⚖️ Jordon Hudson sues over video; Andrews won $55M, Hogan $140M
Gawker settled Hogan's $140M verdict for $31M. McDevitt told the California Post she has "no comment" on Hudson's suit.
By Mr Scandal, editor at large · Desk editor Gustavs Ērkšķis-Kreicbergs · · 4 min read
ON RECORDPhoto: David Shankbone · CC BY 3.0What we know
- Jordon Hudson filed suit in Massachusetts on Friday, November 6 against Elise McDevitt and Craig Nolan, claiming invasion of privacy and breach of contract, per court documents obtained by the Daily Mail.
- Hudson seeks damages according to proof at trial, attorneys' fees and an order barring the defendants from sharing her private information; the reports read state no dollar figure.
- McDevitt told the California Post she has "no comment" on the lawsuit.
- In March 2016 a jury awarded Erin Andrews $55 million over a video secretly recorded through her hotel-room peephole, ABC News reported.
- A Florida jury awarded Hulk Hogan $115 million against Gawker in March 2016, plus $25 million in punitive damages, and Gawker settled with him for $31 million in November 2016, per The New York Times.
Jordon Hudson, 25, sued Elise McDevitt and Craig Nolan in Massachusetts on Friday, November 6, over Ring camera footage of a shirtless Bill Belichick, according to court documents obtained by the Daily Mail and the California Post. The suit claims invasion of privacy and breach of contract. McDevitt told the California Post she has "no comment." The reports read include no response from Nolan.
The complaint alleges that on the final night of a four-night stay in June 2023, McDevitt texted Hudson the video with a note about parking. It says Hudson asked repeatedly for it to be deleted, and that McDevitt replied: "We will delete it from ring, but as you know, unfortunately, videos are never totally deleted." The suit says the footage went viral months later. It also says McDevitt wrote in 2025 that "we didn't release the video," while adding that the couple had sent it to a few people initially. Hudson seeks damages according to proof at trial, attorneys' fees and an order barring the defendants from disseminating her private information.
None of that is decided. Two earlier fights over secretly recorded or leaked footage did reach verdicts, and the awards are on record.
The earlier cases, with the money
Erin Andrews: a $55 million jury verdict
A jury awarded Erin Andrews $55 million in March 2016 over a video secretly recorded through her hotel-room peephole in 2008. She had asked for $75 million from the hotel's owner and operator and from Michael David Barrett, who made the recording. Jurors put 51 percent of the fault on Barrett, who was required to pay more than $28 million, and 49 percent on West End Hotel Partners, which was asked to pay more than $26 million, ABC News reported. The hotel side said Barrett's criminal actions were his responsibility, and its lawyer said they were "disappointed."
See the receipt (opens in a new tab)Barrett: 2½ years in prison before the civil case
Barrett pleaded guilty to interstate stalking and was sentenced on March 15, 2010 to 2½ years in prison, ESPN reported. The judge, Manuel Real, said it was the maximum under the law. Barrett was also ordered to pay $5,000 in fines and $7,366 in restitution. At the later civil trial, a computer scientist called by Andrews's lawyers estimated that 16.8 million people had seen images from the video, Sports Illustrated reported.
See the receipt (opens in a new tab)Hogan sues the friend and the website
Hulk Hogan, whose legal name is Terry Bollea, filed two lawsuits on October 15, 2012 over a sex tape: one naming Bubba the Love Sponge Clem and Heather Clem, one against Gawker Media for posting an edited portion. Clem's lawyer, Stephen Diaco, told the New York Daily News that Clem is "a victim here too" and would never intentionally hurt Hogan. Gawker said it received the footage on a burned DVD from an anonymous source who wanted no payment.
See the receipt (opens in a new tab)Hogan v. Gawker: $115 million, then $140 million
On March 18, 2016 a Florida jury awarded Hogan $115 million in damages against Gawker over publication of the tape, The New York Times reported. Gawker founder Nick Denton and former editor A.J. Daulerio were found personally liable. A jury later added $25 million in punitive damages, bringing the total to $140 million. Gawker's lawyers had argued the post was a legitimate scoop and valued it at $11,000, The Guardian reported, and Denton said Gawker expected to win on appeal.
See the receipt (opens in a new tab)Gawker: bankruptcy, a sale and a $31 million settlement
Gawker Media filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2016 and sold itself to Univision for $135 million in August. On November 2, 2016 it settled with Hogan for $31 million, according to court documents cited by The New York Times. Peter Thiel had acknowledged financing the suit. Denton wrote that "all-out legal war with Thiel would have cost too much," and Hogan's lawyer David Houston said all parties had agreed "it is time to move on."
See the receipt (opens in a new tab)"All-out legal war with Thiel would have cost too much, and hurt too many people, and there was no end in sight."
Nick Denton, Gawker founder, in a November 2, 2016 blog post quoted by The New York Times
| Case | Defendants | Where it stands on record | Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erin Andrews | Michael David Barrett; hotel owner and manager | Jury verdict, March 2016 | $55M awarded of $75M sought; fault split 51% Barrett, 49% hotel side |
| Hulk Hogan | Gawker Media, Nick Denton, A.J. Daulerio | Jury verdicts, 2016; settled November 2016 | $140M total awarded; $31M settlement |
| Jordon Hudson | Elise McDevitt, Craig Nolan | Filed November 6, 2026; allegations only | Damages according to proof; no figure in reports read |
Mr Scandal will note only this: in both earlier cases a jury put a number on the footage. Hudson's complaint was filed three days ago, and everything in it is her side of the timeline.
Quick quiz · 3 questions
By the numbers
- 6 yrsfrom first to latest entry on record
- 12receipts behind this story
Earlier on file: Hulk Hogan won $140M against Gawker with Thiel's backing
The Erin Andrews file
- Ruled
A jury awarded Erin Andrews $55M in her suit over a secret hotel recording, ABC News reported. This story
- Ruled
Michael David Barrett, who recorded Andrews, was sentenced to 2½ years for interstate stalking, ESPN reported. This story
On file: The Erin Andrews file · The Gawker file · The Hulk Hogan file
The Ledger
On the record
- Hudson filed suit on November 6 in Massachusetts; juries awarded Andrews $55M and Hogan $140M in total, and Gawker settled with Hogan for $31M.
Still rumour
- Hudson's claims are unproven, and the reports read include no response from Nolan and only "no comment" from McDevitt.
- The documents read do not confirm whether the hotel side appealed, or how much Andrews ultimately collected.
That's the record. The rest is rumour. - Mr Scandal
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