Plaintiffs in several sex trafficking lawsuits are attempting to combine their cases into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in Ohio.

Human Trafficking Victims Pursue Multidistrict Litigation

Plaintiffs in seven civil sex trafficking lawsuits sent a letter to a New York federal court on Jan. 16, indicating that they want to consolidate their cases into an MDL before the Ohio District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. The lawsuits were reportedly filed by the victims against several hotel chains that the plaintiffs claim failed to prevent their exploitation and abuse. The plaintiffs argued that consolidating the cases would be in the victims’ best interests and would help them to avoid the trauma of going through their individual trials alone. According to a report by Law360, the plaintiffs said, “A multidistrict litigation will offer plaintiffs support in knowing their case will be joined along with others who have faced similar horrors and reassurances that the judge hearing their case will have experience, perception and an understanding of what underlying issues consume survivors of sex trafficking.”

However, several of the hotels named in the lawsuits disagree. According to them, consolidating the cases is inappropriate, as the claims in the lawsuits vary depending on the victim and hotel.

Human Trafficking Victims Speak Out Against Major Hotel Chains

According to many plaintiffs in recent sex trafficking lawsuits, human traffickers have capitalized on major hotel chains’ reluctance to interfere with or stop traffickers. More than 1,500 human trafficking victims have filed lawsuits against the hotels where their abuse occurred.

According to one plaintiff who claims she was first exploited by sex traffickers at the age of ten, Choice Hotels and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts failed to recognize the signs that she was being exploited. She claims that the two chains repeatedly failed to recognize and stop incidents of sex trafficking at their hotels.

The plaintiffs claim that hotel chains are aware of the sex trafficking that takes place on their property, but turn a blind eye in order to continue turning a profit from these criminals. Although Choice and Wyndham have both released statements indicating that the hotel chains condemn human trafficking and train their staff to recognize the signs of exploitation, victims claim hotel staff ignored their circumstances.

According to one victim who claims she was often forced to serve up to ten clients a day in the hotel room in which she was being held, the hotel staff should have noticed the clear signs of her exploitation. These signs may include paying for a room in cash, a man paying for a room while a woman is the one who stays there, refusal to allow housekeeping into the room, trash cans filled with condoms and lubricant containers, and excessive requests for additional linens and towels. Other victims claim that their traffickers paid off hotel staff in exchange for being allowed to continue operating their illegal sex trafficking rings out of the hotel rooms.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of human trafficking that took place at a hotel, you may be eligible to hire an experienced attorney and file a class action lawsuit.

The proposed Sex Trafficking MDL is In re: Hotel Industry Sex Trafficking Litigation, Case No. 2928, before the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.

If you were a victim of sex trafficking and forced to work at a truck stop, hotel or motel, night club or other hotel venue, you may be eligible to move forward with a civil investigation against these businesses. This investigation involves a civil case, and is not a criminal case against you or your loved ones.

Top Class Actions is working with experienced human trafficking attorneys who will be informed and sensitive to your situation. Join the fight by filling out the short form on this page. 

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