Red Roof Inn has agreed to a major settlement with 11 alleged sex trafficking victims.
The victims claim they’re lucky to be alive after the chain allegedly knew about human sex trafficking at locations in Smyrna and Brookhaven and let it continue.
Attorney Pat McDonough, who represented the young women in the case, said Red Roof Inn knowingly profited from human sex trafficking in its Smyrna and Brookhaven locations from 2009 to 2018.
McDonough said this is the first sex trafficking case in the United States where the alleged victims were able to take a national brand to court and tell their stories.
“When somebody is raped. That one incident can cause devastation for a lifetime,” McDonough said. “One of our survivors testified that she was being choked by her trafficker outside of her room and the Red Roof Inn employee just pushed the cart right past her.”
He said the Red Roof Inn failed 11 young women.
“Their very own corporate employee testified that they knew that minor sex trafficking was occurring,” McDonough said.
The plaintiffs in this case hope this sends a message to the entire hospitality industry and sets a precedent for other cases that may come after it involving other major hotels.
A guest staying at the Brookhaven Red Roof Inn was appalled by the allegations.
After five years of litigation, Red Roof Inn finally agreed to settle with the alleged victims.
However, the company in a statement denied any wrongdoing:
“Red Roof denies all allegations and condemns sex trafficking in all forms. After the first day that the defense presented its case, the parties came to an amicable resolution and resolved the matter to the satisfaction of all involved. Red Roof will continue to work with industry partners in the fight to eradicate sex trafficking and the exploitation of victims.”