ATLANTA — A historic sex trafficking trial has officially come to a close in Atlanta this week -- with the corporation settling the case.
The case involved 11 survivors suing Red Roof Inn, Inc. and a few related corporate entities, accusing the corporation of having direct knowledge of prostitution and trafficking at select locations.
It mentioned two particular hotels in metro Atlanta: a Red Roof Inn in Smyrna off Windy Hill Road and the Red Roof PLUS+ Atlanta-Buckhead location at North Druid Hills and Buford Highway. The allegations date from 2009 until 2018.
Attorneys previously told 11Alive that this was historic because it was the first trial against a national hotel brand -- instead of just an owner of a hotel.
There was a chance the outcome of this case could have set a precedent. However, after eight days in a courtroom, a settlement was reached -- leading the survivors and their attorneys to get the outcome they were hoping for.
The exact details are currently confidential, so the amount of money is not known at this time.
However, during the course of the trial, these women from all walks of life were courageous enough to share their stories on the stand.
One of the attorneys representing the survivors and a partner at Bondurant, Mixon & Elmore, Sachin Varghese, said that this was the first time all the women were able to be together in support of one another.
"Their stories are really tough and it's hard to hear. It's also tough for our clients to talk about. They didn't all know each other. The first time they were all together was during opening statements, and I think that was really powerful," Varghese said.
He spoke to 11Alive a day after the settlement was reached. Without disclosing details, he said he and the clients were happy with the result, but what mattered the most was their ability to vocalize what happened to them.
"It was important for them to hear that what they have been through is an experience that they're not alone in," Varghese said.
Varghese also said that although it is not uncommon for a case to settle during a trial, they did not expect it.
Before the trial started, Red Roof released a statement saying the hotel chain "denies and will vigorously defend these allegations, and condemns sex trafficking in all forms." The company is still sticking to that now and reacting to the settlement by saying:
"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."
With a settlement reached, a jury's decision isn't needed, but attorneys are confident the evidence presented played in their favor regardless.
"I think the jury would have sent a significant message about not allowing this type of activity in our community. Sex trafficking is an issue where I think there needs to be greater awareness," Varghese said. "It doesn't look in the real world like the way Hollywood portrays it or in the movie Taken. It's really complicated, and there are people out there who prey on vulnerable victims. We need businesses that provide a location for sex trafficking to occur, to be proactive and aggressive about making sure it doesn't happen."
This is not the first time a settlement has been reached involving human trafficking in metro Atlanta. In 2023, 11Alive reported that days before another trial against the Red Roof Inn was supposed to occur, the company decided to settle. The plaintiffs in that case were also awarded an undisclosed amount of money.
The Red Roof Inn previously told 11Alive that the company mandates the globally recognized PACT training module to help educate hotel staff to identify and report human trafficking to the authorities. The chain also said it's actively working with the hospitality industry through its alliances with AAHOA, AHLA, No Room for Trafficking Advisory Council, PACT and SOAP in the fight to eradicate trafficking and the exploitation of victims.