Relief Secured for Trafficking Survivor

Kayla Culver, Associate

After nearly a year of pro bono advocacy, Charlotte associate Kayla Culver and a team from Haynes Boone successfully secured justice for a human trafficking survivor with a South Carolina conviction that stemmed directly from her exploitation. Through legal research, the team identified a fairly new and underutilized South Carolina statute (S.C. Code Ann. § 16-3-2020(F)) that provides relief for trafficking survivors with convictions that are a direct result from their victimization. The team filed a motion to vacate the client’s conviction and expunge her record, and in early February, the judge granted the motion, signing the order to vacate and expunge. This result marks a significant step toward restoring the client’s dignity, stability and future opportunities. Thank you to Trent Lindsay for serving as supervising partner.