by Shelly Strom, for Portland Business Journal
A judge recently settled legal sparring in a case that serves as a cautionary tale for the hospitality industry. The lawsuit involves sex trafficking, online classifieds, a local hotel and the murder of a young woman.
Chief United States District Judge Michael Mossman issued an opinion and order on Jan. 21, affirming a court recommendation for the case to move forward in Multnomah County Circuit Court. The ruling ended a nearly year-long argument by defendants who asserted that the case falls under federal jurisdiction instead of state circuit court, where it was filed back in 2017.
The lawsuit seeks $3.6 million in damages for the estate of Ashley Benson, who was murdered in 2014 at the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton in Portland’s Lloyd District. The lawsuit alleges she was a victim of sex trafficking.
The lawsuit names 22 defendants including a worker at the DoubleTree, Hilton Worldwide Holdings and WMK Portland, LLC, which owned the DoubleTree Hotel at the time of the murder.
WMK’s representative did not return a call for comment by the Portland Business Journal's deadline. Both the hotel and Hilton declined to comment. Read more.