A.D. v. Marriott International Inc. et al, No. 2:2022cv00645 - Document 50 (M.D. Fla. 2023)
Court Description: OPINION AND ORDER granting 41 Motion to Dismiss; denying 42 Motion to Dismiss. Defendant Marriott is dismissed with prejudice. Signed by Judge John E. Steele on 8/25/2023. (RKR)
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A.D. v. Marriott International Inc. et al Doc. 50 Case 2:22-cv-00645-JES-NPM Document 50 Filed 08/25/23 Page 1 of 13 PageID 516 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA FORT MYERS DIVISION A.D., an individual, Plaintiff, v. Case No: 2:22-cv-645-JES-NPM MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. and CHM NAPLES II HOTEL PARTNERS, LLC, Defendants. OPINION AND ORDER This matter comes before the Court on defendant Marriott International, Inc.'s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Second Amended Complaint (Doc. #41) filed on May 23, 2023, and defendant CHM Naples II Hotel Partners, LLC’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint (Doc. #42) filed on the same day. Plaintiff filed a Consolidated Response in Opposition (Doc. #46) on June 20, 2023. 48.) Both defendants filed Replies. (Docs. ## 47, Plaintiff filed a Notice of Supplemental Authority (Doc. #49) on August 8, 2023. I. On April 19, 2023, the Court granted defendants’ motions to dismiss with leave to file an Amended Complaint. A.D. v. Marriott Int'l, Inc., No. 2:22-CV-645-JES-NPM, 2023 WL 2991042, at *1 (M.D. Fla. Apr. 18, 2023). On May 9, 2023, plaintiff filed a Second Dockets.Justia.com Case 2:22-cv-00645-JES-NPM Document 50 Filed 08/25/23 Page 2 of 13 PageID 517 Amended Complaint (Doc. #39) and defendants have now essentially renewed their motions to dismiss. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2), a Complaint must contain a “short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). This obligation “requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (citation dismiss, omitted). the Court In must deciding accept a all Rule 12(b)(6) factual motion allegations in to a complaint as true and take them in the light most favorable to plaintiff, Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89 (2007), but “[l]egal conclusions without adequate factual support are entitled to no assumption of truth,” Mamani v. Berzain, 654 F.3d 1148, 1153 (11th Cir. 2011) (citations omitted). Plaintiff’s (second) amended complaint is brought pursuant to the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). As previously stated, The TVPRA is a criminal statute that provides a civil remedy to victims of trafficking. Section 1591(a) of the imposes criminal liability for certain trafficking: also sex Act sex (a) Whoever knowingly-(1) in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, or within the special maritime and - 2 - Case 2:22-cv-00645-JES-NPM Document 50 Filed 08/25/23 Page 3 of 13 PageID 518 territorial jurisdiction of the United States, recruits, entices, harbors, transports, provides, obtains, advertises, maintains, patronizes, or solicits by any means a person; or (2) benefits, financially or by receiving anything of value, from participation in a venture which has engaged in an act described in violation of paragraph (1), knowing, or, except where the act constituting the violation of paragraph (1) is advertising, in reckless disregard of the fact, that means of force, threats of force, fraud, coercion described in subsection (e)(2), or any combination of such means will be used to cause the person to engage in a commercial sex act, or that the person has not attained the age of 18 years and will be caused to engage in a commercial sex act, shall be punished as provided in subsection (b). 18 U.S.C.A. § 1591(a). In addition to a criminal punishment, the TVPRA provides the following civil remedy: (a) An individual who is a victim of a violation of this chapter may bring a civil action against the perpetrator (or whoever knowingly benefits, financially or by receiving anything of value from participation in a venture which that person knew or should have known has engaged in an act in violation of this chapter) in an appropriate district court of the United States and may recover damages and reasonable attorneys fees. 18 U.S.C. § 1595(a). Thus, the TVRPA authorizes a victim of sex trafficking to bring a direct civil claim against the perpetrator of the trafficking and a “beneficiary” civil claim against “whoever knowingly benefits, financially or by receiving anything of value from participation in a venture which that person knew or should - 3 - Case 2:22-cv-00645-JES-NPM Document 50 Filed 08/25/23 Page 4 of 13 PageID 519 have known has engaged in an act in violation of [the TVPRA].” 18 U.S.C. § 1595(a). To state a claim for beneficiary liability under the TVPRA, Plaintiff must plausibly allege that the defendant “(1) knowingly benefited (2) from participating in a venture; (3) that venture violated the TVPRA as to [A.D.]; and (4) [Defendants] knew or should have known that the venture violated the TVPRA as to [A.D.].” Doe v. Red Roof Inns, Inc., 21 F.4th 714, 726 (11th Cir. 2021). A.D. v. Marriott Int’l, Inc., at *2. The Court will consider each of the elements as applied to the amended pleading. II. The operative amended complaint alleges the following: Defendant Marriott International, Inc. (Marriott) knows and has known for years that sex trafficking and prostitution occur at their branded hotel locations. Defendant CHM Naples II Hotel Partners LLC’s (CHM Naples) also knows and has known for years of both occurring specifically at the SpringHill Suites (SpringHill) by Marriott in Naples, Florida. (Doc. #39, ¶¶ 2-3.) This action for damages is brought by the Plaintiff, identified by her initials A.D., a survivor of sex trafficking under the TVPRA. 12.) (Id. at ¶ A.D. was trafficked for commercial sex at SpringHill by Trafficker 2 through force, fraud, and coercion. (Id. at ¶ 16.) “With knowledge of the problem, and as a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ multiple failures and refusals to act, mandate, establish, execute, and/or modify their anti-trafficking - 4 - Case 2:22-cv-00645-JES-NPM Document 50 Filed 08/25/23 Page 5 of 13 PageID 520 efforts at the SpringHill hotel, A.D. was continuously sex trafficked, sexually exploited, and victimized repeatedly at the SpringHill hotel.” defendants “participated knowingly benefited (Id. from at in ¶ 18.) Plaintiff a hotel operating venture through this alleges venture room that and rentals, profits, third party fees, and the value of the “good will” of the Marriott® brand. The venture knew or should have known that they were profiting from sex trafficking, including the sex trafficking of A.D., in violation of the TVPRA.” (Id. at ¶ 19.) Plaintiff further alleges that Marriott participated in a hotel operating venture that included staff at the SpringHill. CHM Naples owns the SpringHill pursuant to a franchise agreement entered into with Marriott. Plaintiff alleges an agency relationship through Marriott’s “exercise of ongoing and systemic right of control over SpringHill hotel.” (Id. at ¶¶ 29-32.) Marriott makes decisions that directly impact the operations and maintenance of their branded hotels, including the SpringHill. (Id. at ¶ 39.) CHM Naples directly offered public lodging services at the SpringHill where A.D. was trafficked for sex. 49.) (Id. at ¶ Defendants “participated in a hotel operating venture in connection with the management and operating of the SpringHill hotel involving risk and potential profit.” - 5 - (Id. at ¶ 52.) Case 2:22-cv-00645-JES-NPM Document 50 Filed 08/25/23 Page 6 of 13 PageID 521 During at least 2008 to 2012, emails were exchanged by employees of Marriott that related to sex trafficking in hotels, including CHM Naples’ hotel. (Id. at ¶ 57.) Marriott had actual and/or constructive knowledge of sex trafficking, including A.D.’s sex trafficking property. and (Id. at victimization, ¶ 60.) occurring Despite having on its access branded to sex trafficking indicators, Marriott continues to permit and profit from male clientele who rented hotel rooms to buy sex, including those who bought Plaintiff. (Id. at ¶ 72.) CHM Naples employees and staff openly observed signs of trafficking and did not aid plaintiff. CHM Naples revenue and a percentage was provided to Marriott. 104.) received (Id. at ¶ Through Marriott’s relationship with the staff at the SpringHill, it benefited or received royalty payments, licensing fees, franchise fees and dues, reservation fees, and percentages of the gross room revenue. (Id. at ¶ 105.) Through their “continuous business venture of renting hotel rooms”, CHM Naples knowingly benefited. (Id. at ¶ 107.) Plaintiff alleges that defendants benefit from the steady stream of income that sex traffickers bring to their hotel brands and from their reputation for privacy, discretion, and the facilitation of commercial sex. (Id., ¶¶ 116-117.) - 6 - Case 2:22-cv-00645-JES-NPM Document 50 Filed 08/25/23 Page 7 of 13 PageID 522 III. As previously stated, plaintiff must sufficiently plead that a defendant knowingly benefited from participating in a venture, that the venture violated the TVPRA, and that defendants knew or should have known that the venture violated the TVPRA. A. Knowingly Benefited To satisfy the first element of a TVPRA beneficiary claim, plaintiff must allege that defendant “knew it was receiving some value from participating in the alleged venture.” Red Roof Inns, 21 F.4th at 724. As the Eleventh Circuit stated, “Knowingly benefits” means “an awareness or understanding of a fact or circumstance; a state of mind in which a person has no substantial doubt about the existence of a fact.” Knowledge, Black's Law Dictionary (11th ed. 2019). And Section 1595(a) explains that a defendant may benefit “financially or by receiving anything of value.” Accordingly, a plaintiff like the Does must allege that the defendant knew it was receiving some value from participating in the alleged venture. Id. at 723–24. In the absence of a more stringent statutory pleading requirement, knowledge “may be alleged generally.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 9(b). Alleging a “continuous business relationship” is sufficient to show a knowing benefit. G.G. v. Salesforce.com, Inc., No. 22-2621, 2023 WL 4944015, at *16 (7th Cir. Aug. 3, 2023). The Court previously found this element could be satisfied at this stage of the proceedings. A.D. v. Marriott Int'l, Inc., at *3. - 7 - Case 2:22-cv-00645-JES-NPM Document 50 Filed 08/25/23 Page 8 of 13 PageID 523 B. Participation in Venture - Franchisor Plaintiff must allege that the benefits received by Marriott were from “participation in a venture” which defendants knew or should have known has engaged in an act in violation of the TVPRA. 18 U.S.C. § 1595(a). The Eleventh Circuit rejected the statutory definition of “participation in a venture” found in the criminal provision, § 1591(e)(4), which defined “participation in a venture” as “knowingly assisting, supporting or facilitating a violation of subsection (a)(1).” Instead, the Eleventh Circuit held that “participation in a venture” in the civil context requires that plaintiff allege that the franchisor “took part in a common undertaking or enterprise involving risk and potential profit.” Red Roof Inns, 21 F.4th at 725. Plaintiff alleges that defendants “participated in a hotel operating venture and knowingly benefited from this venture through room rentals, profits, third party fees, and the value of the “good will” of the Marriott® brand. The venture knew or should have known that they were profiting from sex trafficking, including the sex trafficking of A.D., in violation of the TVPRA.” #39, ¶ 19.) (Doc. Plaintiff alleges that defendants “participated in a hotel operating venture” in connection with the SpringHill for potential profit. (Id. at ¶ 52.) Plaintiff alleges that Marriott “had actual and/or constructive knowledge of sex trafficking, - 8 - Case 2:22-cv-00645-JES-NPM Document 50 Filed 08/25/23 Page 9 of 13 PageID 524 including A.D.’s sex trafficking and victimization,” at its branded property and it “failed to implement and enforce any of its own policy or policies and protect Plaintiff A.D. from being sex trafficked” and failed to take action to prevent trafficking so that it could continue to profit. (Id. at ¶ 60.) Plaintiff alleges that Marriott knew or should have known that SpringHill was an “area known for high incidence of crime and prone to sex trafficking activity on and around the hotel premises.” ¶ 60f.) (Id. at Marriott is alleged to have demonstrated actual and/or constructive knowledge of the “rampant culture of sex trafficking” at their properties around the country, including through news stories and online reviews. (Id. at ¶ 75.) These additional facts in the Second Amended Complaint do not remedy the problem in the original pleading as to Marriott. “[A]s the Eleventh Circuit has acknowledged, the alleged venture can be a ‘commercial venture’ like running or expanding a business. G.G. v. Salesforce.com, Inc., No. 22-2621, 2023 WL 4944015, at *6 (7th Cir. Aug. 3, 2023) (citing Red Roof Inns, Inc., 21 F.4th at 727 (emphasis added)). However, as before, “[t]he ‘participation’ in the sex trafficking venture is essentially that the franchisor and the hotel operator did not fight traffickers from using their hotel. hard enough to keep these The Complaint acknowledges that Defendants opposed sex traffickers, but fault defendants for - 9 - Case 2:22-cv-00645-JES-NPM Document 50 Filed 08/25/23 Page 10 of 13 PageID 525 taking ineffective steps to curtail the traffickers. This hardly sounds like participating in a venture.” A.D. v. Marriott Int'l, Inc., at *4. The Court finds that Marriott must be dismissed because the Second Amended Complaint does not sufficiently plead that it participated in a sex trafficking venture beyond participation in shared revenue as part of its normal role as a franchisor. Red Roof Inns, Inc., 21 F.4th at 726–27 (“These allegations may suggest that the franchisors financially benefitted from renting hotel rooms to the Does' sex traffickers. But they do nothing to show that the franchisors participated in a common undertaking involving risk or profit that violated the TVPRA—i.e., the alleged sex trafficking ventures.”). C. Participation in Venture - Franchisee “In order to plead Defendants participated in a venture, Plaintiff must allege facts from which the Court could reasonably infer the hotels ‘could be said to have a tacit agreement’ with the trafficker. Plaintiff need not show that defendants had actual knowledge of the participation in the sex-trafficking venture.” Doe v. Rickey Patel, LLC, No. 0:20-60683-WPD-CIV, 2020 WL 6121939, at *5 (S.D. Fla. Sept. 30, 2020) (citation omitted). In other words, plaintiff can show a “continuous business relationship” to show participation. J.G. v. Northbrook Indus., Inc., 619 F. Supp. - 10 - Case 2:22-cv-00645-JES-NPM Document 50 Filed 08/25/23 Page 11 of 13 PageID 526 3d 1228, 1235 (N.D. Ga. 2022); S.Y. v. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc., 519 F. Supp. 3d 1069, 1081 (M.D. Fla. 2021). Plaintiff alleges that “Defendants” knew or should have known that A.D. was being trafficked based on red flags such as A.D. checking in and paying for one night at a time. Trafficker 2 held a loud party that ran late with visibly underage attendees and despite complaints, hotel staff did not break it up. ¶ 97.) (Doc. #39, Other red flags include excessive requests for sheets, a personal relationship between staff and the trafficker, and direct employee encounters at the Fairfield. (Id.) These facts at least plausibly infer that employees of the SpringHill were participating in an enterprise involving risk and knowingly benefiting from the risk. Red Roof Inns, Inc., 21 F.4th at 725 (citing Ricchio v. McLean, 853 F.3d 553, 556-58 (1st Cir. 2017) (agreeing with First Circuit that an operator’s association with traffickers to serve a business objective establishes participation in a venture with a sex trafficker). D. Knowledge This element requires the plaintiff to allege that the defendant had either actual or constructive knowledge that the venture violated the TVPRA as to the plaintiff. Red Roof Inns, 21 F.4th at 725. of a fact or Knowledge requires an awareness or understanding circumstance, while - 11 - constructive knowledge is Case 2:22-cv-00645-JES-NPM Document 50 Filed 08/25/23 Page 12 of 13 PageID 527 knowledge that diligence’. one should have ‘using reasonable care or Id. (citing Black’s Law Dictionary). The ‘red flags’ supporting knowledge include payments in cash, large amounts of used condoms and bodily fluids on the sheets and towels, A.D.’s physical appearance, excessive requests for sheets and cleaning services, the personal relationship with staff and A.D.’s trafficker, and the direct employee encounters with A.D. and her trafficker inside the SpringHill. (Doc. #39, ¶ 97.) CHM Naples employees and staff openly observed signs of trafficking and did not aid plaintiff. benefited financially (Id. at ¶ 104.) from plaintiff was trafficked. room rentals CHM Naples directly for rooms in which (Id. at ¶ 112.) The Court finds these facts are sufficient to plausibly allege knowledge at this stage of the proceedings. act is not required. 3404-MHC, 2023 (collecting WL cases An overt or direct See, e.g., K.H. v. Riti, Inc., No. 1:22-CV3644224, of at direct *4 (N.D. association Ga. Apr. between 17, hotel 2023) and trafficker); J.C. v. I Shri Khodiyar, LLC, 624 F. Supp. 3d 1307, 1318 (N.D. Ga. 2022) (Plaintiff claims that her daughter was forced to have sex with Defendant's employees); J.G. v. Northbrook Indus., Inc., 619 F. Supp. 3d 1228, 1239 (N.D. Ga. 2022) (employees acted as lookouts for Plaintiff's traffickers). Accordingly, it is hereby - 12 - Case 2:22-cv-00645-JES-NPM Document 50 Filed 08/25/23 Page 13 of 13 PageID 528 ORDERED: 1. Defendant Marriott International, Inc.'s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Second Amended Complaint (Doc. #41) is GRANTED and defendant is dismissed with prejudice. 2. Defendant CHM Naples II Hotel Partners, LLC’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint (Doc. #42) is DENIED. DONE and ORDERED at Fort Myers, Florida, this of August 2023. Copies: Counsel of Record - 13 - 25th day
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