Los Angeles Sex Trafficking Lawyer

Human trafficking for commercialized sexual activity, aka sex trafficking, is a criminal enterprise that can happen anywhere around the world. Many people assume that such horrific events happen only in poor, third-world countries. In reality, there may be a victim who is being trafficked in your own neighborhood, or a location you pass by on a daily basis. 

Sex traffic victims can be female or male, children or adults, meaning anyone can fall victim to trafficking by a pimp or a criminal organization. The scars of being sexually abused can stay with victims for the rest of their lives, though it’s possible to work through the trauma and move forward in a positive direction. 

For some people, moving forward may include a sex trafficking civil lawsuit, meaning a legal action to demand compensation from the responsible parties.  Here at Kenmore Law Group, we have a dedicated team of Los Angeles attorneys experienced in sex traffickers cases. You can count on us to protect your rights and ensure that the people who harmed you are held accountable for their negligence or misconduct. We are here to for you day and night, whether you were sex trafficked or need legal support for minors in sex trafficking cases. Call us today and talk to a California sex trafficking lawyer.

How Common is Sex Trafficking in California

Studies by the state government indicate that California is the leading state for the number of sex trafficking incidents every year. It’s important to note that we don’t know for sure how many people are victimized, as the data is based on reports to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. 

Per the World Population Review, we know that there were at least 1,334 cases of human trafficking in 2020 alone. Essentially, these are not rare and isolated incidents, and those who are trafficked deserve justice, including compensation for emotional trauma from sex trafficking. In recent years, federal and state governments have recognized the global presence of human trafficking, which rakes in around $150 billion ever year. There is no denying that sex trafficking is modern-day slavery, and legal protections like the Trafficking Victims Protection Act are essential to combating this system of sexual exploitation. 

Those who are sold for sexual activity are often forced to have sex with up to 15 random people a day. Refusal is likely to result in beatings and other forms of retaliation, even with victims as young as 11 years old. Tragically, someone in the world falls prey to the system of sex trafficking every 30 seconds, and more than 50% of these individuals are minors. 

Would you like to learn more about the legal rights of sex trafficking victims? By contacting us today, you can receive advice from lawyers with experience in sex trafficking lawsuits. Our legal team is here for you day and night, so don’t hesitate to contact us.

What is Sex Trafficking?

Sex trafficking is a term used to describe the act of “compelling or coercing a person to provide labor or services, or to engage in commercial sex acts.” Coercion usually takes place in the form of threats, violence, intimidation, and debt bondage. If the victim is underage (younger than 18), coercion is not needed to prove a case of sex trafficking. Per the California human trafficking law, any sexual exploitation of a minor for commercial purpose is sex trafficking. 

People who are most likely to become sex trafficking victims include children in foster care and sexual / domestic violence victims. Immigrants are vulnerable as well, since they can be tricked by false promises of a loving relationship or high paying job. Other commonalities among sex trafficking victims include:

• One in 7 victims who are sex trafficked are children or teens who run away from home. 
• Most victims are female, but males and transgender individuals can be sex trafficked as well. 
• Girls in the foster care system are the most likely to be sexually exploited.
• Many victims of sex trafficking – especially immigrants – work in approximately 9,000 massage parlors throughout the U.S. 

Those who were sex trafficked can seek justice by filing criminal charges, but this is not the only option under the legal system. A sex trafficking attorney in Los Angeles can educate you on your rights and the process of how to request civil damages in California sex trafficking cases. For more information on suing for the harm caused by human trafficking, call us right away to schedule a free consultation. 

What are the Signs of Sex Trafficking?

It’s important to recognize the signs of sex trafficking, especially at places like hotels and motels. The U.S. Department of State has the following tips that can help you recognize the possibility of human trafficking:

• Numerous people appear to be living in a small space, like a basement, attic, or single hotel room
• The individual or people are living in poor conditions
• When you speak with the victim, their answers appear rehearsed or scripted
• The person appears to be fearful, paranoid, anxious, or submissive
• They do not speak to anyone unless someone else is with them
• The person appears to be underage and is engaging in prostitution
• The person they work for is holding their personal documents (driver’s license, passport, etc.)
• The person has very little to no money

Here are some additional red flags of sex trafficking activity from our team of human trafficking lawyers in California:

• A child or children are living with a family member who is negligent / abusive and seems to have a substance abuse problem 
• The person is a prostitute and appears to be managed and supervised at all times.
• The person is working somewhere that is commonly associated with sexual activity, like a strip club or massage parlor.

Who is Liable in Sex Trafficking Cases?

Gangs, smugglers, and even family members may be responsible when someone is entrapped in a sex trafficking arrangement. These entities may face criminal prosecution, which typically happens before a lawsuit for the following reasons:

• The traffickers must be detained and stopped immediately from continuing to harm others.
• Putting the criminals behind bars is a matter of public interest and safety
• A strong and aggressive criminal case will send a message to other human traffickers. 
• Due to the higher burden of proof that’s needed for a criminal action, it’s essential to put together a case right away and bring it before a judge and jury. 

To clarify, a criminal conviction depends on the prosecutor’s ability to prove their accusations beyond a reasonable doubt. On the other hand, civil litigation for sex trafficking is based on the preponderance of evidence. This evidence can include a criminal prosecution against the perpetrators, but keep in mind that you can still file a lawsuit if the defendants are cleared of all criminal charges. 

To build a solid case that’s based on a wide body of evidence, like medical records, witness statements, and expert testimony, make sure to work with the best sex trafficking attorney in Los Angeles, California. By contacting our law firm today, you can receive guidance from a compassionate team of female and male sex trafficking lawyers in Los Angeles.

Can a Hotel be Sued for Sex Trafficking?  

Yes, you can sue hotels for sex trafficking under the TVPRA hotel liability law. Hotels and other temporary lodgings are frequently used by sex traffickers, and those who run these establishments may be liable for sexual exploitation on their premises. 

Hotels have a duty of care to those who are staying on the property, and this includes protecting them from harmful incidents, like sexual assault. If there is a lack of security or some other breach of duty, the victim can seek monetary damages from the business owner. At hotels, traffickers have relative anonymity, and sometimes help from employees and managers who are paid to look the other way or participate directly in sex trafficking. 

If you would like to explore the subject of legal action against sex trafficking in California hotels, please get in touch with us at your earliest opportunity. That way, you can obtain reliable, up to date advice from a sex trafficking lawyer near you.

Can a Motel be Sued for Sex Trafficking?  

Yes, just like hotels, a motel can be sued by victims who were sex trafficked on the premises. That means you can seek compensation for sex trafficking victims even if the motel did not directly participate in what was going on. Of course, there are instances when one or more staff members are paid off to stay silent or help the traffickers with their activities. But many hotels simply fail to recognize the signs of trafficking or contact the authorities even if they suspect that someone is being used for commercialized sex. 

In recent years, victims have sought out sex trafficking legal help, resulting in more cases being brought before the court system. In 2023 for example, a female victim filed a lawsuit against G6 Hospitality. The legal action accused various hotels owned by the brand of complicity in “sex trafficking at a hotel location in California. The plaintiff had been sex trafficked from 2012 to 2016 at multiple hotels and motels, including Studio 6 and Motel 6 locations. In the lawsuit, it was alleged that the hotels knew what was going on or failed to act when there were obvious red flags, like a “daily parade” of guests coming in and out of the room.  

Other hospitality brands named in the lawsuit include the Marriott, Hilton, and Choice Hotels. It was recognized by the federal courts that there was insufficient proof of the hotels participating in the events. But the plaintiff met the standard of liability under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), so a lawsuit against G6 was allowed to commence. 

As someone in need of a sex trafficking victim lawyer in Los Angeles, feel free to contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are ready to hear your story and fight for the compensation you rightfully deserve. 

Sex Trafficking Legal Representation

In October 2000, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) was signed into law and paved the way for victims to hold businesses responsible for trafficking on the property. With representation from a TVPRA sex trafficking lawyer, victims can sue hotels when their staff, managers, and owners ignore signs that someone is being trafficked. In 2008, a revised series of laws were passed to enhance the protections of the TVPA, which is why current laws against sex trafficking are referred to as the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). A sexual exploitation attorney at our law firm can answer any questions you have about the TVPRA and help you go after a business that failed to protect you. 

Compensation Obtained by Lawyers for Sex Trafficking Victims

A lawsuit can be filed against various individuals and entities in order to secure payments that are necessary for the victim’s physical and emotional well-being. Compensation from a sex trafficking lawsuit includes numerous economic and non-economic damages, such as medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of income. If the defendant’s actions meet the standard of gross negligence, the jury can choose to award punitive damages as a way to punish the defendant. 

While physical injuries are the most critical aspect in most personal injury lawsuits, sex trafficking cases tend to have a greater focus on emotional trauma from sexual assault and exploitation. The mental health impact of sex trafficking cannot be underestimated, so payments for pain and suffering make up the biggest portion of compensation from a civil lawsuit. 

Victims also need therapy and other support services throughout their life, whether they were trafficked as children or adults. As we mentioned before, the majority of sex trafficking victim are minors. Considering that many of these kids come from foster care or homes where they were abused and neglected, there may be a lack of adults who can advocate for their interests. Help for survivors of child sex trafficking is out there, and we can connect you with these resources, whether you need a therapist or a support group for survivors of sex trafficking. 

Contact a Lawyer for Sex Trafficking Victims

If you are ready to talk to a lawyer that specializes in sex trafficking cases, look no further than Kenmore Law Group. Our Los Angeles human trafficking attorneys have decades of experience in lawsuits for sexual abuse and assault, including hotel liability claims for negligence. We are ready to provide skilled and aggressive legal representation from day one, and we will not rest until you receive compensation for your physical and emotional suffering. 

Here at Kenmore, clients pay $0 for legal services under the Zero Gee Guarantee. As all of our attorneys work on contingency, we wait until the end of your case to receive payment. That only happens, by the way, if the case is resolved in your favor. So, if we don’t win your case, you won’t receive any bills from us. 

We look forward to being a part of your journey to recovery and holding people accountable when they ignore or facilitate crimes like sex trafficking. Use our contact form or call the offices of Kenmore Law Group to schedule a free case review.