California — A lawsuit filed this week claims that five Bay Area hotels failed to intervene in incidents of sex trafficking occurring on their premises. The legal action names motels in Richmond, Oakland, San Pablo, and Santa Rosa, accusing hotel staff of overlooking clear signs of trafficking for years.
The plaintiff, a woman who was trafficked between 2012 and 2016, alleges that her traffickers used these hotels during that period. The lawsuit highlights hotels, including Civic Center Motel in Richmond, Welcome Inn in Oakland, and Motel 6 Embarcadero in Oakland.
According to the lawsuit, hotel workers noticed the victim’s distress—such as visible bruises and signs of illness—but did not report the abuse or call the authorities.
The legal complaint details the plaintiff’s abuse, including being forced to perform sexual acts to meet daily quotas of $1,000. It also cites multiple “red flags” that could have indicated sex trafficking, including cash payments, scantily clad women, and high numbers of visitors to single rooms.
One hotel manager is accused of accepting bribes to ignore the abuse, further enabling the trafficking activity. The plaintiff claims that staff refused to intervene even after begging for help.
