Sex Trafficking Survivor Sues Hotel for Turning Blind Eye. This Happens More Than You Might Think.
An anonymous Minnesota woman has initiated legal action against the operators of a hotel, accusing them of turning a blind eye to her sex trafficking ordeal when she was a teenager. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, alleges that staff at the Brooklyn Center Super 8 Hotel not only ignored the illegal activities but also provided additional accommodations to facilitate the traffickers' operations.
T.S.’s Tragic Tale
The plaintiff, now 26 and identified in court documents as “T.S.,” claims she was ensnared by traffickers at the age of 15. The traffickers allegedly deceived her with false promises of care, only to kidnap her, post online advertisements, and force her into commercial sex work for their financial gain.
T.S. alleges that, as a minor, she was forced into commercial sex acts at the Brooklyn Center Super 8 Hotel, just outside of the Twin Cities. She claims that between August and December of 2013, she was coerced into this work under constant threats of violence, and was compelled to engage in increasingly degrading acts.
At the time that T.S. was allegedly trafficked, the Super 8 hotel was owned and operated by Sarah Hospitality, Inc. (SHI), which was a franchisee of Wyndham Hotels. T.S. claims that the hotel staff were aware that a minor was being prostituted in one of their rooms. Despite recognizing the "red flags" of sex trafficking, she claims, the staff did not intervene. Her legal complaint claims that managers admitted that they suspected that commercial sex involving a minor was occurring in Room 262, where T.S. was held.
The hotel staff did not report these suspicions to corporate officials or law enforcement, as required by Wyndham's policies. Quite the contrary, they allegedly facilitated the traffickers by renting rooms without demanding legal identification, accepting cash payments, and providing extra towels to clean up after illicit activities.
TVPRA and Masha’s Law
You might be wondering why this case isn’t a criminal one, as is often the case with sexual misconduct, particularly if it involves sex trafficking and/or minors. T.S. is seeking to hold both SHI and Wyndham liable for her injuries under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) and Masha’s Law. These provide the right to civil actions.
The TVPRA is a comprehensive federal law aimed at combating human trafficking both domestically and internationally. It provides tools to prosecute traffickers, offers protection and assistance to victims, and supports prevention efforts through public awareness campaigns and international initiatives. Victims can recover under the Act by pursuing civil remedies against their traffickers. The statute allows survivors like T.S. to file lawsuits in federal court for damages, including compensation for their suffering, lost wages, and other financial losses. Additionally, the Act provides for restitution and legal fees. Victims can also access various support services, such as medical care, housing, and legal assistance, through programs funded by the TVPRA.
Similarly, Masha's Law allows victims of certain federal crimes, including sex trafficking, to bring a civil lawsuit for damages. Specifically, it provides that any person who, while a minor, was a victim of a violation of federal laws related to sexual exploitation and abuse (here, sex trafficking), and who suffers personal injury as a result of such violation, may sue in federal court. The law allows for the recovery of damages of $150,000 plus legal costs.
One of Many
T.S.’s attorney emphasized the severity of the situation, noting that T.S. was forced to endure repeated torment and increasingly depraved acts under the constant threat of violence. But Wyndham Defendants have denied the allegations, stating they lacked sufficient knowledge or information to confirm whether T.S. was a victim of sex trafficking.
T.S’s case is far from the first such allegation or legal action against hotel chains, including Wyndham but also others. Earlier this year, for example, an Arizona woman filed a similar sex trafficking lawsuit against a few big hotel chains, alleging staff ignored clear signs of her exploitation. That complaint names Wyndham and Super8, too, along with Ramada, Hilton, and others.
That and T.S.’s case joins hundreds of similar lawsuits nationwide, accusing hotel operators of prioritizing profits over safety by failing to prevent sex trafficking. Earlier this year, lawyers for numerous alleged sex trafficking victims sought to centralize over 50 lawsuits against various hotel chains.
Unfortunately for the victims, the judge denied the request for consolidation into a multi-district litigation. He cited reasons such as the lack of common defendants and the complex and varied nature of the cases, suggesting that centralizing might not add the efficiency that was hoped for. So, for now, victims like T.S. are on their own in their legal battle against hotel giants.
Related Resources:
- Human Trafficking and Slavery (FindLaw's Learn About the Law)
- Sex Crimes (FindLaw's Learn About the Law)
- Independent Prosecutors Now Handle Military Sex Crimes (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)