Federal Court Allows Lawsuit to Proceed in Case of Former McHenry County Inmates Who Claim They Were Forced to Perform Unpaid Labor

January 16, 2023

In, "Federal Court Allows Lawsuit to Proceed in Case of Former McHenry County Inmates Who Claim They Were Forced to Perform Unpaid Labor" (Lake & McHenry County Scanner, January 16, 2023), the Scanner discusses a class action filed against the McHenry County jail alleging the immigrant detainees were forced to perform unpaid labor. The lawsuit states: "The practice of forcing immigrants to clean their cells and common living areas of the facility, for no pay whatsoever, and under the threat of punishment, is a violation of federal and state human trafficking laws."

Pollock Cohen is representing the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. In early December, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the plaintiffs’ claims, asserting that the plaintiffs' arguments were “meritless” and that the Trafficking Victims Protection Act does not apply. On January 16, the federal district court allowed all federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act claims to proceed.

At Pollock Cohen, we believe that no individual, regardless of one's immigration status, should be forced to perform unpaid labor. We will do our best to bring justice and compensations to the immigrants.

To read the article, click on the link below.

Federal Court Allows Lawsuit to Proceed in Case of Former McHenry County Inmates Who Claim They Were Forced to Perform Unpaid Labor | Lake & McHenry County Scanner