Sex trafficking is a crime where victims are forced to perform sex acts for money via coercion, force, or fraud. Adults, as well as minors, can be targeted by sexual traffickers, who often go after individuals in vulnerable situations. This includes people who are struggling with drug and/or alcohol addiction, the homeless, migrant workers, and teens from backgrounds of abuse and neglect.
Human trafficking often takes place in hotels or motels, where it’s easy to conceal victims and keep them locked up for weeks, months, or years at a time. This is why the California Legislature requires owners of hotels to train their staff on recognizing the signs of sexual trafficking and contacting the authorities to initiate an investigation. If the hotel fails in their duty to report incidents, suspicions, or allegations of sexual trafficking, they can be sued by the victim for monetary compensation.
Those who were sex trafficked have many questions about their rights, including “How long do I have to file a sexual trafficking at hotels or motels lawsuit?” Our law firm is here 24/7, and we are more than ready to guide you through the legal process if you were sex trafficked at a hotel. Please contact us today for a free, confidential case review.
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Deadline to File a Failure to Report Sex Trafficking at a Hotel Lawsuit
No matter what type of lawsuit you are filing, there is a deadline that’s imposed by the court system. If you wait too long and exceed the statute of limitations for a lawsuit, you will lose the right to sue the hotel for monetary damages.
The time limit to file a lawsuit for hotel failure to report sex trafficking is established under California Civil Code Section 52.5, which states that a legal action must be brought within 7 years “of the date on which the trafficking victim was freed from the trafficking situation.” If the claimant was a minor at the time they were trafficked (younger than 18), the statute of limitations is “10 years after the date the plaintiff attains the age of majority.”
So, if you were a minor when you were trafficked for the purpose of commercial sex acts, you have until the age of 28 to seek restitution from the hotel owner. This is based on the fact that the age of majority in California is 18, so adding 10 years to that number means you have until your 28th birthday to file a hotel sexual trafficking claim.
While these are the basic guidelines, it’s essential that you confirm the amount of time you have for a lawsuit with a hotel sex trafficking lawsuit attorney. There are situations where the deadline may be extended due to extenuating circumstances, like imprisonment or being mentally or physically incapacitated.
If a hotel or motel owner failed to report witnessed accounts or suspicious circumstances that indicate sex trafficking, our law firm is ready to take immediate action on your behalf. Contact our law firm and learn about your legal options from a hotel liability for sex trafficking lawsuit attorney.
Contact Normandie Law Firm
The legal experts of Normandie have been fighting for the rights of sexual abuse victims for several decades. We know that these incidents cause lifelong trauma to victims and their loved ones, and at the end of the day, no amount of money can erase the past or make up for what you went through. However, there is no denying that human trafficking victims end up with medical expenses and other monetary losses as a direct result of sexual exploitation and assault. Our goal is to bring you every penny you deserve, while ensuring that the hotel does not get away with negligence and failure to comply with the law.
We provide a Zero Fee Guarantee for all sex trafficking victims, so you won’t be asked to pay a single cent out of pocket. Our demands to the party you are suing include legal fees, meaning it’s the hotel that pays us as a part of your settlement from a successful lawsuit. If we don’t win your lawsuit, there’s nothing for you to pay, so there is never any risk to your finances.
To learn more about suing a hotel or motel for failing to report sex trafficking on the premises, contact us right away and schedule a free case evaluation.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Is a Hotel Liable for Sexual Assault on Its Premises?
How Long Do I have to File a Sex Trafficking Lawsuit against a Hotel?
Hotel Liability for Sex Trafficking – Lawyer for Sexual Abuse Victims