The Stoddard Firm Secures $21 Million Settlement in Sex Trafficking Case Against Atlanta Hotel

In a major legal victory for survivors of sex trafficking, The Stoddard Firm has secured a $21 million policy-limits settlement on behalf of a young woman who was trafficked and sexually assaulted at a Microtel Inn & Suites in Brookhaven, Georgia.

Filed in DeKalb County, the lawsuit alleged that hotel ownership and management — including Kuzzins Buford, LLC and Olympia Hotel Management, LLC — knowingly enabled criminal activity at the property, including gang activity, drug use, and the trafficking of minors for sex.

The survivor, referred to in court documents as E.J., was a 17-year-old military dependent from North Carolina when she was lured to the hotel under false pretenses and raped by a known gang member. Plaintiff argued that, at the time of the assault, staff knew the gang was using the hotel as a base of operations. Deposition testimony confirmed that individuals known to be problematic — including the assailant — were provided unauthorized room keys, allowed to remain on the premises, and that criminal behavior was pervasive and unaddressed.

“This was not a case of one rogue guest. This was a pattern of disregard for basic safety and a complete failure of corporate responsibility,” said Matt Stoddard, lead counsel for the plaintiff.“We believed the jury would ultimately conclude that hotel ownership and staff turned a blind eye to ongoing trafficking and allowed known criminals to operate out of their rooms with impunity.”

Get a Consultation

Contact us or Call us today

A key witness, a former employee of the hotel, testified under oath that ownership — including a hands-on owner — directly influenced management decisions and was actively involved in hotel operations. Despite the property being described as a budget hotel, the defendants failed to implement even the most basic safety protocols to protect guests.

“This level of involvement by senior hotel staff — combined with a number of damning internal documents— would have made it difficult for a jury to believe that the staff did not know what was going on at their hotel,” said Stoddard. He continued, “In fact, by the end of discovery, we had identified multiple additional sexual assault survivors who wished to tell their stories about the Microtel to the jury as well.”

The full $21 million settlement — the maximum amount available under the property’s insurance policy — was reached shortly before trial, following extensive discovery, depositions, and legal maneuvering.

“This resolution helps bring a measure of justice to our client, who bravely stood up and demanded accountability,” said Stoddard. “It also sends a message: property owners and management companies who allow human trafficking to occur on their premises will face serious consequences.”

Due to the sensitive nature of the case, the survivor’s full name remains confidential under court order.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer Now

Contact us or Call Us