Sex Trafficking Lawsuits Against Hotels
Human sex trafficking is a massive, worldwide problem that can take various forms. Sex trafficking can involve individuals of different backgrounds and ages. The victims are held captive and forced to perform these horrid sexual acts in different places for long periods of time. Predators use hotels or online listing services to engage in their criminal Actions.
The Law Offices of Samer Habbas & Associates is a leader against those who profit from sex trafficking, conduct that has been described as an epidemic in the United States. If you or someone you care about was the victim of sex trafficking in a hotel or anywhere else, the compassionate and committed attorneys at Law Offices of Samer Habbas can help. The legal team will relentlessly fight to hold those liable responsible for their actions and get you the justice that you deserve.
Sex Trafficking: A Worldwide Epidemic
Human sex trafficking is on the rise. A study from the United Nations’ International Labour Organization (ILO) estimated 3.8 million adults and 1 million children were victims of forced sexual exploitation in 2016 around the world. This number has been on the rise in the past decade. The vast majority of sex trafficking victims are women and girls, although men, boys and transsexual individuals can be victims as well. However, the ILO estimates that 99 percent of the adults and children forced into sexual exploitation are females.
In its annual 2019 report, the United States Department found the top three nations of origin for human trafficking victims were the United States, Mexico and the Philippines. Victims are of various ages and backgrounds, but many are young. Often these individuals are held captive and transported to places where they are forced to perform sexual acts for days at a time in various places, including major hotel chains.
Can Hotels Be Liable for Sex Trafficking?
In the past year, sex trafficking attorneys have started to file lawsuits on behalf of sex trafficking victims against national hotel chains and online listing services such as Craigslist. These lawsuits can be filed anonymously. The suits claim that companies ignored the signs of sex trafficking, and even profited from it, while predators used hotels or online listing services to engage their criminal actions.
More than 1,500 claims have been investigated and filed in courts nationwide. Now, a federal multidistrict judicial panel is considering moving the cases to a centralized court for easier handling. Lawsuits have been thus far filed against the following national hotel chains accusing them of being complicit in sex trafficking:
- Hilton
- Wyndham
- Days Inn
- Super 8
- Best Western
- Red Lion
- Marriott
- Choice Hotels
- Extended Stay America
- Motel 6
The legal team at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas are investigating sex trafficking cases against these and other hotel chains. They believe that thousands of victims need legal representation and deserve justice against these hotel chains and many more companies that can be named as accessories to the crimes.
Do You Qualify for a Sex Trafficking Lawsuit?
Congress passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act in 2000, which expanded and strengthened in 2003, 2005, 2008 and 2013 as the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act.
These laws allow both U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens who are victims of trafficking to seek benefits and be allowed protection against deportation. In addition, 18 U.S. Code §1591 and 1595 of the Act allow victims to bring civil actions against those responsible, including organizations that enable, harbor, hold, facilitate, or financially benefit from trafficking. Sadly, 80 percent of human trafficking arrests are made in or around hotels.
If you or someone you care about has been the victims of sex trafficking, and any business such as a hotel or listing service profited from such horrid acts as a result, you may qualify to bring a lawsuit and could be entitled to compensation. You should also understand that these lawsuits can be filed without disclosing your identity.
Contact us!
If you or a loved one has been the victim of sex trafficking, you should immediately contact the Law Offices of Samer Habbas & Associates as you may be entitled to compensation. Lawsuits may be filed against local and national hotel operators, as well as online listing services for failing to protect those for which their facilities or services were used.
For more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation with one of the attorneys, please call 949-727-9300. The Law Offices of Samer Habbas is dedicated to helping sex trafficking victims seek the justice and compensation they deserve.
