美国女主播遭偷拍法院判赔5500万美元

Court Awards $55 Million to Secretly Taped Sportscaster 美国女主播遭偷拍法院判赔5500万美元

An American court has ordered several defendants¹ to pay a woman $55 million in damages connected to an online video.

Erin Andrews is a broadcaster of sports news. She was secretly videotaped without any clothes on at a hotel in Nashville, Tennessee in 2008. The video was posted on the Internet the next year.

A man, Michael David Barrett, was found guilty of stalking⁴ in connection with the act. A court sentenced him to 30 months in prison in 2010. However, the video continued to circulate online.

In 2015, Andrews took legal action against Nashville Marriott hotel, its partners and Barrett. She sought $75 million from the defendants.

Her lawyers said Marriott employees had informed Barrett that Andrews was staying at the hotel. They said he asked to have the room next to Andrews. Employees gave him that room.

He shot the video through a hole he made in a door that connected to her room. He said he released the video online for money.

Andrews’ lawyers said the hotel should have told her of Barrett’s request. They said Marriott should not have placed the man in the room next to her.

Andrews testified⁵ during the two-week trial. She said she felt “so ashamed” that the video of her naked was on the Internet.

Erin Andrews is expected to receive far less than the $55 awarded by the Tennessee court. Barrett is responsible for half the amount, which he does not have. The hotel and partners will appeal the amount and almost certainly be able to settle for lower damages.

Some experts have estimated that Andrews will end up with no more than six million dollars.

Words in This Story

stalk³ – v. to follow, watch or cause problems for a person in a way that is frightening and sometimes dangerous

circulate – v. to go or spread from one person or place to another

testify⁶ – v. to talk and answer questions about something, especially in a court of law

ashamed – adj. feeling guilt², regret, or sadness

naked – adj. not wearing any clothes: not covered by clothing

1 defendants   

被告( defendant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The courts heard that the six defendants had been coerced into making a confession. 法官审判时发现6位被告人曾被迫承认罪行。
• As in courts, the defendants are represented by legal counsel. 与法院相同，被告有辩护律师作为代表。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

2 guilt   

n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责

参考例句：

• She tried to cover up her guilt by lying.她企图用谎言掩饰自己的罪行。
• Don't lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork.别因为功课责备孩子而使他觉得很内疚。

3 stalk   

n.茎，追踪，高视阔步；v.悄悄靠近，蔓延，高视阔步

参考例句：

• It's no better than a hollow stalk.那比根空麦秆子好不了多少。
• It was not a stalk，it was an ambush.这不是暗暗跟踪而是伏袭。

4 stalking   

围捕，潜近；潜进

参考例句：

• He spent the weekend stalking deer in the Scottish highlands. 他周末在苏格兰高地追踪鹿的行踪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A British submarine was also stalking the Turkish supply-ship. 一艘英国潜艇也在追踪这艘土耳其补给船。 来自辞典例句

5 testified   

作证，证明( testify的过去式和过去分词 )； 证明，证实； 炳炳凿凿

参考例句：

• His look testified his guilt. 他的神态表明他有罪。
• Her red face testified to her guilt. 她脸红证明她内心有愧。

6 testify   

v.证明，证实，作证

参考例句：

• The fingerprint expert was asked to testify at the trial.指纹专家应邀出庭作证。
• I can testify to this man's veracity and good character.我可以作证，此人诚实可靠，品德良好。