Sexual trafficking is a crime that most people associate with impoverished countries or inner cities. However, these incidents happen just about anywhere, and much of the activities related to trafficking take place in hotels and motels. It makes sense, considering the anonymity that hotels provide. You can rent a room by the hour, or for weeks at a time. There are places that allow you to pay in cash, so there’s no trace of the paper trail of the person that’s renting the room.
As a victim of hotel sex trafficking, you may have grounds to sue the business owner for monetary damages, not just the people that held you hostage and forced you to engage in sexual acts. This is based on the laws in California that hold hotel owners liable if they knew about or failed to recognize the signs of sex trafficking on the premises. Hotel owners must also provide training to their staff members so that they can talk to their supervisor or contact the police if they suspect that someone at the hotel is trafficking humans for illicit purposes.
For more information on your right to file a sex trafficking lawsuit against a motel or hotel, contact our office at your earliest convenience. The attorneys of Normandie Law Firm have many years of experience in sexual assault and abuse lawsuits, and we are more than ready to fight for you and the compensation you deserve.
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Red Flags that Point to Sexual Trafficking at a Hotel
As we mentioned before, California laws requires employers to provide training to hotel and motel employees on recognizing the signs of human trafficking. Those who are being trafficked may:
- Be under constant supervision, meaning they are not free to walk around or come and go as they please
- Appear to be sleep-deprived, malnourished, and/or have poor hygiene
- Have unusual injuries on a frequent basis, like burns, cuts, black eyes, bruising, etc.
- Not have their own ID, cash, or credit / debit cards
- Dress in a flashy or revealing manner, or in clothes that are inappropriate for their age
- Flirt with and solicit male guests and visitors in the hotel lobby, restaurant, bar, etc.
- Wait at a particular location (at the bar, for example) around the same time each day to be picked up a by someone (most likely, the trafficker)
- Have card swipers, along with phones, laptops, tablets and other devices in the room at all times
- Try to take money or food off tables or ask guests and workers for food
- Frequent requests for room service, but staff are never allowed to enter the room
- Have requests for housekeeping service or room service without ever allowing staff to enter the room
- Very few possessions in the room, in spite of the room being rented for multiple days or weeks in a row
While one of these factors do not necessarily point to sex trafficking, it’s essential to contact the authorities where there are multiple red flags. Not doing so is against the law, and that fail in their duty to file a police report can be sued by the victim for pain and suffering, emotional distress, medical expenses, and other types of compensation.
Can I Sue for being Sex Trafficked at a Hotel or Motel?
Yes, you can sue a hotel if the owners and/or staff failed to report witnessed incidents or allegations of sex trafficking on the property. Hotels and motels can also be sued if there were clear signs of trafficking activity that they chose to ignore or failed to recognize.
The duty to identity and report human trafficking is a legal requirement for hotels in California, so there are legal actions you can against the business if you were sexually trafficked. Our law firm is here to educate you on your rights and legal options, contact our legal team as soon as possible.
What is the Deadline to Sue a Hotel for Sex Trafficking?
As with any lawsuit, victims have a specific amount of time to file a sex trafficking at a hotel lawsuit. The laws in California (California Civil Code Section 52.5 (c)) state that the statute of limitations to sue for sex trafficking at hotels is 7 years when it comes to adult victims. Keep in mind that the 7-year window starts from the day that the victim is freed from the trafficking situation.
Now, let’s look at the SOL for hotel failure to report sex trafficking lawsuits that involve minors, or individuals under the age of 18. In these situations, the victim has 10 years from the date of being freed from trafficking to file a compensation claim. The statute of limitations does not begin until the victim is an adult, so that means you have until your 28th birthday for a lawsuit if you were trafficked as a minor.
Alternatively, they can file a lawsuit within 10 years of when they discover, or reasonably should have discovered the psychological damage and/or physical injuries that resulted from sex trafficking. The discovery of abuse-related injuries is something that can take years for someone that was taken advantage of as a child. Thus, many people that were trafficked as minors may be eligible for a lawsuit, even if they are past the normal statute of limitations.
To learn how much time you have for a lawsuit against a hotel owner that failed to report sex trafficking, call us today and speak to one of our legal experts.
Talk to a Hotel Sex Trafficking Lawsuit Attorney
The physical and emotional scars of sex trafficking can stay with a victim for the rest of their lives. However, it’s possible to work through the trauma and move forward with your life in a positive direction. Compensation goes a long way towards helping victims with their medical needs and other areas of their life. This is why we are driven to fight for those who were trafficked at hotels, motels, and resorts throughout California.
Part of our commitment to you includes the Zero Fee Guarantee, which allows you to hire a sexual trafficking lawyer for $0. We take your case on contingency and agree to receive a percentage of your settlement, so that means we only get paid by winning your case. This is to ensure that your finances are not affected, no matter the outcome.
Please reach out to us today and schedule a free case evaluation with a lawyer who can help you file a hotel sex trafficking liability claim.
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