Stayed At A Motel 6 In Washington? You Might Be Owed Money

SEATTLE, WA — If you stayed at one of seven Motel 6 locations in Washington between 2015 and 2017, you might be entitled to collect compensation.

In 2018, Attorney General Bob Ferguson sued Motel 6 over claims that the company released private information on over 100,000 guests to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers between Jan. 1 2015 and Sept. 17, 2017.

The data — including names, drivers license numbers, and birth dates — was handed over without a proper warrant, violating state consumer protection laws, Ferguson said. Motel 6 agreed in April to pay $12 million to settle the suit. Motel 6 has also settled a lawsuit in Arizona for $10 million over similar claims, first reported by the Phoenix New Times.

The settlement covers guests who stayed at seven Motel 6 locations in North Everett, South Everett, South Seattle, South Tacoma and two near SeaTac Airport. The Bellingham Motel 6 is included, but the date range is Jan. 29 to March 11, 2017.

Did you stay at a Motel 6 in Washington? File a claim at www.WashingtonMotel6Settlement.com

Anyone whose information was shared with ICE can claim a part of the settlement, Ferguson said, but compensation amounts will vary based on how a person was harmed. In the most severe cases, some Motel 6 guests ended up getting arrested and deported by ICE. The agents went to the hotels looking for guests with Latino names, Ferguson said.

For example, one Seattle man stayed at a Motel 6 near SeaTac for one night wrapping Christmas presents for his four children. ICE agents approached him in the hotel’s parking lot, detained him and deported him some days later. His wife had to retrieve the presents and his other belongings from the Motel 6 after his arrest. The man was the sole provider for the household, and his wife is currently struggling to support their toddler and four other children. — AG Bob Ferguson

In addition to the $12 million settlement, Motel 6 has agreed not to release guest data without a warrant. Claims must be made by Dec. 31 to qualify.