Human trafficking is a crime in which someone is forced or manipulated into a situation where they provide labor or services, including commercial sex acts. Many people associated sexual trafficking with inner cities and third world countries, but there are countless cases in the U.S. where children and adults are trafficked by pimps and other predatory individuals.
Most activities involved with trafficking occur in hotels and motels, and this is a disturbingly common problem in the state of California. The truth is, many hotel owners turn a blind eye as traffickers bring victims and “johns” onto the premises. For the right amount of money, they will “forget” to check IDS or obtain credit cards for room deposits. This way, there is no paper trail of the traffickers as they move on from one motel to another.
If you were sexually trafficked at a hotel, motel, or resort, you may be eligible for a lawsuit against the hotel, along with criminal prosecution against the traffickers. Your right to sue is based on the laws in California, which require hotel owners to report witnessed accounts, accusations, or suspected activity that indicates sexual trafficking. In addition, they must train their employees on the signs of sex trafficking, so they can notify management of possible trafficking on the property.
To learn more about suing for a hotel or motel’s failure to report sex trafficking, reach out to the sexual abuse lawyers of Normandie Law Firm. We are ready to answer your questions and help you develop a plan of action, which may include a lawsuit against the hotel owner. For a free case evaluation with a hotel sexual trafficking attorney, contact us today.
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Hotel Liability for Sex Trafficking under California Law
Section 52.5 of California’s Senate Bill 970 outlines the responsibilities that hotel owners have when it comes to sex trafficking or activities that point to human trafficking for commercial sex purposes.
Owners of hotels and similar lodgings musty provide a training session of at least 20 minutes to employees that have direct interactions with guests and visitors, like maids, janitors, bar and restaurant workers, and front desk clerks. This training should go over the signs to look out for and how to report sex trafficking to the authorities. Signs that indicate the possibility of human trafficking include, but are not limited to:
- Guests that appear to be supervised or monitored at all times
- Rooms with little to no personal belongings, even though someone has been staying there for days or weeks
- Individuals with poor hygiene, signs of illness / injury, malnourishment or sleep deprivation
- Minors that are dressed inappropriately, especially if they are seen approaching male guests
- Taking money and food from tables, or asking guests / hotel workers for food
- Multiple rooms being reserved by the same guest on a frequent basis
- Rooms have sex paraphernalia and multiple electronic devices (and possibly a card swiper)
- Staff are never allowed to enter the room, though there are regular requests for room service and housekeeping
Can I Sue the Hotel for Sex Trafficking?
Yes, you can sue the hotel where you were trafficked if they failed to contact the police when there were clear indications of sex trafficking. Hotels owners have a legal duty to learn the signs of human trafficking among their guests. They must also train their employees on this information so they can keep an eye out for anyone that may be trafficked for sexual purposes. Thus, if there is a failure by the hotel to spot the signs of trafficking activity and report them to the authorities, they may be liable for the victim’s physical and emotional injuries. If you would like to learn more about your right to sue for being sex trafficked at a hotel, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
How Much Time Do I have for a Lawsuit?
Like any lawsuit, claims involving hotel liability for sex trafficking have a statute of limitations, or the deadline by which the lawsuit must be filed. According to California Civil Code Section 52.5 (c), those who were sex trafficked have 7 years from when they are freed from the trafficking situation to file a claim with the civil court. In the event the victim was a minor when they were trafficked, the deadline is extended to 10 years. Keep in mind, however, that the SOL for child sexual trafficking does not begin until the victim reaches the age of adulthood. Thus, minors who were trafficked have until their 28th birthday to file a hotel failure to report sex trafficking lawsuit.
In some cases, the time limit to sue for hotel sex trafficking can be extended, which is particularly important for cases involving underage victims. In these situations, the SOL may be tolled if the victim has a delayed realization of the harm they suffered from sexual trafficking. Essentially, the 10 year period can start from when the victim discovers, or reasonably should have discovered, the psychological and/or physical injuries they sustained from being sex trafficked.
This is a complex issue that requires input from an experienced sex abuse lawsuit attorney. To ensure that you file your lawsuit within the correct window of time, contact our office as soon as possible.
Contact Normandie Law Firm
Human trafficking takes place on a regular basis in many hotels and motels in our county, and there is no easy solution for how to combat this problem. However, there are laws in place to hold hotel owners responsible when they allow such activity to take place on their property. As a victim of sex trafficking, you may be entitled to monetary damages, which we can help you obtain.
There is no need to worry about the cost of hiring a sex trafficking lawsuit lawyer. All of our attorneys work on contingency, so we only get paid by winning your case and receiving a percentage of your settlement award. Plus, we provide you with a Zero Fee Guarantee, so you will not be charged for any legal fees if we don’t succeed in bringing your compensation from a hotel sexual trafficking lawsuit.
Please take a moment to contact our law firm and talk to a lawyer who can help you file a failure to report sex trafficking at a hotel or motel lawsuit.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Sexual Trafficking at Hotels and Motels Lawsuit Attorney
How Long Do I have to File a Sex Trafficking at Hotels Lawsuit?
