On November 19, 2003, Berman attempted suicide in Nashville by consuming crack cocaine, alcohol and tranquillisers. When he was discovered by his wife Cassie, he refused hospitalization and instead demanded to be brought to the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel (the location where Vice President Al Gore had stayed for two weeks during the 2000 election recounts). At the front desk, Berman demanded (and received) the "Al Gore suite"; while riding the elevator up to the room, told the bellhop, "I want to die where the presidency died!" He was eventually taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.