Hotels and motels across the United States are increasingly being sued under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) for allegedly ignoring or enabling sex trafficking on their properties. Survivors are using the TVPRA to hold hospitality businesses accountable when they benefit financially while turning a blind eye to clear signs of exploitation. Phillips Law Group is actively monitoring these cases and helping survivors understand their legal options.
The TVPRA allows trafficking survivors to bring civil lawsuits not only against traffickers but also against businesses that “knowingly benefit” from trafficking ventures. A hotel may be liable if it benefited financially from room rentals and knew or should have known that trafficking was occurring. Courts have held that actual knowledge is not always required. Hotels can face liability if trafficking indicators were visible, recurring, or reported and the hotel failed to act.
Hotel rooms are commonly used by traffickers because they can be rented quickly, paid for in cash, and accessed anonymously. Public reporting shows that hotels frequently encounter trafficking red flags such as frequent male visitors to a single room, minors with no luggage or identification, repeated cash payments, visible injuries or distress, and complaints from guests. When staff observe these indicators and management fails to intervene, hotels may be held responsible for allowing trafficking to continue.
Recent federal lawsuits reflect a growing national pattern. Andreozzi + Foote has filed multiple lawsuits under the TVPRA against hotel operators in several states, alleging that properties knowingly profited from trafficking operations. Other firms, including Quintairos Prieto Wood & Boyer, are involved in cases claiming that hotel staff and management failed to report or stop trafficking activity despite obvious warning signs. Courts have allowed certain TVPRA claims against hotel brands and franchise companies to move forward, while other cases have been dismissed when plaintiffs could not connect the business to a specific trafficking venture. Each case depends heavily on the facts.
Survivors commonly allege that hotels failed to train staff to identify trafficking indicators, ignored visible signs of exploitation, did not follow required safety or reporting protocols, failed to contact law enforcement, and continued renting rooms to traffickers despite complaints, disturbances, or known prior incidents. Claims often assert that hotels benefited financially by keeping rooms occupied while making no meaningful effort to protect victims.
A survivor may have a TVPRA claim if they were trafficked in a hotel or motel where staff saw or should have seen signs of trafficking, the property continued to rent rooms to the trafficker, the victim was a minor or otherwise vulnerable, there were prior complaints or police calls related to the trafficker, or the hotel brand advertised anti-trafficking policies that were not implemented at the property. Legal timelines vary, and many survivors can still pursue claims even if the trafficking occurred years earlier.
Survivors may seek compensation for therapy and mental health care, medical expenses, lost income, emotional distress, long-term trauma, and in some cases punitive damages. Awards depend on the harm suffered, the conduct of the hotel, and the laws of the jurisdiction.
Phillips Law Group offers confidential consultations and trauma-informed legal support. Our team can review the facts of your case, investigate hotel records and prior incidents, work with experts to identify missed trafficking indicators, and pursue claims against all responsible parties, including owners, operators, and franchisors when appropriate. We collaborate with national co-counsel on complex or multi-defendant trafficking matters.
Not necessarily. Many survivors pursue claims against hotels rather than individual traffickers.
Many courts allow survivors to file cases under pseudonyms like Jane Doe.
Federal and state laws often allow survivors to file claims long after the abuse occurred, especially if they were minors.
Sometimes. Liability depends on the level of control and the facts of each case.
If you were trafficked in or through a hotel and believe staff or management ignored the warning signs, you may have legal options under the TVPRA. Contact Phillips Law Group for a confidential consultation or reach us anytime through our online form.
Legal Disclaimer: This page provides general information about TVPRA hotel trafficking litigation. It is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on the facts of each case and the applicable laws.
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