LitPRO
Human trafficking has been called the fastest-growing type of criminal activity in the world. Each year in the U.S., untold numbers of people–both citizens and foreigners brought into the country–are lured, coerced, or otherwise captured, then trafficked and forced into some type of labor against their will. This labor ranges from forced begging to sex work to the harvesting of a victim’s organs. Most victims are hijacked in some way while others may be “purchased” from their desperate families.
According to some experts, human traffickers net more than $30 billion annually in the U.S. alone.
Although trafficking is a criminal offense that can land traffickers and their associates in prison, victims can also claim civil damages against their traffickers and anyone else that benefits from their forced labor. These beneficiaries can be individuals, corporations, or other entities. Civil courts can impose huge penalties on defendants in human trafficking cases under the auspices of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003 (TVPRA).
In fact, a number of American companies have been held liable for enabling human traffickers. For example, victims have successfully sued several American hotel companies for allowing sex traffickers to use their hotels for non-consensual sexual activity involving trafficking victims.
When a trafficking victim is burdened with healthcare repayment obligations, LitPRO stands ready with lien reduction strategies that satisfy lienholders while preserving as much of the victim’s settlement award as possible.