrews was staying in and was able to rent a room next door. He allegedly modified the peep hole in the room to be able to video Ms. Andrews. Read more in The Tennessean.
Several interesting questions arise in the mind of the reasonably prudent tort lawyer. First, how was Mr. Barrett (or whoever took the videos) able to learn Ms. Andrews’ room number? Most hotels will not give anyone, even an alleged spouse, the room number of a guest. Indeed, most hotels will not even announce your room number when you check in, preferring instead to write it on the inside of document that holds the card key that permits you to enter your room. I wonder how Mr. Barrett (or whoever) was able to obtain the room number of a celebrity?