Decatur hotel ordered to pay $40M for ignoring child sex trafficking

By Eric MockUpdated - July 13, 2025 - 1:32pm EDT - Decatur - FOX 5 Atlanta

Sex trafficking victim awarded damages

What they're saying:

The girl's attorney, Patrick McDonough, told FOX 5 News that at one point, in a 40-day period, the girl was sold for sex at the hotel more than 200 times.

The lawyer said his client was trafficked at the United Inn & Suites in Decatur between 2018 and 2019. He said the staff knew what was happening to his client, and refused to step in. He said the hotel even profited from the crime taking place there.

The jury gave the victim $10 million in compensatory damages and $30 million in punitive damages. The ruling was made against Northbrook Industries, Incorporated, doing business as United Inn & Suites.

https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/decatur-hotel-must-pay-40m-ignoring-child-sex-trafficking