July 28th 2025.
In a landmark ruling, a Georgia hotel has been ordered to pay a sex trafficking survivor a whopping $40 million in damages. The victim, known only as J.G., was just 16 years old when she was sold for sex more than 200 times on the hotel's property. The verdict, delivered by a federal jury, holds Northbrook Industries, Inc., the owner and operator of United Inn & Suites in Decatur, accountable for the abuse that took place there.
According to reports from The Independent, J.G. was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and an additional $30 million in punitive damages under a federal anti-trafficking law. This ruling serves as a strong message not only to this particular hotel, but to the entire hospitality industry. J.G.'s lawyer, Patrick McDonough, emphasized the significance of this verdict, stating that it sends a clear message that hotels must prioritize the safety and well-being of their guests over profits.
The horrific ordeal endured by J.G. took place over a span of just 40 days between 2018 and 2019. Shockingly, the abuse occurred in plain sight of hotel staff, who allegedly turned a blind eye to the obvious red flags. These included multiple men entering and leaving her room, as well as a police alert identifying J.G. as a missing minor. McDonough criticized the hotel for failing to take basic safety precautions and train their staff to recognize and report suspicious activity.
During the trial, J.G. bravely recounted the physical, emotional, and psychological trauma she endured at the hands of her traffickers. A vice detective from DeKalb County also testified, revealing that United Inn & Suites was one of the top five hotspots for commercial sex trafficking in the county at the time. Despite this, the hotel allegedly failed to properly train their employees or implement safety measures to protect their guests. McDonough called out the hotel for even selling condoms to a 16-year-old girl at the front desk, and stressed the importance of verifying and reporting any concerning situations.
The attorneys for the hotel denied any wrongdoing and claimed their employees were unaware of the trafficking taking place. However, J.G.'s lawsuit made history as the first to reach a jury verdict under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. This act allows survivors to seek damages not only from traffickers and buyers, but also from third parties who knowingly profit from trafficking, such as hotels.
Emma Hetherington, a professor at the University of Georgia School of Law and director of the Wilbanks Child Endangerment and Sexual Exploitation Clinic, explained that J.G.'s lawsuit was filed under the TVPRA and Georgia's negligence law. She stated that the hotel knowingly benefited financially from being in business with the traffickers, and failed to maintain a safe environment for their guests despite clear warning signs. This ruling serves as a powerful reminder that businesses must take responsibility for protecting their guests, especially vulnerable individuals like J.G.
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