Marisa Trasatti (Partner-Baltimore), Robert E. Scott Jr. (Of Counsel-Baltimore) and Kevin Foreman (Associate-Baltimore) defended a major U.S. hotel chain in a federal sex trafficking matter. The team won their motion to dismiss plaintiff’s claims of direct liability and claims of vicarious liability based on theories of piercing the corporate veil, apparent and actual agency, and alter-ego liability. Other brand hotels named in the suit also prevailed. The Middle District of Florida granted leave to amend the complaint solely as to vicarious liability based on an actual agency theory, identifying the complaint’s fatal flaw as its impermissible shotgun pleading approach.