The woman beside you on the bus, the child on the street, and the sex worker in a local hotel, ALL may be the victims of Human Trafficking. Men and boys are also a forgotten face of Human Trafficking and account for 25% of cases. Look Beneath the Surface refers to a program sponsored by the US Department of Health and Human Services and speaks volumes about the reality of Human Trafficking.
It can be difficult to realize who is a victim of trafficking. If you or someone you know answers “Yes” to one or more of the questions below, you or someone you know may be a victim of Human Trafficking.
Human trafficking is a serious crime, but the criminal prosecution of those who benefit from trafficking does not always result in providing victims with appropriate restitution. If you suspect that you or someone you know is the victim of Human Trafficking, we are here to help.
In 2008, Congress amended Federal Law to allow lawsuits against “whoever knowingly benefits, financially or by receiving anything of value from participation in a venture which that person knew or should have known has engaged in an act in violation of…laws prohibiting peonage, slavery, forced labor, and trafficking.”
As a result, if you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, you may recover damages not only from the traffickers, but also from third parties who knowingly benefited from the trafficking. This may include motel/hotel owners, doctors, labor recruiters, and others. These lawsuits permit both compensatory and punitive damages. Victims and survivors frequently file other claims alongside the Federal Law, including claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act, state wage and hour laws, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment, conversion, and breach of contract. While many settlement amounts are undisclosed, known settlement and damage awards since 2003 total $108,657,807.75.
Andrea Cook & Associates wants to empower victims and survivors to assert their legal rights and choose appropriate remedies to rebuild their lives. Our goal is to work collaboratively with you in advising and directing you regarding your legal rights and to ensure your safety. We seek to provide victim-centered legal representation that is culturally sensitive.
Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking
https://www.castla.org/about/services/
LA County Human Trafficking Resource Page
https://lacounty.gov/human-trafficking/
Journey Out
https://journeyout.org/
LA Regional Human Trafficking Task Force
http://lahumantrafficking.com/about-us/
National Human Trafficking Hotline
http://lahumantrafficking.com/about-us/
Children of the Night
https://www.childrenofthenight.org/contact
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Andrea Cook & Associates
Copyright 2021
All Rights Reserved.
Andrea Cook & Associates
Copyright 2020.