Photography by Grant Hindsley for Rotary Magazine

A March 2025 Rotary Magazine article, “A Way ‘Off the Track’” by Erin Gartner, takes a hard look at the disturbing rise of sex trafficking along Seattle’s Aurora Avenue North. The piece sheds light on how gun violence, community action, and legal advocacy intersect in the fight to end human trafficking — and highlights the efforts of attorneys like Susanna Southworth, an attorney who works with the Levin Papantonio law firm, using the civil justice system to hold traffickers and the businesses that enable them accountable.

A Crisis Escalating in Plain Sight

The article paints a chilling picture of Seattle’s growing trafficking problem. In one July incident, more than 30 gunshots were fired in what police believe was a turf war connected to sex trafficking. The violence is centered on Aurora Avenue North — now a known trafficking corridor — where the visibility of sex trafficking has exploded since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many victims are young and overwhelmingly vulnerable. Black girls and young women from foster care or troubled backgrounds are disproportionately targeted. Traffickers often begin grooming victims in early adolescence, with most adult victims between the ages of 18 and 25.

Grassroots Resistance and Survivor Leadership

Faced with this crisis, local residents and Rotary members have stepped up. Andrew Steelsmith began documenting and sharing video evidence of trafficking activity. Virginia McKenzie, deeply moved by what she witnessed, helped establish the Rotary Club of Pacific Northwest Ending Sex Trafficking. Their grassroots activism has sparked community meetings, bringing together residents, law enforcement, and nonprofits.

Survivor-turned-advocate Kristine Moreland founded More We Love, a nonprofit offering emergency services like hotel stays for people trying to escape the sex trade. Her work shows how vital immediate, consistent support is for survivors. As she puts it, escaping the life isn’t just about getting out — it’s about staying out.

From the Streets to the Courtroom: Susanna Southworth’s Civil Crusade

In addition to community response and survivor-led efforts, civil litigation has become an increasingly important tool in dismantling trafficking networks. Attorney Susanna Southworth, who collaborates with Levin Papantonio, brings lawsuits against those who profit from or enable trafficking — including hotels, motels, and corporate entities that turn a blind eye.

As a civil litigator, Southworth focuses on empowering survivors by helping them seek justice and financial restitution. “When we sue corporations that facilitated trafficking,” she says, “we’re not just holding them accountable. We’re changing the business model. We’re saying, ‘If you enable this, you will pay.’”

Kim Adams: Pursuing Justice, Changing Systems

Southworth isn’t alone. Levin Papantonio attorney Kim Adams has been at the forefront of trafficking litigation, representing survivors in cases against corporate defendants such as hotel chains and social media platforms. With more than 25 years of experience in mass torts and complex litigation, Adams now focuses on combating sex trafficking by taking on powerful institutions that have looked the other way.

According to Adams, “It’s not enough to just prosecute traffickers. We have to go after the systems that allowed this to happen — the platforms, the properties, the policies that let exploitation thrive in plain sight.”

Her work includes fighting for survivors under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), a powerful federal law that allows victims to sue not just traffickers, but anyone who knowingly benefits from participation in a trafficking venture.

A Multifront Battle

Seattle’s response to trafficking has included legislative changes too. New anti-loitering laws target buyers and traffickers rather than punishing victims. Education programs are in development to help students and community members recognize signs of exploitation. Washington was the first state in the U.S. to criminalize human trafficking — a legacy that continues today.

But as Rotary Magazine and attorneys like Southworth and Adams make clear, this fight must continue on every front — from the courtroom to the classroom, from the street corner to the corporate boardroom.

When survivors, advocates, attorneys, and neighbors work together, a way “off the track” becomes more than just a hope. It becomes a plan — and a promise.