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A Texas Attorney For Hospitality & Premises Liability In Sex Trafficking
Sexing trafficking is a reprehensible reality that most people would rather ignore. It is one of those crimes that often takes place in plain sight, at hotels and motels. So, what about the owners, managers, and employees at these establishments that turn the other cheek when they see sex trafficking take place? At Annie McAdams, PC, we believe these places of business should be held liable for the abuse our client victims have endured, and we don’t mind duking it out in a courtroom.
Federal & State Laws On Hospitality & Premises Liability in Sex Trafficking Cases
The state of Texas and the federal government are making certain there are laws in place that hold those profiting from sex trafficking in the hospitality industry liable.
The Federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA)
The federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) was originally enacted in 2000 and has been reauthorized 5 different times. TVPA creates significant liability for hospitality entities that benefit from human trafficking if they know, or should have known, that such trafficking was taking place. It states that the victim of the sex trafficking may bring a civil action against the perpetrator or 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 this chapter.
The Texas State Code on Premises Liability in Trafficking
Texas Code §98.002 follows along the same line as the TVPA, holding a defendant that “intentionally or knowingly benefits” from a venture that traffics another person liable for the damages that arise.
Staff Training on Awareness, Prevention, & Reporting Sex Trafficking
Texas continues to take a stand by enacting a new law mandating that motels and hotels with more than 10 rooms require their employees to complete an annual human trafficking awareness and prevention training program. This program must:
- Be a minimum of 20 minutes long
- Be approved by the Attorney General
- Be completed by new hires within 90 days of the date of hire
- Give employees a certificate of completion when they finish the course
The training may be online or in-person, and must include:
- An overview of what human trafficking is
- How to identify individuals at high risk of human trafficking
- Employees’ role in recognizing and then responding to the trafficking
- The difference between labor trafficking and sex trafficking when identifying trafficking in the hospitality industry
- Contact information for reporting the trafficking to appropriate authorities
A Texas Attorney Holding the Hospitality Industry Liable For Sex Trafficking
Going up against the hospitality industry takes nerve, patience, and firm a belief in the morality of what you are doing. At Annie McAdams, PC, our attorneys have all these traits and more. We believe that our sex trafficking client victims are entitled to compensation from those that enabled the abuse they endured. You may reach us by calling 713-785-6262 or via our contact page.