ATLANTA — A jury was seated, and opening statements were made in a landmark civil lawsuit involving allegations of human trafficking at certain Red Roof Inn locations on Wednesday in Atlanta.
The case, presided over by Judge Victoria Marie Calvert, began jury selection on Tuesday. The 11 plaintiffs are represented by approximately seven attorneys from multiple law firms. The defense, representing Red Roof Inns, Inc. and associated corporate entities, brought a large legal team of roughly 15 attorneys from various firms.
During the selection process, both sides vetted potential jurors extensively. By Tuesday afternoon, the defense was still questioning the jury pool about their understanding of sex trafficking versus prostitution, their views on corporate America prioritizing profit over safety, and their ability to remain impartial in a trial involving sensitive topics.
Specifically, the defense probed potential jurors on their experience in the hospitality industry, focusing on their training and knowledge about corporate policies on safety and security. The plaintiffs' attorneys asked detailed questions to gauge jurors' empathy towards survivors of trafficking and their discernment between reality and Hollywood portrayals of sex trafficking.
The trial, expected to last four weeks with breaks on June 19, July 4 and July 5, is poised to set a precedent on the accountability of national hotel brands in cases of human trafficking.
This follows a federal court filing in the Northern District of Georgia that describes the experiences of a young woman trafficked in metro Atlanta in 2014 and several others, implicating two specific Red Roof Inn locations.
As the trial progresses, it remains to be seen how both the defense and plaintiffs' approaches to jury selection will shape the outcome of this groundbreaking case. The trial is set to continue Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m.