In an unprecedented legal battle, Red Roof Inn, a well-known hotel chain, has reached a settlement with 11 individuals who brought a historic sex trafficking lawsuit against the company, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta. The plaintiffs accused the hotel corporation of having direct knowledge of and profiting from prostitution and trafficking at its Atlanta locations from 2009 to 2018.

Representing the survivors, Attorney Pat McDonough stated, "Every one of our clients is thrilled with the settlement," conveyed through a testimony that reveals grave indifference, a Red Roof Inn employee reportedly pushed a cart right past a victim being choked by her trafficker. According to Atlanta News First, McDonough said this is the nation's first case of its kind where survivors could bring such claims against a national brand and publicize their harrowing experiences in court.

The venues in question include properties in Smyrna and Buckhead, where activities related to sex trafficking were allegedly "visible and frequent," as stated in publicly available documents. Testimonies during the trial implicated several hotel employees who reportedly abetted traffickers or turned a blind eye to increase profits from room bookings linked to such activities.

"The details of this case were heartbreaking and devastating," McDonough told FOX 5 Atlanta. Echoing a sense of corporate negligence, Red Roof Inn's own employees admitted to being aware of minor sex trafficking happening within the hotels for many years. McDonough has expressed hope that this lawsuit not only serves as a wake-up call to the hospitality industry but also sets a legal precedent for future cases. Red Roof Inn, having settled, does not admit to wrongdoing in the case.