Human Trafficking Lawsuits

Human Trafficking Lawsuits in West Virginia

Human trafficking remains a grave issue across the United States, affecting countless lives each year. Disturbingly, those driving this crime are not limited to traditional offenders but extend to certain business chains that inadvertently or intentionally fuel the trafficking market. Among these businesses are airlines, truck stops, classified websites, and hotels. These organizations often play a role in enabling human trafficking, making it essential to investigate and hold them accountable when such cases come to light.

At Mountaineer Criminal Law Group, we stand alongside survivors of human trafficking, striving to provide justice to those subjected to sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse. Our Martinsburg criminal lawyer is committed to advocating for victims and ensuring they achieve the justice they rightfully deserve.

What You Need to Know About Human Trafficking Lawsuits

Both state and federal laws empower survivors of human trafficking to seek justice by filing lawsuits against businesses that knowingly benefit from trafficking activities. The 2008 amendment to the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act enables survivors to bring civil claims against corporations that either deliberately assist or ignore their role in supporting human trafficking.

The human trafficking industry generates staggering profits, reportedly up to $150 billion annually, with $99 billion coming from sexual exploitation alone. Reducing the support these businesses provide to traffickers is crucial to dismantling their networks and ensuring that offenders face legal consequences. 

Organizations such as the National Center on Sexual Exploitation and World Without Exploitation are making significant efforts to address and reduce human trafficking. Their aim is to rescue survivors and reintegrate them into society, giving them a chance at a brighter future.

At Mountaineer Criminal Law Group, we share this mission. We are dedicated to holding every complicit entity accountable and making sure they face the consequences of their involvement in trafficking. Furthermore, we recognize that when survivors come forward to share their stories, it inspires others to do the same. These courageous steps raise awareness and strengthen the call for justice, creating meaningful change for a more hopeful future.

What Is Human Trafficking?

While sexual exploitation often receives the most attention in human trafficking cases, it is just one part of the issue. Human trafficking also includes forced labor in domestic settings, manufacturing sweatshops, construction sites, restaurants, and hotels, as well as involuntary participation in marriages for sexual exploitation.

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act, signed into law by President William Clinton in 2000, was the first federal legislation in the United States to address modern-day human trafficking. According to this law, human trafficking is defined as the “recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person” for labor or sexual services through “force, fraud, or coercion.”

Although obtaining precise data on these crimes can be challenging, many cases resemble domestic violence scenarios, making it even harder to classify offenses. Forbes has highlighted human trafficking as one of the fastest-growing crimes in the U.S. today.

Additionally, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, passed in 2015, holds individuals accountable who exploit trafficked victims for sexual gratification. Over the past two years, businesses such as websites, hotels, and airlines have faced lawsuits for their involvement in human trafficking.

Seeking Justice with Mountaineer Criminal Law Group

If you or someone you love has survived human trafficking and is now seeking compensation and justice, Mountaineer Criminal Law Group is here to help. Our experienced team, including our dedicated Martinsburg DUI lawyer, will fight alongside you to ensure justice is served. 

By shining a light on the dark underpinnings of human trafficking—while exposing and scrutinizing the complicity of enabling businesses—we take crucial steps toward dismantling this damaging network. Mountaineer Criminal Law Group is your steadfast partner in seeking accountability and supporting your quest for justice.    

Contact us today (304) 381-3656 to take the first step in reclaiming your rightful future with our  Martinsburg criminal lawyer.