At Lebau & Neuworth, we’re proud to stand up for workers whose rights have been violated — especially in cases involving exploitation, trafficking, and unpaid labor.
Background: Years of Unpaid Work and Exploitation
Our client came to the United States from India in 2007 on a student visa. Like many immigrants pursuing the American dream, she hoped to build a better life through education and hard work. Unfortunately, what followed was years of exploitation and abuse at the hands of relatives who took advantage of her vulnerable situation.
Upon arrival, our client lived with relatives by marriage, who persuaded her to transfer schools and move closer to them. In return for “free housing,” she was forced to cook, clean, and care for their children — all without pay.
Later, our client was compelled to work long hours at a local restaurant franchise, often from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. Despite the grueling schedule, she received no wages, and any earnings she did make were taken by the defendants. Her passport and other personal documents were confiscated. She was isolated, monitored, and threatened with deportation if she disobeyed.
After years of control and unpaid work — both in the restaurant and as a domestic worker — our client finally escaped in 2021 with help from supportive family members.
In September 2024, our client filed a lawsuit against the defendants, asserting claims under both federal and Maryland law. The Amended Complaint includes:
Our client alleges she was forced to work under threats, isolation, and document control — conditions that meet the definition of human trafficking under federal law.
The defendants asked the court to dismiss several of the claims, arguing they were filed too late or were otherwise barred. The court disagreed.
Judge Rubin found that allegations of forced isolation, passport confiscation, and threats could justify equitable tolling — a legal principle that pauses the statute of limitations when a victim is prevented from filing due to extraordinary circumstances.
The court also ruled that our client had sufficiently alleged coverage under the FLSA, since the restaurant franchise likely met federal revenue thresholds and involved interstate commerce. The unjust enrichment claim — based on unpaid promised wages — also survived, as it involved different facts than the wage law claims.
In short, the court denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss, allowing the case to move forward to discovery and further proceedings.
This case highlights the intersection between human trafficking and employment law — an area that’s often overlooked. Exploitation doesn’t always look like what we see in movies; it can happen in workplaces, homes, or small businesses when power and control replace fairness and freedom.
For immigrant workers especially, fear of deportation or loss of documentation can keep them silent for years. At Lebau & Neuworth, we’re committed to breaking that silence and fighting for justice — not only for our client, but for anyone who’s been exploited, underpaid, or silenced by those in power.
At Lebau & Neuworth, we understand that your work is more than just a paycheck — it’s your livelihood and dignity. Our Baltimore-based employment attorneys have decades of experience fighting for workers in cases involving wage theft, discrimination, retaliation, and human trafficking.
If you or someone you know has been forced to work without fair pay, or if you suspect you’ve been the victim of labor trafficking or exploitation, we’re here to help.
