Tianxiagong, an anti-discrimination NGO based in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, had planned to host a seminar for public interest lawyers in Suzhou and signed a contract with the Suzhou Motai hotel (苏州莫泰酒店管理有限公司) to reserve Motai facilities for the seminar. When Motai refused to honor the reservation just before the seminar was to convene, Tianxiagong sued the hotel. During the trial, Motai argued that it canceled Tianxiagong’s reservation on the order of the Pishijie substation of Suzhou Public Security Bureau, and the police admitted to the order stating it was necessary to “maintain stability.” On March 18, 2013, the court ordered the hotel to pay Tianxiagong 21,570 yuan in damages, in addition to returning the original deposit of 5,000 yuan.

The following legal documents from the case are provided below:

• Civil Judgment issued by the Gusu District People’s Court, Suzhou City, March 18, 2013
• “Answer” from Suzhou Motai Hotel Management Co., Ltd, December 17, 2012
• Civil Complaint from Nanjing Tianxiagong Culture Communication Co., Ltd., September 12, 2012