Human Trafficking Lawsuits

Human Trafficking Lawsuits in West Virginia

Human trafficking remains a grim reality across the United States, including West Virginia. Alarmingly, the culprits extend beyond individual criminals to include various business sectors. Industries such as airlines, truck stops, classified ad websites, and hotels often unknowingly support this illicit trade. It’s essential to scrutinize these businesses when investigating human trafficking cases, as they play a role in perpetuating this modern form of slavery.

At the Mountaineer Criminal Law Group, we are committed to representing victims of human trafficking, including those subjected to sexual exploitation or other forms of abuse. Our skilled West Virginia traffic lawyer is dedicated to fighting for your rights and securing a favorable outcome in your case.

Key Information About Human Trafficking Lawsuits

Both state and federal laws empower survivors of human trafficking to file lawsuits against businesses that profit from these crimes. The Trafficking Victims Protection ReauthorizationAct of 2008 permits survivors to pursue civil claims against companies that knowingly or negligently support these illicit activities.

The human trafficking industry is alarmingly lucrative, generating profits of up to $150 billion annually, with sexual exploitation alone accounting for $99 billion. By cutting off support to these operations, we can weaken the criminals’ hold and bring them to justice.

Organizations like the National Center on Sexual Exploitation and World Without Exploitation work tirelessly to combat these crimes, aiming to rescue survivors and reintegrate them into society. At Mountaineer Criminal Law Group, we share this mission—to hold every complicit entity accountable and ensure they face appropriate penalties for their involvement.

We also recognize that when survivors bravely share their stories, it inspires others to seek justice. Your courage in exposing the businesses that aid human trafficking marks a significant step toward a brighter future.

Understanding Human Trafficking

While sexual exploitation is a major focus in many human trafficking cases, the issue is much broader. Human trafficking encompasses forced labor in homes, sweatshops, construction sites, restaurants, and hotels, alongside coerced sexual exploitation in marriages.

In 2000, PresidentWilliam Clinton signed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, the first federal law addressing modern-day human trafficking in the United States. This legislation defines human trafficking as the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of individuals for labor or sex through force, fraud, or coercion.

Although gathering precise data on this crime poses challenges, some cases resemble domestic violence, complicating classification efforts. Forbes reports that human trafficking is among the fastest-growing crimes in the U.S. today.

The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 holds individuals accountable for deriving sexual pleasure from trafficking victims. Over the past two years, multiple websites, hotels, and airlines have faced lawsuits for their involvement in human trafficking.

If you or a loved one has survived trafficking and seeks compensation and justice, turn to us at (304) 381-3656 the Mountaineer Criminal Law Group. Our experienced Summersville traffic lawyer will work tirelessly to secure the justice you rightfully deserve.