Meagan Verschueren, Counsel at Singleton Schreiber in San Diego, was recently featured by Komo News in their article, "WA Court Allows Sex Trafficking Lawsuit Against Hotel in Kent to Move Forward".
The article covers the recent denial of dismissal by the US District Court for the Western District of Washington regarding the lawsuit filed by Singleton Schreiber on behalf of a Jane Doe against Choice Hotels International. According to the lawsuit -- which was brought under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) -- Choice Hotels failed to prevent and intervene in sex trafficking despite significant signs including visible signs of abuse, frequent cash payments, and unusually high volumes of male visitors to a single room; that Choice Hotels had significant control over the hotel's operations; and that the lawsuit was seeking to hold Choice Hotels (as well as motels not franchised under them including a Motel 6) accountable for turning a blind eye for trafficking.
"This ruling is a crucial step forward in ensuring that corporations, including brand companies, cannot evade responsibility when they turn a blind eye to trafficking on their properties," said Ms. Verschueren. "Hotels are often the site of these horrific crimes, and when corporate entities should know that this is happening or knowingly allow this to happen, they must be held accountable."
