Georgia woman awarded millions in sex trafficking case.
A Georgia woman who was awarded $40 million in damages in a sex trafficking case is now seeking an additional $2.5 million in legal fees.
In July 2025, a federal jury awarded the plaintiff, known as J.G., $10 million in compensatory damages and $30 million in punitive damages. J.G. states that a United Inn motel in DeKalb County, Georgia, failed to intervene during the time she was trafficked as a young teenager. This verdict, supported by the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, marks the first time a motel operator in Georgia has been held accountable for sex trafficking.
Now, the motion for legal fees includes $75,000 in out-of-pocket costs. According to the plaintiff, the estimated $2.5 million in attorney fees “reflects the substantial and complex” legal work completed by attorneys from two firms.
J.G. filed her initial lawsuit against the owners of the United Inn – Northbrook Industries Inc. – in 2020. She stated that she was first trafficked at the age of 16 by a man known as “Shaq,” then brought to United Inn by one of his associates.
During her six weeks at the motel, J.G. remembers being forced to cater to numerous “buyers” each day. Court documents show that at least 12 men entered and exited her room every day over a 40-day period.
Throughout the trial, the plaintiff stated that United Inn employees witnessed her “frequently buying condoms, exchanging towels, and interacting with a constant stream of male visitors,” and did not intervene. One staff member approached her with a warning about the number of guests entering and exiting her room, but did not take action to help the teenager. J.G. asserts that the United Inn historically tolerated criminal activity and that law enforcement attempted to contact staff regarding her whereabouts.
Attorneys highlighted evidence that the motel received a “be on the lookout” alert from local police, identifying J.G. as a missing minor out of Rockdale County. The notification included her name, age, and photo. According to her legal team, J.G. had been staying at the motel for 22 days when staff received the BOLO, and they did not take steps to search for the teenager.
Pat McDonough, an attorney representing J.G., highlights the establishment’s failures: "You've got to train your staff that you don't sell condoms to 16-year-olds when they come up to the front desk," McDonough said. "You need to verify, does this look right, that there's kids in this room by themselves and 20 men have gone in and out every 30 minutes."
Northbrook Industries has not publicly commented on the case. The plaintiff’s attorneys are set to provide a detailed list of expenses for the recent $2.5 million request.
Authors: Alexis Kabat and Andy Goldwasser
