Were you or someone you love victimized by sex trafficking in Friendswood, Texas? The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers can help. Call (281) 992-8633 today to schedule a free consultation with a compassionate Friendswood sex trafficking lawyer. We’re ready to listen to your story and fight for the justice you deserve.
Survivors have the right to pursue justice in a civil lawsuit and recover compensation from the individuals and businesses responsible for their exploitation. Our team stands up for victims of trafficking and fights to hold all responsible parties accountable. Through the civil court system, we seek financial compensation, systemic change, and—most importantly—justice.
Our goal is not just to punish traffickers, but to help survivors rebuild their lives. Contact our office today for a free, confidential consultation.
Why Choose The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers To Handle Your Case?
At The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers, we proudly represent survivors of sex trafficking in Friendswood, TX. Our team understands the lifelong impact of these crimes, and we’re committed to helping clients seek justice through the civil court system.
Here’s why so many survivors choose us to handle their cases:
- We have decades of experience representing victims in complex, high-stakes civil litigation.
- We provide trauma-informed advocacy that prioritizes your well-being and emotional safety throughout the legal process.
- We go beyond traffickers, holding accountable hotels, landlords, businesses, and others who enabled or profited from the exploitation.
- We collaborate with investigators, forensic experts, and trauma specialists to uncover all responsible parties and build strong, evidence-backed cases.
- We represent clients on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay attorney’s fees unless we secure compensation for you.
If you need help, call today to schedule your free consultation with a Friendswood personal injury attorney.
Overview of Sex Trafficking in Texas
Sex trafficking is one of the most heinous crimes imaginable. It involves the sexual exploitation of individuals, often through force, fraud, or coercion. Traffickers may use threats, violence, manipulation, psychological abuse, or financial control to maintain power over victims.
In the case of minors, any commercial sex act is considered trafficking, even without force or coercion.
Texas Criminal Law
In Texas, sex trafficking is prosecuted under Chapter 20A of the Texas Penal Code, which makes it a felony to:
- Traffic another person with the intent that they engage in forced labor or services.
- Cause another person to engage in commercial sex acts through force, fraud, or coercion.
- Exploit minors in commercial sex acts, regardless of coercion.
- Receive financial benefit from a trafficking venture.
Convictions carry severe penalties, including lengthy prison sentences and significant fines. However, criminal cases focus on punishing traffickers, not compensating victims. And while a criminal conviction can strengthen a civil claim, survivors do not need one to pursue a lawsuit.
Texas Civil Lawsuits
Texas law also gives survivors the power to sue traffickers and anyone who enabled their abuse. Under Chapter 98 of the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code, survivors can file civil lawsuits against individuals and businesses involved in trafficking.
This law holds traffickers and facilitators jointly and severally liable for all damages caused by their actions. Civil lawsuits hold wrongdoers financially accountable, expose systemic failures, and provide survivors with the resources they need to heal and rebuild.
Victims can file a lawsuit even if:
- The trafficker was never arrested or charged.
- A criminal case is still pending.
- A criminal case ended in acquittal.
The burden of proof in a civil case is lower (“preponderance of the evidence”), making it easier for survivors to win their cases.
Potential Defendants in a Friendswood Sex Trafficking Case
Civil actions can go beyond direct traffickers. They allow survivors to hold accountable any person or business that knowingly benefited from trafficking or failed to take action to stop it. This broader reach is one of the most powerful aspects of Texas’s civil trafficking statute.
Sex trafficking often involves a network of individuals and businesses that profit from or enable exploitation. A skilled Friendswood sex trafficking lawyer will investigate every possible source of liability and pursue all responsible parties, which may include:
- Direct traffickers and exploiters: The individuals who controlled, coerced, or profited directly from the trafficking are the most obvious defendants. They may include traffickers, pimps, recruiters, or anyone directly involved in exploitation.
- Business owners and operators: Businesses that were part of the trafficking operation can be held liable. Even those who did not directly traffic victims but facilitated the exploitation may face civil responsibility.
- Hotels, motels, and property owners: Hotels and property owners who turned a blind eye to trafficking activities on their premises or ignored clear warning signs can be sued. In many cases, staff knew or should have known that illegal activity was occurring and failed to act.
- Landlords and commercial property managers: Owners who rent space to traffickers and ignore red flags can also be held responsible, especially if they financially benefited from the arrangement.
- Online platforms and service providers: Websites that knowingly hosted ads for sex trafficking or platforms that facilitated the exchange of money for exploitation may be targets of civil lawsuits.
- Transportation companies and third-party facilitators: If a company knowingly transported victims or aided traffickers, it may also be held liable.
If you’re considering taking legal action, it’s important to work with someone who understands how to hold every responsible party accountable.
What Types of Damages Are Available in a Sex Trafficking Lawsuit in Texas?
Survivors of sex trafficking suffer harm that extends far beyond the period of exploitation. Texas law recognizes this reality and allows victims to seek a wide range of damages.
Economic damages cover the financial costs of trafficking and its aftermath, such as:
- Medical care, including treatment for injuries and sexually transmitted infections
- Mental health counseling and therapy
- Lost income and diminished earning capacity
- Relocation and housing costs
- Educational and vocational training expenses
- Costs of replacing personal property
- Other out-of-pocket expenses related to the trafficking
Non-economic damages compensate for the personal impact of trafficking, including:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and psychological trauma
- Anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental health conditions
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium or companionship
In sex trafficking cases, courts may award punitive damages to punish traffickers and deter future misconduct. In addition to monetary compensation, survivors may seek court orders requiring defendants to stop certain activities, change business practices, or take steps to prevent future trafficking.
How an Attorney Can Help You Pursue Justice in a Sex Trafficking Case
Sex trafficking cases are among the most complex and sensitive civil cases. Here’s how a Friendswood sex trafficking lawyer from The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers can help you:
- Conduct a thorough investigation into your case: We start by listening to your story and conducting a detailed investigation. Our team works with investigators, forensic experts, and law enforcement to gather crucial evidence, including communications, financial records, witness statements, and digital data.
- Identify all responsible parties: We look beyond the trafficker to identify every person and business that contributed to or profited from your exploitation. This comprehensive approach increases your chances of full compensation and systemic change.
- Build a strong case against those responsible: Our attorneys understand how to build a compelling case using the lower burden of proof in civil court. We collaborate with trauma specialists and expert witnesses to explain the nature of coercion, the impact of trafficking, and the full extent of your damages.
- Monitor criminal proceedings: If a criminal case is ongoing, we work closely with prosecutors to protect your rights and avoid conflicts. Civil cases can proceed independently, but coordination can strengthen both efforts.
- Protect your privacy and safety: We know how critical privacy and safety are for survivors. We can use protective orders, sealed records, pseudonyms, and other legal tools to safeguard your identity and personal information throughout the legal process.
- Negotiate for a fair settlement or take your case to trial: Many sex trafficking cases settle out of court, but we prepare every case as if it’s going to trial. That preparation gives us leverage in negotiations and ensures we’re ready to fight for you in court if necessary.
If you’re in Friendswood and considering a civil claim, an attorney can help you understand your rights, evaluate your options, and take steps toward justice.
Contact a Friendswood Sex Trafficking Lawyer for Help
If you or someone you love was a victim of trafficking in Friendswood, TX, The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help. We will fight for justice on your behalf and pursue the compensation you deserve to heal and move forward.
No one should ever experience the horror of sex trafficking, and no survivor should have to rebuild their life alone. We understand that telling your story is difficult. Our team approaches every case with compassion and care, connecting you with support services and helping you navigate the legal process at your own pace.
To learn more, contact our team today to schedule a free consultation with a Friendswood sex trafficking lawyer.
