A harrowing lawsuit has been filed against a hotel in Romeoville, Illinois, accusing it of enabling sex trafficking activities on its premises. The complaint was lodged by R.R., a survivor of sex trafficking, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on October 16, 2024. The defendant named in the case is Romeoville HIE Hotels, LLC.
The plaintiff, identified only as R.R. to protect her privacy and safety, alleges that she was trafficked for commercial sex acts at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Joliet North, an IHG Hotel operated by Romeoville HIE Hotels, LLC. According to the complaint, these acts occurred in 2021 when R.R. was coerced into engaging with sex buyers under duress from her trafficker. The lawsuit is brought under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2008, which provides civil remedies for victims of trafficking.
R.R.'s legal team argues that the hotel failed to implement adequate anti-trafficking measures despite being aware of the high risk of such illegal activities occurring on their premises. They claim that signs indicative of trafficking were evident and should have alerted hotel staff to take action. These included constant foot traffic to specific rooms, visible distress and impairment among victims, and suspicious behavior by individuals loitering around the hotel. The plaintiff's attorneys argue that had proper policies been in place and enforced, R.R.'s victimization could have been prevented or mitigated.
The complaint further accuses Romeoville HIE Hotels of knowingly benefiting financially from the trafficking activities by renting rooms to individuals involved in such crimes. It highlights how proceeds from these illicit acts were used to pay for room rentals and other services like Wi-Fi access that facilitated online advertisements for commercial sex acts.
R.R. seeks compensatory damages for her suffering and losses due to being trafficked at the hotel. She also demands punitive damages against Romeoville HIE Hotels for their alleged negligence and complicity in her exploitation. Her legal team includes Peter J. Flowers from Meyers & Flowers LLC and Randolph Janis from Douglas and London P.C., who are advocating for justice on her behalf.
The case is presided over by an unnamed judge under Case ID: 1:24-cv-10523.