Sex Trafficking Lawyers For Survivors

Nearly $1 Billion Recovered for Survivors

Legal Support For Sex Trafficking Survivors

Human trafficking is a severe crisis that hides in plain sight, and it exploits millions of vulnerable people around the world. Despite the tireless efforts of law enforcement to bring traffickers to justice in criminal court, a different, powerful tool for survivors seeking justice is available: civil litigation.

Civil lawsuits give survivors the ability to hold individuals and organizations that knowingly aid human trafficking accountable for their actions. Survivors can actually seek compensation as well as a measure of justice. At Kayla’s Survivors, our sexual abuse lawyers have helped survivors recover over $1 billion as a result of settlements and verdicts, including cases involving human and sex trafficking. Get started with your case by calling (800) 509-9747 or requesting a free case evaluation.

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Common Sex Trafficking Industries

Sex trafficking relies on existing legal industries to operate, much like a criminal organization. We can see how civil litigation can be used to hold complicit companies liable by knowing the typical locations and businesses where trafficking takes place. 

• The Hospitality Industry: Unfortunately, one of the main locations for sex trafficking is hotels and motels (according to a historic lawsuit, 80% of human trafficking arrests occur in or around hotels). Traffickers frequently use these properties to house and exploit victims, and when hotel management and employees disregard the obvious warning signs, they are financially complicit in the crime. Guests paying in cash for multiple rooms or a single person receiving a large number of male visitors at all hours could be red flags for hotel staff. Businesses can stop being complicit and join the solution by training employees to spot these indicators.
• Restaurants & Food Service: These frequently serve as fronts for trafficking, making it difficult to distinguish between labor and sex exploitation. In addition to being exploited for commercial sex, victims may also be forced to work without pay. These settings’ isolation and erratic hours can help traffickers keep their victims under control without raising any red flags.
• Online Platforms: These days, everything is done online, and recruitment and exploitation are no exception. The business model of trafficking operations heavily relies on social media, classified ad sites, and adult service websites, which are frequently used to recruit and offer the sale of commercial sex acts and promote child sex abuse material (CASM). These businesses are increasingly being sued on the grounds that they have not upheld their own terms of service or taken appropriate action to stop trafficking from using their platforms. 
• Other Venues: Additionally, trafficking takes place in private residences, massage parlors, and even through ride-sharing apps, which are used to transport survivors between locations. Every one of these industries is required by law to ensure that they are not contributing to the exploitation of others.

Sex Trafficking Statistics

The statistics show how widespread human trafficking is and how urgently a holistic strategy is needed. Around 12,000 cases of human trafficking were reported in 2023 alone, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, a vital resource for survivors and concerned citizens. More than 6,600 of these were specifically classified as cases of sex trafficking. These statistics highlight the fact that human trafficking affects communities all throughout the United States and is not a distant, foreign issue. 

Trafficking is a complex problem with no single demographic as its survivors come from a wide range of backgrounds, including children, young adults, and undocumented people.

Since many cases go unreported because of fear, shame, or ignorance, the actual numbers are probably much higher. Survivors frequently find it difficult to come forward due to the crime’s secrecy, severe trauma, and psychological manipulation. And for every reported case, countless remain hidden, which serves as a stark reminder of how serious this global crisis is.

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Notable Sex Trafficking Settlements

The use of civil lawsuits to hold companies responsible is proving to be very successful in sending a strong message that complicity will not be tolerated. 

• The Georgia Verdict of $40 Million: A $40 million verdict was given to a survivor by a federal jury in a historic case against a motel that willfully allowed her to be trafficked on their grounds for an extended period of time.
• The Philly Days Inn Victims: A $24 million settlement was reached with a Philadelphia Days Inn during February of 2023. According to eight sex trafficking survivors, the hotel ignored clear indicators of exploitation, like high foot traffic and frequent cash transactions, and thus was complicit.
• The Philadelphia Hotel Settlements: In a different high-profile case, several Philadelphia hotels came to a substantial $17.5 million agreement with survivors of human trafficking. According to the lawsuit, employees failed to put in place adequate security measures by ignoring obvious indicators of trafficking, such as an unusually high number of men visiting a single room.

Get Legal Help From Kayla’s Survivors

If you or a loved one has been exploited through sex trafficking, you may be eligible to take legal action and hold traffickers and enabling institutions accountable. A sex trafficking lawyer can help you understand your rights, explore your legal options, and pursue the justice and compensation you deserve. Take the first step by calling (800) 509-9747 or tell us what happened online. Our legal team is here to listen and provide support at every step of your case.

The attorneys at Kayla’s Survivors law firm have helped recover over $1 billion for survivors of sexual abuse, and have held countless abusers and organizations accountable for their actions, including survivors of sex and human trafficking.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long do I have to file a sex trafficking lawsuit?

A survivor typically has a lengthy window of time to bring a lawsuit under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), frequently up to ten years after turning 18. The psychological trauma and coercion that may postpone a survivor’s capacity to pursue legal action are acknowledged by this extended timeline. It guarantees that survivors can still seek justice, even though they might require a considerable amount of time to process their trauma. 

Can I remain anonymous when filing a lawsuit as a sex trafficking survivor?

Yes, in order to preserve their identity and safety, survivors can frequently bring legal action using a “Jane Doe” or “John Doe” pseudonym. Because of this, survivors of human and sex trafficking can pursue justice without worrying about reprisals or being made public.

How can a lawyer help sex trafficking survivors?

Lawyers are essential in assisting survivors navigate the complex legal system. They can help by advocating for survivors in civil cases against their traffickers or establishments like hotels that enabled the abuse. An attorney can also help survivors pursue maximum compensation for damages.