Justice Almost Denied

In 2015, a jury awarded a group of trafficked workers from India $14 million in their case against Mississippi-based marine fabrication and repair company Signal International; the culmination of a seven-year federal court battle.

Through the lens of the Signal litigation, Dan Werner ’91, the senior supervising attorney, will explore common misconceptions about human trafficking, how these misconceptions came close to derailing the trafficked workers’ case, and how the workers ultimately were able to prevail.

Werner will present “Justice Almost Denied: Mythology, Misinformation, and the Epic Human Trafficking Case Against Signal International” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, in Joe Rosenfield ’25 Center, Room 101.

Werner is senior supervising attorney for the Southern Poverty Law Center's immigrant justice initiative, which combats workplace exploitation and other human rights abuses of immigrants. Werner received a $14 million verdict in a human trafficking case brought on behalf of skilled Indian workers brought to the United States for forced labor. For this victory, he and his trial team were awarded the 2015 Public Justice Trial Lawyer of the Year Award.

He is an expert on human trafficking law and the coauthor of A Guide to Civil Litigation on Behalf of Victims of Human Trafficking.

Werner also is vice-chair of the Freedom Network USA, a national alliance of experienced advocates working with survivors of all forms of human trafficking to ensure that trafficked persons have access to justice, safety, and opportunity. He has lectured and testified in the U.S., Europe, and Asia on issues affecting victims of human trafficking and other forms of severe labor exploitation.

Werner's visit is sponsored by the Rosenfield Program in Public Affairs, International Relations, and Human Rights.

Grinnell welcomes and encourages the participation of people with disabilities. Rosenfield Center has accessible parking in the lot to the east. Room 101 is equipped with an induction hearing loop system.  You can request accommodations from the event sponsor or Conference Operations and Events.