Sex Trafficking Lawsuit Against Wyndham Hotels Moves to Texas After NJ Judge’s Ruling

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