Kyle Lee Whitmore 39, of Crockett, is being held without bail at the Martinez Detention Facility. Whitmore, a track coach and a communication studies instructor at Diablo Valley College (in Pleasant Hill, California), faces multiple charges; these include human trafficking, pandering, and pimping. He is accused of trafficking two women for prostitution – the women are only identified as Jane Doe #1 and #2. Other charges include one count of pimping and four counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object.
According to authorities, Jane Doe #1 reported the situation to the authorities on campus. Campus police and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office investigated the report and arrested Whitmore.
About Sex Trafficking
According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), there are over 40 million people worldwide who are victims of human trafficking. Approximately 75% of victims are women and girls. The most recognized form of human trafficking is forced prostitution and sexual exploitation (sex trafficking); however, human trafficking can look different from case to case and can include forced labor (like domestic work, sweatshop factory work, hotel work, restaurant work, and construction work) and even forced marriages. Sex trafficking is an industry that wouldn’t work without the support of different businesses. Because of this, businesses that played a role in the trafficking can be held accountable.
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Can Victims of Sex Trafficking Sue?
Yes, victims of sex trafficking can sue. Victims can sue the individual that is abusing them, but they could also sue any establishment that played a role in the abuse. For example, in the situation above where the suspect is a college employee, the college could be found liable for negligent hiring; depending on the situation (that is, if there were previous reports made against the suspect), then the college could be found liable for ignoring or failing to address complaints. In addition, if any hotels, motels, bars, restaurants or other businesses were involved, property owners could also be found liable whether they knew or should have known of the sex trafficking.
You Could Be Eligible for Compensation
Based on the details surrounding your specific situation, including the harm suffered, you could have grounds to file a lawsuit and recover compensation. The specific compensation that you could recover will vary based on the details surrounding your claim, but could include the following:
- Medical costs
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages
- Treble damages
- Legal fees
- Wrongful death benefits
Here at our law firm, our legal team is more than ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to get justice – and to get the highest recovery available for your claim. Our lawyers have many years of experience and equipped to handle your claim effectively and secure a fair recovery. If you are ready to explore the legal options available to you, contact us today.
Contact the Normandie Law Firm – Our Lawyers Can Help You
Our lawyers have decades of experience handling sexual abuse claims and sex trafficking claims. Our experts are ready to handle your claim and provide you with the guidance that you need to fight for your rights and secure a positive outcome. If you are ready to explore the legal options available to you, contact us today. We know how difficult it can be to decide to file a claim and fight for your rights. We are committed to making things as simple as possible for our clients.
To ensure that we remain accessible to all, we offer free legal services. These free legal services include both free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our lawyers will be available to answer all of your questions, address all of your concerns, and provide you with all the information that you might need to either begin or continue your claim. It does not matter whether you have already started the legal process elsewhere, our team can help you if you decide to switch lawyers. To benefit from these free legal services, contact us today.
Our firm offers a Zero-Fee Guarantee, meaning that our clients will never be required to pay any upfront legal fees for our legal services. In addition, our law firm works on a strict contingency structure. Therefore, our clients will not be required to pay anything unless their claims are successful. If you do not win your claim, you will not be responsible for paying any legal fees whatsoever.
If you are ready to speak with our lawyers about your case, contact us today.
