#TSRUpdatez: Roommates, Motel 6 is going to have to dig real deep in their pockets as the result of a discrimination lawsuit that alleged the company targeted Hispanic guests.
Earlier this year, we reported that the hotel chain was hit with a lawsuit for disclosing the personal information of thousands of guests with “Latino-sounding” names to federal immigration. The suit alleged that Motel 6 sent names, identification numbers, birthdays and license plates of more than 9,000 guests to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents with the understanding that they would use the data to question residents.
According to Reuters, Motel 6 just settled with eight Hispanic plaintiffs, seven who were from Arizona and one from Washington state. With this settlement, the company will be dishing out $7.6 million, although according to the terms, they did not have to admit liability and denied engaging in any unlawful conduct.
The company will be paying $5.6 million to guests who faced immigration removal proceedings. (They will be eligible to receive $7,500 each.) Another $1 million will be going to guests who were questioned or interrogated by ICE and the remaining $1 million will be given to guest whose information was given out between Feb. 1, 2017 to Nov. 2, 2018. The hotel chain will also be responsible for paying $1.3 million for legal fees and administrative costs.
The lawsuit was filed by The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. This came after least 20 people were arrested over a six-month period at Motel 6 hotels in Arizona. “Motel 6 fully recognizes the seriousness of the situation and accepts full responsibility for both compensating those who were harmed and taking the necessary steps to ensure that we protect the privacy of our guests,” Motel 6 and MALDEF said in a joint statement, according to Reuters.
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Roommates, what do you think about the settlement? Is it enough?
TSR STAFF: Myeisha E.! @myeisha.essex
