Constant Legal Group provides dedicated civil representation for survivors of sex trafficking in Maryland. We stand with victims against traffickers, institutions, and businesses that enabled or profited from human exploitation. If you’ve experienced sex trafficking in Maryland, you deserve justice, and we’re here to help you pursue it.
Your Rights as a Sex Trafficking Survivor In Maryland
Sex trafficking, whether done by coercion, manipulation, or force for sexual exploitation, leaves lasting physical, emotional, and economic damage on victims. But there is a chance for justice. Though criminal prosecution targets traffickers, victims can also file civil sex trafficking lawsuits, regardless of whether there was a criminal conviction.
Through civil litigation, survivors can sue not only the trafficker but also parties who knowingly benefited from or turned a blind eye to the trafficking. These parties can include:
- Hotels, motels, or rental properties where the abuse occurred
- Employers or businesses that exploited or profited from trafficking
- Online platforms and websites that facilitated trafficking
- Other institutions or individuals who failed to act or report suspicious conduct
- Any third party whose negligence or conduct contributed to the abuse
Maryland law enables civil accountability under both state statutes and federal laws like the TVPRA (Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act).
What Compensation Can Sex Trafficking Survivors Pursue?
Through civil claims, survivors may recover a range of damages:
- Economic damages: medical care, lost wages, relocation, support services
- Non-economic damages: pain and suffering, emotional distress, PTSD
- Punitive damages: in cases of egregious negligence or willful wrongdoing
- Claims under causes such as assault, battery, false imprisonment, negligence, and intentional emotional distress
Legal Developments in Maryland’s Statutes of Limitations
In 2023, Maryland enacted the Child Victims Act, removing all civil statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse, allowing survivors to file a lawsuit regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred. This includes abuse experienced in the context of trafficking as a minor.
In February 2025, Maryland’s Supreme Court upheld the Act’s constitutionality, affirming its retroactive application and rejecting institutional challenges. Due to overwhelming case volumes, lawmakers also passed legislation in early 2025 capping damages for child sexual abuse claims filed after May 31. These included:
- Public entities: maximum $400,000 per claimant
- Private institutions: maximum $700,000 per claimant
- Only one payment per lawsuit, regardless of multiple incidents
- Caps on attorneys’ fees—20% for settlements, 25% for verdicts
For sex trafficking or abuse victims who were adults at the time, Maryland law generally allows three years from the date of the incident to file a civil lawsuit. Some exceptions may apply under the discovery rule, if the harm wasn’t discovered until later.
Types of Sex Trafficking and Who It Affects
Sex trafficking is not always what people imagine. It doesn’t always involve kidnapping or strangers—it can be subtle, manipulative, and often happens within familiar settings. Survivors may be trafficked by someone they know, trust, or depend on.
Common Types of Sex Trafficking:
- Pimp-Controlled Trafficking: a trafficker (often posing as a romantic partner or caretaker) uses violence, threats, or manipulation to force the victim into commercial sex.
- Familial Trafficking: a parent, guardian, or relative exploits a child or dependent for financial gain or drugs, often hidden in plain sight.
- Gang-Controlled Trafficking: gangs use sex trafficking as a source of revenue, coercing members or outsiders into exploitation under threat of violence or loyalty demands.
- Hotel-Based or Venue-Facilitated Trafficking: victims are moved between hotels, clubs, or private parties where third-party facilitators (like hotel staff) may knowingly participate or turn a blind eye.
- Online Exploitation: traffickers recruit or advertise victims via social media, escort sites, or private message platforms—sometimes grooming young victims for months beforehand.
Sex trafficking can affect anyone, but certain populations are at higher risk:
- Children and teenagers, especially those in foster care or runaway situations
- Survivors of prior abuse or neglect
- Homeless or housing-insecure individuals
- Undocumented immigrants or those facing economic desperation
- LGBTQ+ youth, who may face rejection and limited support systems
- People with disabilities or cognitive impairments
- Women and girls, though men and boys are also affected and often overlooked
Traffickers prey on vulnerability. They use emotional manipulation, false promises, addiction, threats, and dependence to control their victims, often without physical restraints. Survivors may not self-identify as victims right away, especially when traffickers use psychological tactics or convince them the abuse is their fault.
Have You or Someone You Know Been a Victim of Sex Trafficking? Contact Us Today.
Sex trafficking survivors in Maryland have rights, and time may be passing fast. If you or someone you know has suffered exploitation, you may be eligible for justice and compensation. Contact Constant Legal Group today for a free, confidential consultation with one of our experienced Maryland sex trafficking lawyers. You don’t have to face this alone. Let us help you take the next step toward healing and justice.