Andersen, Tate & Carr Secures Largest Verdict in the U.S.A. in Child Sex Trafficking Case Against Super 8 Hotel Operator

Jury holds hotel operator accountable in case involving survivor who was trafficked at Atlanta-area property beginning at age 15

ATLANTA, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A federal jury has returned a $164 million verdict in favor of a survivor of child sex trafficking in a case against the operator of a Super 8 hotel in College Park, Georgia. The survivor was represented by lead counsel Patrick McDonough, Jonathan S. Tonge and Rory Weeks of Andersen, Tate & Carr.

The verdict follows a 3-day trial in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia where evidence showed that the hotel operator, Lincoln Bancorp, LLC, knew or should have known that sex trafficking was occurring at the Super 8 located at 4979 Old National Highway in College Park and financially benefited from rooms used in the trafficking operation.

The plaintiff, identified in court documents as J.R. to protect her privacy, was only 15 years old when her trafficking at the hotel began in 2020. Evidence presented at the trial showed that traffickers repeatedly brought J.R. to the Super 8 in 2020 and 2021, sometimes staying for weeks or months at a time while she was sold for sex. Testimony and evidence presented at the trial showed that hotel employees knew or should have known what was occurring and failed to intervene.

The jury found Lincoln Bancorp liable for $164 million and awarded J.R. $44 million in compensatory damages and $120 million in punitive damages, the largest sex trafficking verdict ever returned in the U.S.A.

"This verdict sends a powerful message that hotels cannot turn a blind eye when children are being trafficked on their property," said Patrick McDonough, lead counsel and head of the sex trafficking division at Andersen, Tate & Carr. "Our client was a child. She deserved protection, and instead, according to the evidence presented in this case, the people who could have helped her failed her. Her courage in coming forward and telling her story made this verdict possible, and we hope it helps drive meaningful change throughout the hospitality industry."

Testimony at the trial revealed that J.R. was subjected to seven to 15 buyers per day while being trafficked at the property. At times, she shared a hotel room with as many as eight other trafficking victims, including other minors. Evidence presented at trial also showed that hotel employees were aware of unusually high foot traffic to the rooms and that staff would contact rooms when the activity became too loud or attracted too much attention.

J.R. also testified at trial about an attempt to seek help from a hotel employee. She testified that she asked a front desk employee for directions to the nearest train station so she could escape her traffickers. According to her testimony, the employee refused to assist her because he knew she was associated with the traffickers and then refused her request to use the hotel phone.

"It was an incredible privilege to walk alongside J.R. and get to know the remarkable person she is," said Tonge. "It takes extraordinary courage to stand up and tell your story the way she did. No one who saw it was unaffected. I'll always be in awe of that."

The case also included testimony from a former Super 8 housekeeper who lived at the property while working there. She stated that prostitution occurred frequently and that young girls were regularly present at the property and that employees rented rooms by the hour or half-hour for sex. She also stated that some traffickers paid front-office employees to act as lookouts and that she witnessed employees warning traffickers when police were present.

"This was not a case about expecting hotel employees to recognize a single subtle warning sign," McDonough said. "The evidence showed that there were repeated, visible indicators of trafficking over an extended period. Hotels are uniquely positioned to recognize these signs, train their employees, and take action. When businesses instead benefit financially while vulnerable people are exploited, there must be accountability."

The case included claims under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, which provides a civil cause of action against those who knowingly benefit from participating in a venture they knew or should have known was engaged in trafficking.

The verdict marks the latest major sex trafficking case led by McDonough, who previously served as lead counsel for survivors in litigation against Red Roof Inn. In 2024, that case reached a confidential settlement after three weeks of trial. Additionally, he tried the United Inn hotel case in 2025 that resulted in a $40 million verdict for its role in the sex trafficking of a 16-year-old minor.

McDonough leads the sex trafficking division at Andersen, Tate & Carr to help trafficking survivors pursue civil justice while supporting their emotional and mental well-being. Before joining Andersen, Tate & Carr, McDonough served as a district attorney in Georgia and helped establish child advocacy centers for victims of sexual abuse. (ATC Law Firm)

"This case is ultimately about one survivor having the opportunity to be heard," Weeks said. "No verdict can undo what happened to her as a child, but accountability matters. We hope her courage not only provides some measure of justice for her but also makes it harder for another child to be ignored."

About Andersen, Tate & Carr

Andersen, Tate & Carr, P.C. was founded in 1988 with a commitment to community involvement and connecting people with the legal help they need. Today, the firm is one of the largest law firms in northeast Georgia, with practice areas spanning civil litigation, criminal defense, real estate litigation, personal injury and more. Andersen, Tate & Carr provides a full-service approach to legal representation, with attorneys who are leaders in their respective fields. For more information, visit www.atclawfirm.com.

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SOURCE Andersen, Tate & Carr