PHOENIX (AP) - A federal judge on Tuesday requested more information before he approves a settlement in a lawsuit filed by Motel 6 guests who say employees of the national budget chain shared their private information with immigration officials.
Judge David G. Campbell told attorneys for Motel 6 and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund that he needed more details, including how many people potentially could be affected. The two sides have said the number of people who possibly had their private information shared could run into the tens of thousands.
A proposed settlement announced by the two parties last year calls for the chain to compensate targeted guests and orders its locations to prevent the practice of sharing private information.
Campbell asked them to file a more detailed settlement by March 29 and return to court April 16.
Under the settlement proposal filed late last year in federal court, Motel 6 said it would collectively pay affected guests up to $7.6 million.
“This just means a little bit of delay for getting folks the relief they deserve,” fund president and general counsel Thomas A. Saenz said.
The rights group said that Motel 6 discriminated against customers at two locations in Phoenix by sharing their whereabouts and personal information with U.S. immigration agents who later arrested at least seven guests.
Motel 6 last year said its Phoenix employees would no longer work with immigration authorities after the Phoenix New Times newspaper reported workers were providing guests’ names to agents.
The Phoenix lawsuit was filed on behalf of eight unnamed people who stayed at two Motel 6 locations in the city in June and July 2017. All but one was arrested.
A class-action suit would potentially include others who had their private information shared with authorities.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement wasn’t targeted in the lawsuit, and the agency has declined to comment on the legal action.
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