Sex trafficking is one of the most devastating violations a person can endure. According to the United Nations’ International Labour Organization, there are estimated to be move than 6 million people victimized by sex trafficking worldwide. About 78% of victims are female and 22% are male, and 8% of the victims are children.

Here in the U.S., every day children and adults are manipulated, coerced, threatened, or forced into situations from which they cannot escape. Traffickers rely on secrecy, fear, and businesses that put profits over victimization in order to pursue their horrific pursuits.

Survivors deserve safety, justice, compensation, and the chance to rebuild their lives. As sex trafficking lawyers in Michigan, we represent victims and seek for them the full compensation they deserve. We identify traffickers and hold hotels, motels, online platforms, apartment owners, massage parlors, bars, casinos, and other commercial property owners and entities financially accountable for enabling trafficking.

If you or a loved one has been trafficked or sexually exploited, we invite you to contact us at 1-800-366-8653 to schedule a FREE, CONFIDENTIAL CONSULTATION. We advance all litigation costs, and you will not owe a fee unless compensation is recovered. We will do everything possible in striving to preserve your anonymity.

Our Human Trafficking Lawyers Are Committed to Survivors

Human trafficking does not happen only in hidden or isolated places. It often occurs in locations that appear ordinary and safe, such as hotels, apartment complexes, massage parlors, nightclubs, casinos, truck stops, and convenience stores.

As a sex trafficking law firm, we stand with survivors and demand full accountability from these and other potential defendants. We understand how traffickers use fear, coercion, manipulation, and psychological control to trap victims, and how hotels and establishments that financially benefit from trafficking often “look the other way” when suspicious behavior occurs. We also understand how certain online advertising platforms benefit from advertising designed to further sex exploitation.

Can You Protect My Identity in a Sex Trafficking Case?

We will take all action possible to seek to preserve your anonymity if you were the victim of sex trafficking.

It’s important to appreciate that the laws vary in different jurisdictions and also with respect to different aspects of litigation, so no guaranty can be made with respect to our ability to maintain anonymity. In some cases, limited (or even full) disclosure may be required. When we meet with you , we can explain how we will vigorously work to preserve your anonymity to the extent possible.

Why Choose Our Firm for Your Sex Trafficking Case? We Are Known For Taking on Corporations and High-Profile Defendants.

Our firm has long been known for taking on challenging cases against hospitals, physicians, long-term care facilities, and large corporations. We have successfully recovered millions for clients, and are highly experienced in undertaking the extensive investigation these cases require, including securing digital evidence and video, identifying systemic safety failures, uncovering patterns of misconduct, and pursuing accountability from businesses that profited from exploitation or failed to intervene.

Human trafficking cases are often complex. Defendants frequently have significant financial resources and teams of lawyers working to minimize their responsibility. We have a long history of litigating against powerful institutions and holding them accountable through settlements and jury verdicts. We bring that same determination, skill, and attention to detail to every case we handle.

You Deserve a Team Willing to Take On Big Businesses

Survivors deserve advocates who are not intimidated by large corporations or well-funded defense teams. We are prepared to stand with you, protect your rights, and pursue the full measure of justice available under the law.

What Is Human Trafficking, and How Does It Differ From Sex Trafficking?

Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to exploit another person for labor or commercial sex. It can occur in many forms, including:

• Forced sex acts
• Commercial sexual exploitation of minors
• Online sexual exploitation
• Labor trafficking in substandard or unsafe conditions
• Debt bondage
• Domestic servitude

Sex trafficking is a subset of human trafficking that involves commercial sex acts either induced through coercion or involving a minor under the age of 18. Sex trafficking involving a minor is sometimes also referred to as “child sex trafficking.”

As Michigan Human trafficking lawyers, most of our focus in this area is on sex trafficking cases and helping those who have been sexually exploited.

Can Men Be the Victims of Sex Trafficking?

Yes.

While most sex trafficking victims are women, young boys can also be victims. As with girls and women, boys (who often do not seek legal counsel until they are men), can also be the victims of sex trafficking. We also are available to represent male victims, and we will work just as tirelessly as we do for female clients in seeking full compensation and justice.

Does a Person Need to Be Kidnapped to be a Victim of Sex Trafficking?

No.

Contrary to common belief, many sex trafficking victims are not kidnapped. They are groomed, manipulated, or threatened by traffickers who exploit vulnerabilities such as poverty, homelessness, immigration status, family difficulties, drug dependence, or the need for acceptance and safety. In some cases, victims are told that their family members will be harmed if they refuse to participate with a sex trafficker.

How is Sex Trafficking Different the Prostitution?

While sex trafficking and prostitution are similar, the primary difference is in control. Prostitution often involves voluntary participation by consenting adults, while sex trafficking necessarily involves coercion, force, or a victim under age 18.

How Do Businesses Enable Sex Trafficking?

Traffickers often rely on the use of businesses in order to perpetuate criminal activity. Because of the criminal nature of their conduct, they gravitate towards businesses where their activities are unlikely to be reported or even questioned. Common businesses at which sex trafficking activities occur include hotels and motels, apartment complexes, massage parlors and spas, nightclubs and bars, and casinos and resorts.

Do Businesses Need to Play an Active Role in Sex Trafficking in Order to be Held Civilly Liable?

No.

Businesses may be held liable when they knew or should have known that trafficking was occurring on their property and failed to act, or if they otherwise participated in a meaningful way in perpetuating sex trafficking (such as through owning a website that promotes advertisements for sex).

What Online Platforms Are Commonly Used for Sex Trafficking?

Websites that allow users to post anonymous listings have long been used to facilitate prostitution and sex trafficking. Backpage.com is perhaps the most widely known example. After this website was seized by federal authorities, new websites were launched, such as  CityXGuide, to advertise victims, arrange commercial sex acts, and connect traffickers with buyers.

Owners of these website platforms can be held civilly liable when their business practices contribute to exploitation. Civil liability may arise when platform owners:

• Allow or promote listings that show clear signs of trafficking
• Fail to act on warnings or reports from users or law-enforcement
• Generate a substantial portion of their revenue from illegal activities
• Continue hosting posts or ads from individuals with a known trafficking history

Successful lawsuits across the country have demonstrated that companies cannot avoid accountability by claiming ignorance. When websites are designed to profit from facilitating sexual exploitation, courts may hold their owners responsible for the harm suffered by victims.

What Is the History of Backpage, CityXGuide, and Other Trafficking Platforms?

Backpage.com operated for years as the largest online marketplace for commercial sex, including ads involving minors. After federal authorities seized the site, replacement platforms such as CityXGuide emerged with seemingly similar listings.

Sex platform websites follow predictable business patterns:

• They offer advertisements for sex services posted under thinly disguised categories, and
• They generate ad revenue from the advertisers of illegal sex services.

Platform owners can easily operate multiple websites promoting sex acts. When one site is shut down, other existing sites can absorb the traffic of the site being shut down. And, new sites can be quickly launched. The ease and speed by which new sites can be launched contributes to the difficulty of shutting down all trafficking websites.

How Are Victims Coerced into Sex Trafficking in Michigan?

Traffickers use a wide range of tactics to control victims, including:

• Physical violence and threats of harm
• Isolation from family and friends
• Confiscation of identification documents
• Drug dependency and forced addiction
• Debt manipulation
• Surveillance and monitoring
• Grooming through affection, manipulation, or promises of safety
• Threats to harm a victim’s children or family members

Understanding these tactics is critical to building a strong case that demonstrates coercion, control, and corporate accountability.

Who May Qualify for a Human Trafficking Lawsuit?

If you were advertised, transported, or exploited for commercial sex as a minor or adult you may have the right to bring a civil action against any person or entity that was responsible, in whole or in part, for facilitating the sexual exploitation that you suffered.

Can I Recover Compensation for Being the Victim of Sex Trafficking if the Perpetrator is in Prison?

Yes.

Sex trafficking victims often feel that there is no way to get justice for the harm that they have suffered, often feeling that the only people responsible were the traffickers themselves. As traffickers may be imprisoned and/or have no assets, victims may feel that they have no financial recourse.

This is not the case.

In fact there are many types of entities that may be responsible legally for sex trafficking, and against whom a lawsuit for compensation may be brought.

What Types of Entities May Be Legally Responsible for Sex Trafficking?

Depending on the circumstances, the following are examples of entities that may be liable for sex trafficking:

• Hotels, motels, hostels, and short-term rental properties
• Massage parlors and illicit businesses disguised as legitimate services
• Apartment complexes and property managers
• Nightclubs, bars, and entertainment venues
• Rideshare and transportation companies
• The owners of truck stops and travel plazas
• Casinos and resorts
• Corporations that permit or ignore trafficking on their premises
• The owners of online platforms which served as a conduit between traffickers and those seeking sex services
• Other individuals, companies, or entities that similarly served as a conduit for illegal human trafficking.

This list is not exhaustive; other types of entities may also be liable.

The key for finding liability is proving that the person, business, or organization knew (or reasonably should have known) that their activities or the use of property was in furtherance of human trafficking.

What is the Level of Proof Required to Hold Motels and Hotels Liable?

In addition to website platforms that facilitate trafficking, one of the biggest industries that enables illegal sex acts is the hotel and motel industry. In order to be liable, the key is establishing proof that the hotel or motel managers knew that illegal sex trafficking was taking place.

As an example, hotels in less desirable areas may be a common source of accommodation for traffickers. Managers may see the same people on a frequent basis with young girls or boys under their control, as well as other “customers” visiting rooms for very short stays.

Under these facts, a hotel manager reasonably could be found to have known (or that they should have known) that illegal activities were being conducted. If this is the case, this same level of knowledge and culpability can be imputed to the hotel owner. In other words, if the manager knew of the illegal conduct, then the owner may be deemed to also have known.

In a civil case, as sex trafficking lawyers, our job is to show that a business benefited from allowing sex trafficking to occur on its presence or from other business practices. In the situation of a hotel or motel, the business will have benefited by selling rooms, and with online sex ad placements, the business benefitted from ad revenue.

What Level of Proof is Required in Civil Sex Trafficking Cases?

It’s important to also understand that the level of proof in a civil case is significantly lower than in a criminal case. In a criminal case, the level of proof is “beyond a reasonable doubt”, while in a civil case, the level is only “more likely than not.”

Survivors often assume they do not have enough proof, but civil cases rely on many different forms of evidence, much of which is uncovered during the legal investigation. If you are unsure whether you qualify, a confidential consultation can help you understand your options in a safe and supportive environment.

What Types of Compensation Can Human Trafficking Survivors Recover?

Every survivor’s experience is unique. Compensation may include:

• Medical care and rehabilitation
• Therapy, mental health counseling, and trauma treatment
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of income
• Diminished earning capacity
• Costs related to relocation and securing safety
• Punitive damages in cases of willful or reckless misconduct

As Michigan human trafficking attorneys for sex exploitation, our goal is to recover every penny to which our clients are entitled from all those responsible. We want survivors to have the resources needed to rebuild their lives.

Are There Compensation Funds or Settlements Available for Sex Trafficking Survivors?

Yes.

In recent years, large civil cases and negotiated settlements have created financial avenues for survivors who were advertised or exploited through certain platforms. These funds vary widely, but many are designed to compensate individuals who suffered physical, emotional, or financial harm because a business or website enabled trafficking.

Eligibility for these funds often depends on:

• The time period when the exploitation occurred
• Whether online advertisements were posted about a survivor
• Whether a business profited from or ignored trafficking activity
• The long-term impact the exploitation has had on a survivor’s life

As sex trafficking attorneys who have been serving the local community for decades in personal injury matters, we can help evaluate whether you may be entitled to pursue compensation through a settlement fund, an individual lawsuit, or a claim against a business that contributed to the exploitation.

Does Someone Need to be Convicted for a Survivor to Bring a Sex Trafficking or Human Trafficking Lawsuit?

No.

While only prosecutors can bring criminal charges against someone involved in sex trafficking or human trafficking, survivors may pursue justice in civil court. There does not need to be a conviction (or even criminal charges being brought) in order for a civil court case to be brought.

What Is The Difference Between Criminal and Civil Trials in Sex Trafficking Cases?

Criminal and civil proceedings serve very different purposes in sex trafficking cases. A criminal trial focuses on punishing the trafficker for breaking the law. These cases are brought by the government, and even when a trafficker is convicted, the process often does not compensate the survivor for the harm experienced.

A civil lawsuit, on the other hand, is filed on behalf of the survivor and is designed to help them rebuild their life. Through civil litigation, survivors can pursue financial compensation from those who contributed to or benefited from the trafficking.

Civil cases often provide the only meaningful avenue for holding businesses accountable for their role in allowing trafficking to occur. They also empower survivors by giving them a voice and a path toward justice that criminal courts alone cannot provide.

As Sex Trafficking Lawyers, We Stand Up for Survivors and Demand Justice and Accountability.

Sex trafficking cases are complex and often involve years of concealed activity, multiple perpetrators, and businesses that failed to act. We approach every case with the thoroughness and dedication, and work tirelessly in seeking full compensation for our clients.

A primary role of a sex trafficking attorney is to conduct a detailed investigation to uncover how the exploitation occurred and who contributed to it. An investigation will often include:

• Reviewing police reports, investigative materials, and prior complaints
• Speaking with witnesses and individuals with knowledge of the events
• Securing hotel or business records, key-card data, surveillance footage, and staffing logs
• Collecting online advertisements, digital communications, and other electronic evidence
• Working with specialists in trauma, security practices, corporate compliance, and human trafficking dynamics
• Identifying patterns of negligence or misconduct within the companies involved

Every case is prepared as if it will be presented to a jury. This meticulous preparation strengthens the opportunity to hold traffickers and enabling businesses accountable, and to put survivors in the strongest possible position for a meaningful recovery.

If You Are a Survivor, You Are Not Alone — Schedule A Free Consultation with a Michigan Sex Trafficking Attorney.

If you or someone you love has been trafficked or exploited, call our office at 1-800-366-8653 for a free, confidential consultation. Speaking with us does not obligate you to file a lawsuit, but it can help you understand your rights and options.

We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis. You will not pay any upfront costs, and we only receive a fee if compensation is obtained.

Your safety, dignity, and recovery matter. We are here to help you take the next step.