PHOENIX – Attorneys for MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) will be in federal court on Friday, July 19, 2019, in support of a joint motion for preliminary approval of a settlement in a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of guests who stayed at Motel 6 nationwide and whose privacy was violated when personal information was provided to federal immigration officials.
What:
- Court hearing to consider preliminary approval of an updated nationwide class-settlement.
When:
- July 19, 2019 at 2 pm MST.
Who:
- Attorneys for MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund)
- Attorneys for the Ortega Law Firm
- Attorneys for Motel 6
Where: U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell,
Sandra Day O’Connor U.S. Courthouse,
401 W. Washington Street, Phoenix.
Background: MALDEF sues Motel 6 in federal court in January 2018 alleging the national hotel chain’s practice of voluntarily giving Latino guests’ personal information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents without a warrant violates federal and state civil rights and privacy laws barring discrimination based on national origin, and protections against unreasonable searches.
A preliminary agreement was reached in November 2018, and, following a settlement by the Washington state attorney general, an updated settlement proposal was recently filed with the court on June 28, 2019.
The revised agreement:
- Increases the total recovery and increases the potential individual class member recoveries.
- Expands the scope of the classes to cover guests who stayed at any Motel 6 franchise locations between February 2015 and June 2019.
- Modifies the class definitions to include individuals who were questioned, interrogated, detained, and/or placed in immigration removal proceedings as a result of the disclosure of guest information to federal immigration officials. The class will be eligible to receive tiered damages.
Read the settlement agreement Here and summaries of several of the plaintiffs’ cases Here