A woman has filed a lawsuit against several major motel chains, alleging they played an active role in her being trafficked and raped nearly a thousand times. The lawsuit claims that staff at Motel 6, Red Roof Inn, and Wyndham Hotel Group not only ignored signs of her victimization but also participated in facilitating the crimes.
Identified in court documents as Jane A.B. Doe, the plaintiff says she was just 13 years old when she fled child protective services in Dallas and was subsequently forced into trafficking at gunpoint. According to the lawsuit, she was repeatedly assaulted at various locations in California and Texas. The complaint states that employees at these motels did more than just turn a blind eye they allegedly assisted in her captivity and, in some instances, watched or participated in the abuse.
The suit details how motel staff disregarded clear warning signs of trafficking, including visible bruises, malnourishment, a drugged state, and inappropriate clothing for the weather. Additionally, hotel employees are accused of taking deliberate actions to aid the trafficker, such as assigning specific rooms for his convenience and instructing him and Doe on which entrances and exits to use to avoid detection.
Further, the lawsuit alleges that hotel cleaning crews were specifically told not to service the rooms where Doe was held, effectively allowing her trafficker to operate without interference. The legal filing argues that the motels financially benefited from the trafficking of Doe and other victims by fostering an environment where such crimes could occur with minimal risk of intervention.
Another case with similar allegations was filed in federal court in Texas under the name Jane AAG Doe. This lawsuit names additional locations across multiple states, including Motel 6 sites in Los Angeles, Gardena, Dallas, and Austin, as well as Red Roof Inn and Wyndham-owned properties in Houston and other cities. It accuses the motel chains of violating federal anti-trafficking laws by knowingly allowing traffickers to use their premises.
According to the complaint, the connection between hotels and trafficking is well-documented, with government agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children warning hotels to recognize the signs of exploitation. The lawsuit argues that trafficking is inherently coercive and that the motels either knew or should have known about the red flags of sex trafficking.
The plaintiff emphasizes that education and training are key to preventing these crimes and asserts that these motel chains failed in their duty to implement adequate policies. The lawsuit also highlights that Motel 6 locations are among the most frequently cited in federal trafficking complaints, further underscoring the need for corporate accountability.
Ultimately, the plaintiff is seeking unspecified damages, arguing that the motels profited from human trafficking by providing traffickers with a safe and consistent venue for exploitation.
