PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Three Philadelphia hotels are paying millions of dollars to settle claims that minors were exploited and trafficked for sex out of rented rooms.
The victims said they were under 18 when they were trafficked at the Days Inn and Motel 6 on Roosevelt Boulevard, and the North American Motor Inns on City Avenue.
“These women have suffered,” said Nadeem Bezar, a partner at Kline and Specter, which represents the victims.
The complaint alleges the hotels were aware underage victims were being trafficked in their rooms. Bezar said the hotels neglected their responsibilities.
“People are going to be spending many hours of the day there, staying overnight. There’s a requirement to provide safety and security for those on-premises,” she said.
The women will receive a portion of the $17.5 million settlement, but it is not clear how the money will be divided.
Bezar noted the women, like many other victims of human trafficking, were preyed upon while in the child welfare system.
“We’re trying to help these women realize that they did nothing wrong,” she said. “They did nothing wrong. And we hope they can continue the process of healing.”
The hotels involved have not responded to KYW Newsradio’s requests for comment.