Francesca Iacovangelo, Locks Law Firm
Much of my work at Locks Law Firm is about giving voice to victims, so for someone who comes to work every day to defend victims’ rights, it was gratifying to see New Jersey Senate Bill 1270 pass the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously. The bill, which would substantially extend the statute of limitations for human trafficking-related civil lawsuits, now heads to the Budget and Appropriations Committee.
There has been unprecedented national attention on sex trafficking and survivors’ rights with the release of millions of pages of federal investigative files, which has sparked a reckoning over how the legal system failed victims for years. Congress has introduced Virginia’s Law, which would eliminate the federal statute of limitations for sex trafficking claims, and state legislatures nationwide are moving to extend their own filing deadlines, acknowledging that trauma and fear can delay disclosure for decades. S1270 makes New Jersey part of that movement.
Sponsored by Sens. Linda R. Greenstein and Renee Burgess, the bill would extend the current five-year civil statute of limitations to whichever is later: 10 years from the alleged conduct, 10 years from the victim’s 18th birthday, or 2 years from discovery of the injury. The clock wouldn’t start until the last trafficking incident ends, and defendants who coerced a plaintiff into delaying suit through intimidation, threats, or fraud wouldn’t be able to raise a time-bar defense at all. The bill also eliminates the statute of limitations entirely for criminal trafficking charges. Survivors often need years, sometimes decades, to process their trauma before they can come forward and testify. Extending the statute of limitations sends a clear message that trafficking carries long-term accountability, not just a brief window of exposure.
This bill aligns New Jersey law with the federal framework established by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. It doesn’t create any new liability, but ; it assures survivors a meaningful opportunity to exercise the rights they already have, rather than being kicked out of court for not filing on time.
We’ll continue to monitor S1270 as it advances. If you have questions about civil claims related to human trafficking, our team is here to help.
