Understanding Liability for Trafficking at Hotels and Motels – Sex Trafficking Lawyers

There may be a number of things that could point to human trafficking. Some of the possible signs of human trafficking can include the following:

• Individuals may
  • Have poor hygiene, sleep deprivation, malnourishment, fatigue, injuries, or unusual behavior
  • Be under constant supervision (without freedom of movement and constantly monitored by others)
  • Not have or have control of cash or identification
  • Be dressed inappropriately for their age
  • Have lower quality clothing compared to others in the same group/party
  • Solicit male patrons or loiter in the bar, restaurant, lobby, etc.
  • Wait at tables or bars and later picked up by a male (either a client or a trafficker)
  • Ask other guests or workers for food and money (they may take money from tables)
• Rooms may
  • Have multiple devices present (phones, computers, card swipers, etc.)
  • Have requests for housekeeping service or room service without ever allowing staff to enter the room
  • Have excessive sex paraphernalia present
  • Be paid for hourly or for less than a day
  • Have little to no personal possessions (i.e., long-term stays with few bags/luggage)
  • Be reserved by the same person (i.e., multiple rooms reserved by the same guest)

Ultimately, there are multiple instances in which hotel and motel staff could potentially identify human trafficking and make a report.

California Senate Bill 970 – specifically Section 52.5 – states that hotel and motel employers must provide at least twenty minutes of training to their employees likely to interact with victims of human trafficking. This required training is to cover how to recognize the signs of trafficking (such as the signs listed above) and how to report trafficking.

Yes – you could have the right to file a lawsuit for sex trafficking at a hotel or motel. Your right to file a claim will be based on the hotel owner or motel owner’s failure to identify and report the human trafficking. Hotel and motel owners have the responsibility to ensure that their employees are properly trained to be able to spot signs of human trafficking or sex trafficking. For more information about your right to file a lawsuit if you were sex trafficked at a hotel or motel, contact the experts here at our law firm as soon as possible.

All claims are subject to a statute of limitations, or a deadline to sue. If claimants do not file their claims within the time allowed by the statute of limitations, they can lose their right to file a lawsuit and get justice. Because of this, it is essential for victims of human trafficking to take action within the timeframe established by law.

Based on California Civil Code Section 52.5 (c), human trafficking lawsuits are subject to a seven-year statute of limitations, which starts running when the trafficking victim is freed from the trafficking situation. If the victim was a minor when the trafficking occurred, the victim will have ten years after the victim reaches the age of majority to file a claim; this means that minor victims could have up to the age of twenty-eight.

Of course, there are some exceptions that can apply on a case-by-case basis. Although these exceptions can result in the statute of limitations tolling or pausing, claimants will either have seven years to sue or ten years from the age of majority to file a claim, based on whether the trafficking occurred while the victim was an adult or a minor, respectively.

For more information about the total length of time that you have to file your claim, contact us today. Our team is ready to guide you every step of the way and ensure that your claim is filed on time.

Am I Eligible to Recover Compensation?

Based on the details surrounding your hotel/motel trafficking lawsuit, you could be entitled to receive compensation. Although every claim is different, victims pursuing human trafficking lawsuits could potentially recover compensation for medical costs, past and future lost wages, pain and suffering, punitive damages, loss of enjoyment of life, legal fees, and more. In fact, Civil Code Section 52.5 states that victims of human trafficking could be eligible to recover compensation for actual damages, compensatory damages, punitive damages, and, under some circumstances, a minimum of $500,000 in statutory damages.

For more information about the possible value of your hotel or motel sex trafficking lawsuit, contact us today. Our legal team is ready to fight for your rights and help you recover the maximum payout available for your claim.

Contact the Downtown L.A. Law Group Today

The expert legal team here at our law firm is ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to begin or continue your human trafficking lawsuit against any motel or hotel owner that failed to properly train their staff, resulting in the failure to identify and report your trafficking. If you are ready to discuss the legal options that are available to you, please do not hesitate to reach out to our legal team as soon as possible.

We offer free case evaluations, which include free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our team will be available to provide you with all the information that you need to either begin or continue your claim. If you would like to schedule a free consultation or a free second opinion, contact us today. Our experts are ready to guide you every step of the way.

Zero-Fee Guarantee: our team is committed to remaining as accessible as possible. Therefore, we offer a Zero-Fee Guarantee, meaning that our clients will never be required to pay any upfront legal costs. Additionally, our law firm works on a strict contingency structure, so our clients will not have to pay anything if they do not win.

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