Were you a victim of sex trafficking at a hotel? Contact our skilled attorneys for help.
Keches Law Group has filed a lawsuit against Choice Hotels International on behalf of a Massachusetts woman who alleges she was a victim of sex trafficking when she was held and exploited on their properties from 2016-2018.
Our lawsuit aims to hold Choice Hotels accountable for not only benefiting from and facilitating the actions of our client’s captors by failing to take effective measures to prevent or stop it, but that Choice ignored the obvious trafficking happening on their properties and were motivated only by profit.
“The hotel industry has long been aware of sex trafficking occurring on their properties and have chosen to profit off the venture rather than put reasonable measures in place to protect individuals and the community,” says Michael Glennon, lead attorney on the case. “Sex trafficking is more common than we’d like to believe, and the bravery of survivors like our client allow us to not only bring to light its existence but to advocate for industry-wide change.”
Which Hotels Does Choice Hotels Operate?
Headquartered in North Bethesda, Maryland, Choice Hotels is one of the largest hospitality brands in the world, with 22 brands and more than 7,400 hotel locations worldwide.
Choice’s brand portfolio includes familiar names like Radisson, Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, Econo Lodge, and Rodeway Inn, as well as many others. In 2023, the company’s revenue grew 10 percent to $1.5 billion.
In 2008, Choice Hotels adopted a Human Rights Policy that “condemns human trafficking and child exploitation and commits to raising awareness of this issue among the owners and staff of our franchised hotels.”
How are Choice Hotels Allegedly Responsible for Sex Trafficking?
Our client says Choice Hotels was aware not only of what was specifically happening to her, but also that sex trafficking was happening in their hotels in general. She says employees and staff at Choice properties observed clear indications of trafficking, including frequent male visitors, excessive requests for towels, loud fighting and throwing of furniture, physical signs of abuse.
Police reports, news articles, customer complaints and negative reviews were all available for Choice to review. The hotel chain has faced multiple lawsuits in the past related to sex trafficking at their locations, including a decades long claim in Ohio in 2022 and another suit in Houston in 2020.
Given how well-documented the issue of sex trafficking is, our stance is that Choice should have been generally aware of the practice and taken steps to address it.
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Our Client’s Story
From 2016-2018, our client was held by an abuser and moved from location to location, being controlled by her traffickers through alcohol, drugs, and violence. Day after day, she was forced to engage in sex acts with strangers for money, against her will, equating to repeated instances of rape, often more than once per day.
She eventually escaped, and she’s spent considerable time trying to move on from her harrowing experience and rebuild her life.
Is Human Trafficking a Hotel Industry Issue?
Hotel and motel companies throughout the hospitality industry have made pledges and campaigns that suggest they are combatting trafficking, but limited changes have been implemented.
The complaint filed on behalf of our client alleges that the hospitality industry as a whole, including Choice Hotels, makes millions in profits by not properly addressing the issue.
It also alleges that there is a general failure to create, adopt and enforce policies and procedures to do something about the problem.
Signs of Sex Trafficking at a Hotel or Motel
Hotel and motel rooms are sold on the privacy and potential anonymity they allow for their customers, but this also makes them ideal locations for trafficking.
Customers
The Department of Homeland Security offers a list of signs for hotel teams to use to recognize potential signs of trafficking including individuals who show signs of:
In addition, hospitality workers should look out for individuals without apparent freedom of movement, no control over money or ID and may have inappropriate dress of lower quality clothing compared to the rest of their party.
Rooms
Hotel workers may notice housekeeping requests such as additional towels or linens but no entry into the room is allowed. Workers may also note extended stays with few or no personal possessions and excessive amounts of sex paraphernalia found in rooms.
Food and Beverage
Employees can look for individuals soliciting male patrons or just loitering in the dining area. Another indicator includes individuals asking staff for food or money, or taking cash or receipts left on tables.
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Attorney Michael Glennon Fights for Sex Trafficking Victims
Attorney Michael Glennon is an experienced litigator who has spent the last 15 years working to achieve justice for individuals who have been harmed. As a prosecutor, he led a team that handled juvenile sexual abuse cases and personally handled high profile cases of youth and adult sex crimes and other forms of victimization.
Since joining the Keches Law, he has fought to get financial compensation for survivors and individuals injured due to the negligence of others. Glennon has specialized knowledge and experience in working with individuals who have suffered incidents of violence, injury, and trauma, teaching others on the subject and writing a national guide for lawyers on how to approach cases involving significant trauma.
Glennon has filed cases against hotel brands on behalf of survivors of sex trafficking and exploitation and is part of a national coalition of attorneys seeking to consolidate sex trafficking litigation against the largest hotel chains in the world. He also handles cases involving construction site injuries, inadequate security, civil rights claims, premises liability, and other personal injuries.
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“I’ve spent my career trying to bring justice to people who have been harmed, and it’s a privilege to work with survivors like our client to get compensation for the harm that has been inflicted on her,” Glennon said.
Contact Keches Law if You’ve Been Through an Experience Like Our Client’s
Unfortunately, the harrowing experience our client was forced to endure isn’t an uncommon one. If you or someone you know was a victim of sex trafficking at a hotel, reach out to Keches Law Group right away.
Victims of nightmarish crimes like the ones our client lived through often feel powerless, but our experienced and skilled attorneys are here to demand accountability from those responsible for your traumatic experience.
Contact us today and let us walk you through each step of the process.
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