In a landmark case reflecting growing accountability in the hospitality industry, a Georgia hotel has agreed to pay $6 million to a survivor of child sex trafficking, who says the motel’s staff and ownership knowingly allowed her to be repeatedly raped and exploited by dozens of men when she was just 15 years old.
Dashaundra Hill, now an adult and mother, was trafficked by her older half-sister in 2015 at the Super 8 Motel in Decatur, now operating as America’s Best Value Inn. The property is owned by Tucker Inn Inc., which chose to settle as trial loomed in her civil lawsuit. The decision followed public scrutiny and a precedent-setting $40 million verdict in a similar case handled by Hill’s attorney, Patrick McDonough.
“They saw me, but they didn’t try to intervene at all,” Hill said. “I feel like if they would have stepped in, most of the things that I partook in, I would never have been forced to do.”
A System That Looked Away
According to court documents and interviews, Hill was lured by her half-sister under the guise of finding refuge from turmoil at home. Instead, she was trafficked over a period of several days to multiple adult men—all while hotel employees allegedly witnessed the abuse and did nothing to stop it.
The abuse came to an end when police raided the motel in September 2015, rescuing Hill. But the trauma remained.
Hill later filed a civil lawsuit against Tucker Inn Inc., accusing the hotel of gross negligence and willful indifference to obvious signs of child sex trafficking. The complaint stated that motel staff ignored clear red flags: frequent male visitors to the room, underage guests without guardians, cash transactions, and prolonged stays under suspicious circumstances.
Legal Significance and Public Impact
Attorney Patrick McDonough emphasized that businesses, especially hotels, have a legal and moral obligation to act when they see signs of trafficking.
“All they really have to do is not rent to children,” McDonough said. “And if they see something suspicious, they need to call the police.”
The $6 million settlement, which the defense had sought to keep confidential, was publicly disclosed at Hill’s insistence.
“She wants to be able to bring awareness to this issue, really nationally,” McDonough told FOX 5 Atlanta. “This case is about more than money—it’s about visibility, justice, and reform.”
Hill said she chose to go public in the hope that other survivors would feel empowered to speak up and pursue legal action.
“You’re always able to fight,” she said. “I hope survivors find their voice.”
Looking Ahead: Justice Beyond Compensation
Hill said a portion of the settlement will go toward creating a safe home for trafficked girls, providing them with the resources, protection, and healing she once desperately needed.
While Tucker Inn Inc. declined to comment on the case or the settlement, legal observers say this case will likely serve as a blueprint for future civil claims against hotels that fail to intervene in trafficking incidents on their properties.
A National Shift in Hotel Liability
The Hill case comes amid a wave of civil litigation nationwide targeting hotels that have allegedly turned a blind eye to human trafficking. Courts are increasingly recognizing that commercial establishments share civil liability when they knowingly benefit from trafficking or fail to take action against it.
In 2023, the Trafficking Survivors Civil Remedies Act in several states expanded victims’ rights to sue third parties—including landlords, online platforms, and hotel operators—if they profited from or ignored trafficking activity.
“This isn’t about hotels being perfect. It’s about being responsible,” said McDonough. “And holding them accountable when they’re not.”
If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP to 233733.
