Sex Trafficking Hotel

A wave of federal litigation under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) targets hotel chains for allegedly enabling sex trafficking by ignoring overt warning signs. In December 2025, Andreozzi + Foote filed suit in the Harrisburg–Hershey region naming Holiday Inn Express, Best Western, Marriott properties, and others, alleging staff witnessed daily cash rentals, bruised victims, and trafficker surveillance yet continued renting rooms. This follows a confidential June 2024 settlement by Red Roof Inns mid-trial in the first hotel sex trafficking case to reach a jury, overseen by Judge Victoria Calvert in the Northern District of Georgia (case filed 2020). At least 42 federal lawsuits are pending against Red Roof Inn across 39 states, with hundreds more victims preparing claims.

MDL No. 3104 (In re: Hotel Industry Sex Trafficking Litigation (No. II)) was created January 2024 and remains active before Chief Judge Algenon L. Marbley in the S.D. Ohio. The MDL succeeded after the JPML denied the first consolidation attempt (MDL 2928) in February 2020. Recent rulings continue to shape beneficiary liability theories under 18 U.S.C. §1595, with courts split on franchisor knowledge standards.

Approximately 1,000 represented survivors in Red Roof Inn litigation alone; 115 properties across 39 states implicated. TVPRA claims proliferating against major chains including Wyndham, Choice, Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, Best Western, Extended Stay America, InterContinental. MDL No. 2928 denied Feb. 5, 2020 (433 F. Supp. 3d 1353); cases proceeding in individual districts with varying SOL windows.

• Georgia — Smyrna/Atlanta

  Red Roof Inn Corporate Plaza (Smyrna) and North Druid Hills Road (Atlanta). First sex trafficking lawsuit against national hotel brand to reach trial; settled mid-trial June 2024 with 11 plaintiffs. U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Judge Victoria Calvert. Original complaint filed 2020. Evidence: open-air prostitution market, security guards partying with traffickers, 'NO REFUNDS AFTER 15 MINUTES' policy, excessive linen requests, used condom volumes.

• Ohio — Southern District

  In re Hotel TVPRA Litig., 35 cases consolidated for venue review before Magistrate Judge Elizabeth P. Deavers. April 25, 2023 order lifted stays; venue improper in S.D. Ohio for plaintiffs trafficked outside district. Cases transferred or dismissed for improper venue. Representative dockets: 2:22-cv-1924, 2:22-cv-2682, 2:22-cv-2690, 2:22-cv-2734, 2:22-cv-3080, 2:22-cv-3256, 2:22-cv-3258, 2:22-cv-3340, 2:22-cv-3416, 2:22-cv-3766 through 2:22-cv-3773, 2:22-cv-3774, 2:22-cv-3776, 2:22-cv-3778, 2:22-cv-3782, 2:22-cv-3784, 2:22-cv-3786, 2:22-cv-3787, 2:22-cv-3788, 2:22-cv-3797, 2:22-cv-3798, 2:22-cv-3799, 2:22-cv-3811, 2:22-cv-3837, 2:22-cv-3839, 2:22-cv-3842, 2:22-cv-3844, 2:22-cv-3845, 2:22-cv-3846.

• California — Stockton

  J.M. v. Choice Hotels Int'l, No. 2:22-cv-00672-KJM-JDP (E.D. Cal. Oct. 17, 2022). Trafficking Feb.-Apr. 2012 at Stockton Rodeway Inn and Stockton Red Roof Inn. Plaintiff forced to solicit buyers in parking lot; staff witnessed pleas for help, bruises, cigarette burns. Court denied motion to dismiss TVPRA claim against franchisors Choice Hotels and Red Roof Inns.

• Maryland — Aberdeen/Havre de Grace/Edgewood

  Active litigation filed February 2026 in U.S. District Court in Baltimore. Seven Maryland hotels: Budget Inn (Pulaski Highway, Havre de Grace), Budget Inn (South Philadelphia Boulevard, Aberdeen), Days Inn (West Bel Air Avenue, Aberdeen), Super 8 (Beards Hill Road, Aberdeen), Travelodge (West Bel Air Avenue, Aberdeen), Motel 6 (Edgewood Road, Edgewood). Trafficking 2013-2016; Travelodge employee allegedly exploited victim's trafficked status for sex. One Pennsylvania hotel also named: Motel 6 (Arsenal Road, York).

• National — 39 states, 115+ Red Roof Inn locations

  The Independent investigation July 2024: 115 Red Roof Inn properties across 39 states named by survivors; 42+ federal lawsuits active. Attorney Steven Babin representing close to 1,000 victims. Customer reviews mention prostitution at 176 properties. Red Roof Inn operates approximately 624 U.S. properties.

TVPRA claims against hotels now carry substantial verdict exposure; equitable tolling doctrine expands federal filing windows when trafficking was ongoing. State law claims may provide longer or unlimited windows in Connecticut, Delaware, and California (post-2024). Screen for federal claims first where trafficking occurred at branded hotel properties.