The lawsuit filed in federal district court on Monday claims that the Hotel Ivy made no effort to protect the teen girls who were sex trafficked by Lazzaro at his condo on the 19th floor of the Ivy Tower in Lazzaro was sentenced to 21 years in prison for sex trafficking five minors ages 15 and 16 when he was 30 years old. Lazzaro paid teenagers for sex with money and gifts, according to federal prosecutors. He also would supply them with drugs and alcohol to the point many were visibly intoxicated and had to be helped leaving the hotel, according to the recent lawsuit.
Since then, the hotel has changed ownership. The counsel also clarified that the Hotel Ivy and Ivy Residences are "separate and distinct pieces of real estate," and that Lazzaro's activities occurred at his condo at the Ivy Residences, which is located in the same building as the Hotel Ivy.
Minnesota law requires all owners, managers and on-site employees of hotels in the state to take sex trafficking training annually.
The training — developed by the Minnesota Department of Health in partnership with Hospitality Minnesota — includes a virtual presentation, a companion guide, a manager and owner training toolkit and a poster set.
The lawsuit claims that despite this training, the staff at Hotel Ivy made no effort to protect the girls trafficked by Lazzaro.
