Hotel Sex Trafficking Lawsuit

Sex trafficking lawsuits are being filed against hotels that profited by knowingly failing to stop the sexual exploitation of women and children.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting hotel sex trafficking induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know is a survivor of sex trafficking at hotels, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Sexual Abuse Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

UPDATE: Hotel Sex Trafficking Lawsuits

More than 1,700 lawsuits have already been filed nationwide against major hotel chains by the survivors of sex trafficking. All of these lawsuits claim that hotel chains knew their rooms were being used for sex trafficking, but failed to take basic steps to protect women and children from being exploited.

Judges May Centralize Hotel Sex Trafficking Lawsuits

Lawyers for hundreds of sex trafficking survivors are asking judges to centralize lawsuits into a federal Multi-District Litigation (MDL) against major chains like Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Red Roof Inn, Econolodge, and many others. These lawsuits accuse hotel staff of intentionally ignoring obvious signs of sex abuse, and sometimes even participating in the abuse in exchange for rooms.

Signs of Sex Trafficking in Hotels

Here are a few examples of signs of sex trafficking at hotels that employees should notice:

Unusual foot traffic in and out of the rooms
Individuals showing signs of malnourishment, poor hygiene, fatigue, untreated illness, bruises or injuries, submissive or unusual behavior
Individuals without money or ID
Individuals who dress highly inappropriately (especially for their age)
Having little or no luggage
Sex paraphernalia in the room (condoms, lubricant, lotion, etc.)
Asking hotel staff for repeated changes of sheets, towels, etc.

Sex Trafficking Lawsuits and TVPRA

Hotel sex trafficking lawsuits accuses hotels of violating The Trafficking Victims Protections Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), which allow sex trafficking survivors to file lawsuits against anyone who knowingly benefited from their exploitation.

Econolodge Sex Trafficking Lawsuit

In February 2024, a sex trafficking lawsuit was filed against Econolodge by a woman who claims that hotel employees failed to stop sexual exploitation and profited by allowing it to continue.

The anonymous woman, identified only as “B.B.,” claims that hotel employees knowingly allowed sex traffickers to rent their rooms, and failed to take basic steps to prevent the sexual exploitation of women.

B.B. claims that she was forced to perform commercial sex acts at an Econolodge in Northborough, Massachusetts in 2021 and 2022. She claims that she also had to provide sex services to hotel staff.

The Econolodge Sex Trafficking Lawsuit was filed on February 16, 2024 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts — Case Number 4:24-cv-40029-DHH.

What is the Problem?

Sex traffickers force victims to provide commercial sex to paying customers. The victims will either go to hotel rooms that are rented by customers, or stay in hotel rooms where customers come to them.

Sex traffickers commonly take advantage of the hotel industry. Hotels provide privacy and anonymity that sex traffickers need to operate discreetly. Hotel staff and guests may not realize what is happening behind closed doors — or if they do, it is rarely reported to police.

Ways Sex Traffickers Use To Force Victims Into Commercial Sex

Adult victims may be initially willing to engage in commercial sex. However, this is not relevant when the perpetrator uses force, fraud, or coercion to exploit the victim. It is also illegal for traffickers to use debt as a means to compel the victim to engage in commercial sex.

Child Sex Trafficking Is Always Illegal

Traffickers commonly target children because they are easy to manipulate. When a child under 18 years old is used for commercial sex, it is a crime regardless of whether there was any force involved, because children cannot legally consent to sex.

Examples of Popular Hotels in U.S.

Best Western
Comfort Inn
Days Inn
Econolodge
Embassy Suites
Hampton Inn
Hilton
Holiday Inn
Homewood Suites
Howard Johnson
Hyatt
La Quinta
Marriott
Motel 6
Omni Hotels & Resorts
Quality Inn
Radisson
Ramada
Red Roof Inns
Ritz-Carlton
Sheraton
SprinHill Suites
Super 8
Westin Hotels
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Can Sex Trafficking Survivors Get Money?

The California Victims Compensation Board will pay up to $20,000 to sex trafficking victims in California for income loss. “We compensate you for the income lost when a trafficker deprived you of your freedom. This applies to claims filed on or after January 1, 2020. Survivors of human trafficking may get compensated up to $10,000 per year of their trafficking experience, for a maximum of 2 years.”

Sex trafficking survivors may also be eligible for state and federal benefits, such as state-funded cash assistance (TCVAP) and refugee Medi-Cal. In California, CalVCB can also reimburse sex trafficking survivors for other expenses, such as medical, dental, mental health treatment, home security and relocation.

Do I have a Hotel Sex Trafficking Lawsuit Lawsuit?

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