Trafficking Victim Representation

Charles Rollins accepts select civil matters on behalf of people who have experienced human trafficking. His background in federal litigation, criminal defense and complex discovery informs both the legal work and his understanding of the people and families living with its consequences.

Why this work matters to me

I do not maintain a general personal injury practice. My practice is centered on white collar criminal defense and select civil and regulatory matters. Representing trafficking victims is a distinct and deeply meaningful part of that work.

Over years of street crime defense, I met people first as defendants. As I came to know them and understand their backgrounds, I learned that many had experienced trafficking, along with other childhood trauma. The charge on a file rarely told the whole story of the person in front of me.

That experience shapes how I approach this work. A complicated background deserves careful listening, not a quick judgment. Understanding what happened can require patience, attention to difficult facts and respect for a person's dignity. It also requires understanding the effect on the family, while respecting the survivor's own choices and privacy.

Federal litigation experience. An understanding of the criminal system.

A civil trafficking case calls for more than recognizing that something terrible happened. It requires identifying the available claims, the proper defendants and court, and the evidence needed to support the case.

My experience in federal litigation includes working through substantial electronic discovery, financial records, communications and expert issues. Criminal defense work adds familiarity with investigations, the government's evidence and the ways a criminal case can intersect with a civil claim. Those skills matter when the facts are difficult, the record is extensive and several proceedings may be moving at once.

I bring that background to evaluating trafficking claims and advocating for survivors in the appropriate court. The work begins with the individual facts and a candid discussion of the legal options, the demands of litigation and its limits.

What a TVPRA civil claim can do

Federal anti-trafficking law provides a civil remedy in 18 U.S.C. § 1595. Often discussed as a TVPRA claim, it allows a person who was a victim of a violation of the federal trafficking chapter to seek damages and reasonable attorneys' fees in an appropriate federal district court.

The law can reach a direct perpetrator and, when the statutory requirements are met, certain people or businesses that knowingly benefit from participation in a trafficking venture they knew or should have known was engaged in a violation. A business relationship or connection to a location does not, by itself, establish liability.

A civil claim is separate from a criminal prosecution, but the two can affect each other. Section 1595 requires a stay during a related criminal action, including an investigation or prosecution arising from the same occurrence in which the claimant is the victim. Deadlines, available evidence, the governing court's decisions and the precise conduct of each proposed defendant all require individual review. No recovery or particular result can be promised.

Advocacy beyond the courtroom

My advocacy also includes public education about trafficking, civil accountability and the limits of the legal system. Two publications help make that information easier to find and understand:

• The TVPRA Review examines civil trafficking litigation through decisions, legal explainers and primary documents. It distinguishes allegations from findings and explains what a ruling does, and does not, resolve.
• Trafficking Watch covers trafficking news, awareness, prevention and support resources, with attention to Augusta and the CSRA as well as developments beyond the region.

These are public-information projects of Garden City Gossip, published by Saturn Strategy LLC. They are separate from Charles Rollins, PC. They do not accept clients or provide legal representation, and they are not emergency services. Reading a publication does not establish an attorney-client relationship.

Discuss a potential claim

If you are a trafficking survivor, or a family member helping someone explore their options, you may contact Charles Rollins, PC to ask about representation. Begin with basic contact information and a brief, nonconfidential description. Please do not send detailed personal histories, records or other confidential material before representation is agreed upon.

Charles is admitted in Georgia and North Carolina and has the federal court admissions described in his professional background. Representation in any particular court depends on the applicable admission requirements, the facts of the matter and a conflict check. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.