A lawsuit filed late Thursday evening in federal court in Florida reflects a growing litigation trend: a move under federal law to assign liability to businesses used in human trafficking.

The complaint has accused a Broward County hotel company of being complicit in the trafficking and sexual exploitation of a minor, and is seeking to hold it financially accountable.

Justin D. Grosz, a partner at Kelley Kronenberg's Fort Lauderdale office and a leader of the firm's Justice for Kids division, accused Hotel Motel Inc. of profiting from the sexual exploitation of then 17-year-old Lynn Doe, under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act.