A sex trafficking civil claim is a lawsuit brought by a survivor who was recruited, harbored, transported or advertised for commercial sex through force, fraud or coercion, or who was under 18 at the time. It seeks compensation from the traffickers and, when the facts support it, from hotels, motels, massage storefronts, websites and others that knowingly benefited from or should have recognized the trafficking.
Blank Kim Injury Law meets with survivors confidentially at our Fairfax office on Chain Bridge Road, or by phone at a time that is safe for you. A civil claim is separate from any criminal case, and it belongs to you. Attorney Robert Kim speaks Korean, and our paralegal team speaks Spanish, because trafficking often targets people who are isolated by language.
If you or someone you know is in danger
- 911 for immediate danger.
- National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888. Confidential, available at any hour, with interpreters in many languages. You can also text or chat through its website.
- RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673.
- If the person is a child, Virginia Child Protective Services: 1-800-552-7096.
If someone monitors your phone, use a device they cannot access, and clear your browser history after visiting this page. You can reach us at any hour.
What sex trafficking looks like
Trafficking rarely resembles the kidnapping stories in movies. Most survivors were exploited by someone they knew or trusted: a boyfriend, a family member, an employer or a recruiter. Common patterns include:
- A romantic partner who gradually pressures someone into commercial sex to “help out”
- A job offer, often for restaurant, spa or modeling work, that turns into forced sex work
- Debts for travel, housing or immigration that can never be paid off
- Confiscated passports or identification, threats about immigration status or threats to family
- Drugs used to create dependence
- Minors exploited in exchange for a place to stay, food or protection
Anyone under 18 involved in commercial sex is a trafficking victim, regardless of whether force was used. Survivors often did not see themselves as victims at the time, and some were arrested. None of that is a barrier to talking with us.
Traffickers, and the businesses that profited
Federal law gives trafficking survivors a civil cause of action against perpetrators and, in some cases, against anyone who knowingly benefited from participating in a venture they knew or should have known was trafficking. Virginia law also addresses trafficking. The specific requirements are technical, and we examine them for each defendant.
| Business | Questions a claim explores |
|---|---|
| Hotels and motels, including along the I-95 and Route 1 corridors | Cash payments, repeated short stays, heavy foot traffic, ignored staff reports |
| Illicit massage storefronts | Who owned and leased the property, and what landlords knew |
| Websites and online platforms | How ads were posted, flagged and handled |
| Trucking stops and transport providers | Warning signs employees observed |
| Employers using forced labor | Recruiting, housing and payment practices |
A property owner who ignored obvious signs can also face a negligent security claim. Our page on hotel injury claims covers hotel responsibility more broadly.
Protecting survivors during a civil case
Many survivors fear that suing will expose them to their trafficker or to questions about their own history. We plan around those fears from the start:
- Asking the court to allow a pseudonym and to seal identifying information where appropriate
- Coordinating with prosecutors, advocates and victim services, if you choose to work with them
- Referring you to immigration counsel, because some trafficking survivors qualify for special immigration protections
- Keeping contact with you through channels you control
How much time you have
Virginia has special timing rules for sexual abuse claims, and when the abuse occurred in childhood, its statute of limitations includes special provisions in Va. Code § 8.01-243(D) and Va. Code § 8.01-249(6). Federal trafficking claims follow their own timing rules. These can differ significantly from the ordinary two-year injury rule, so do not assume time has run. See our Virginia sexual abuse statute of limitations guide.
Evidence in trafficking cases
You do not need to have kept anything. Useful evidence often exists elsewhere: hotel registration and payment records, online ad archives, phone records, police and prosecution files, and testimony from staff who saw what was happening. If you do still have messages, photos, receipts or names, keep them somewhere safe. We gather the rest through the legal process.
How we work with trafficking survivors
Our first priority is your safety and your control over what happens next. We listen, explain your options plainly, and work alongside advocates and other professionals you trust. When you decide to proceed, we identify every responsible party, pursue the claim, and take it to court when needed. Learn more about our Virginia sexual abuse practice, or reach our team through our Korean-speaking and Spanish-speaking pages.
