Newark, NJ — A federal judge has split and partially upheld claims in a sex trafficking lawsuit against Wyndham Hotels and multiple franchise operators—but ultimately ordered the case transferred to Texas, where the alleged abuse occurred.
U.S. District Judge Esther Salas ruled on four separate motions to dismiss filed by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Days Inns Worldwide, and several hotel franchise entities tied to Days Inn locations. The decision allows some claims to proceed while dismissing others, reshaping—but not ending—the case.
At the same time, the court ordered the lawsuit moved from New Jersey to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, shifting the legal fight closer to where the alleged trafficking took place.
Allegations center on Texas hotel locations
The plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe (A.A.M.), alleges she was trafficked between 2010 and 2014 at two Days Inn hotels in San Antonio and Houston.
According to the complaint, her traffickers used common indicators associated with exploitation: rooms paid in cash or prepaid cards, extended stays with little movement, and frequent use of “do not disturb” signs.
She claims hotel operators and affiliated companies either knew or should have known about the trafficking and financially benefited from it.
Mixed ruling on dismissal motions
Judge Salas granted the franchise defendants’ motions to dismiss in part and denied them in part, allowing certain claims under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) to move forward.
The law permits victims to sue not only perpetrators but also businesses that knowingly benefit from participation in trafficking ventures.
While the opinion trims some aspects of the lawsuit, it preserves core allegations that the hotels may have been complicit through inaction or oversight failures.
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Key Points
• Judge partially dismisses claims in sex trafficking lawsuit against hotel operators
• Case involves alleged trafficking at Days Inn locations in Texas from 2010–2014
• Lawsuit transferred from New Jersey to federal court in Texas
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Why the case is moving
The decision to transfer the case reflects a practical and legal consideration: the alleged conduct occurred entirely in Texas.
By moving the case to the Western District of Texas, the court places it in a jurisdiction with a stronger connection to the facts, potential witnesses, and evidence.
This is a common step in federal litigation when another venue is deemed more appropriate for resolving the dispute.
Part of broader wave of litigation
The case is one of several filed nationwide targeting hotel chains and franchisees under the TVPRA.
These lawsuits argue that hospitality companies failed to recognize or act on clear signs of trafficking, effectively enabling exploitation on their premises.
Courts across the country have issued varied rulings as they define how far liability extends for large brands and independently operated franchise locations.
What happens next
With the transfer order in place, the case will proceed in federal court in Texas, where remaining claims will be litigated.
The ruling does not determine whether the defendants are liable, but it ensures that key allegations will be tested in court rather than dismissed outright.
The plaintiff’s claims—now narrowed but still active—will move forward in a jurisdiction tied directly to the alleged abuse.
