Human trafficking is one of the most serious human rights violations occurring in communities across California, and at CaseyGerry, our sexual abuse attorneys are committed to helping survivors seek justice. A San Diego human trafficking lawyer from our team can help you pursue a civil claim against traffickers, businesses that benefited from your trafficking, and entities that failed to prevent your exploitation.
Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel someone to provide labor or perform commercial sex acts. Common case types include the sex trafficking of minors and adults, labor trafficking in industries such as hospitality and agriculture, and trafficking individuals into domestic servitude. Our San Diego lawyers are familiar with the complexity and sensitivity of human trafficking cases and can help you navigate your legal options based on what you experienced.
Traffickers may use physical violence, threats against family members, debt bondage, or psychological manipulation to control their victims. They often target vulnerable individuals, including runaways, undocumented immigrants, those experiencing homelessness, or people struggling with addiction. A lawyer with experience in this area will understand the complex dynamics that can keep victims trapped and prevent them from seeking help immediately.
Human trafficking can occur in full view of the public in hotels, restaurants, agricultural operations, residential neighborhoods, and on online platforms. Signs include individuals who appear fearful or submissive, lack control over their identification documents or money, show signs of physical abuse, work excessive hours for little or no pay, or are not free to come and go as they please.
Beyond criminal prosecutions, civil legal remedies are also available to trafficking survivors in our state. This means victims can file lawsuits against their traffickers for damages, including lost wages, medical expenses, psychological harm, and punitive damages.
Importantly, survivors can also pursue claims against third parties who knowingly benefited from trafficking or should have recognized the signs but failed to intervene. These defendants might include hotels, online platforms, businesses that employed trafficked workers, or landlords who rented properties used for trafficking. An attorney will investigate all entities that played a role in enabling trafficking to continue.
California has enacted some of the nation’s strongest protections for human trafficking victims. Its civil remedies statute allows survivors, in some cases, to bring claims without being subject to statutes of limitations. Courts have recognized that the control exerted by traffickers and the trauma it causes often prevent victims from coming forward immediately. Where the statute of limitations does apply, it may be seven or 10 years (if the individual was a minor when trafficked).
The human trafficking attorneys on our San Diego team understand these unique legal protections and how to advocate effectively for clients who have experienced severe trauma. They are familiar with criminal and civil provisions on human trafficking and can help you pursue your claim with knowledge, empathy, and care.
Civil claims in human trafficking cases can result in significant compensation for survivors. Damages may include restitution for unpaid wages, compensation for physical and psychological injuries, costs of ongoing therapy and medical treatment, and punitive damages designed to punish wrongdoers and deter future trafficking. In cases involving businesses or wealthy defendants, these awards can provide survivors with the resources they need to sustain long-term recovery and rebuild their lives. Our San Diego legal team can explain your options and tailor strategies to your circumstances and needs as a survivor of human trafficking.
At CaseyGerry, our attorneys understand the complex and sensitive nature of representing human trafficking survivors. A San Diego human trafficking lawyer from our team will handle your case with the discretion and compassion it requires while pursuing accountability from all responsible parties. One of CaseyGerry’s attorneys played a lead role in criminal cases protecting victims of child abuse before joining CaseyGerry.
Reach out to our firm today to learn how we can help you or a loved one seek justice and compensation. Consultations are always free, confidential, and handled with care and compassion.
