Special Collection: Signal International Guest Worker Cases

A scene from the "man camp" where workers were crowded into trailers.

Workers in trailers.

Southern Poverty Law Center

The special collection features one of the largest human trafficking cases in U.S. history. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Alabama-based marine services company Signal International and its recruiters promised permanent residency and good employment to over 500 Indian men. Instead, the men's H2-B visas were only temporary, and they were forced into racially-segregated labor camps that were overcrowded and unsanitary. The resulting lawsuits, starting with David v. Signal International, are collected here. The litigation resulted in a $14.1 million jury verdict in David, a $5 million settlement in the EEOC case for 476 guestworkers, and an apology from Signal's CEO.

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IMMIGRATION AND/OR THE BORDER
Singh v. Signal International, LLC

2:14-cv-00732 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

Filed Date: Oct. 15, 2013

Closed Date: Oct. 1, 2018

This case is part of the series of Signal International cases. It was consolidated with Achari v. Signal International and continues on that page.On Oct. 15, 2013, two Indian guestworkers filed suit …

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IMMIGRATION AND/OR THE BORDER
Devassy v. Signal International, LLC

2:13-cv-06221 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

Filed Date: Aug. 14, 2013

Closed Date: May 26, 2017

This case is part of the series of Signal International cases. It was consolidated with Achari v. Signal International and continues on that page.On Aug. 14, 2013, 13 Indian guestworkers filed this l…

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IMMIGRATION AND/OR THE BORDER
Chakkiyattil v. Signal International, LLC

2:13-cv-06219 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

Filed Date: Aug. 7, 2013

Closed Date: Oct. 1, 2018

This case is part of the series of Signal International cases. It was consolidated with Achari v. Signal International and continues on that page.On Aug. 7, 2013, 28 Indian guestworkers filed this la…

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IMMIGRATION AND/OR THE BORDER
Krishnakutty v. Signal International, LLC

2:13-cv-06220 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

Filed Date: Aug. 7, 2013

Closed Date: Oct. 1, 2018

This case is part of the series of Signal International cases. It was consolidated with Achari v. Signal International and continues on that page.On Aug. 7, 2013, two Indian guestworkers filed this l…

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IMMIGRATION AND/OR THE BORDER
Meganathan v. Signal International, LLC

1:13-cv-00497 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

Filed Date: Aug. 7, 2013

Case Ongoing

This case is part of the series of Signal International cases. It is stayed during defendant's bankruptcy and settlement proceedings.On Aug. 7, 2013, four Indian guestworkers filed this lawsuit in th…

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IMMIGRATION AND/OR THE BORDER
Kambala v. Signal International, LLC

1:13-cv-00498 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

Filed Date: Aug. 7, 2013

Case Ongoing

This case is part of the series of Signal International cases. It is stayed during defendant's bankruptcy and settlement proceedings.On Aug. 7, 2013, 16 Indian guestworkers filed this lawsuit in the …

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IMMIGRATION AND/OR THE BORDER
Marimuthu v. Signal International, LLC

1:13-cv-00499 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

Filed Date: Aug. 7, 2013

Case Ongoing

This case is part of the series of Signal International cases. It is stayed during defendant's bankruptcy and settlement proceedings. Defendant’s bankruptcy terminated February 9, 2019, but the parti…

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IMMIGRATION AND/OR THE BORDER
Samuel v. Signal International, LLC

1:13-cv-00323 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

Filed Date: May 21, 2013

Case Ongoing

This case is part of the series of Signal International cases. It is stayed during defendant's bankruptcy and settlement proceedings.On May 21, 2013, 17 Indian guestworkers filed a lawsuit in the U.S…

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IMMIGRATION AND/OR THE BORDER
Joseph v. Signal International, LLC

1:13-cv-00324 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

Filed Date: May 21, 2013

Case Ongoing

This case is part of the series of Signal International cases. It is stayed during defendant's bankruptcy and settlement proceedings.On May 21, 2013, 33 Indian guestworkers filed this lawsuit in the …

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IMMIGRATION AND/OR THE BORDER
Achari v. Signal International, LLC

2:13-cv-06218 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

Filed Date: March 21, 2013

Closed Date: May 26, 2017

This is the third case filed in the Signal International cases. On May 21, 2013, 33 Indian guestworkers filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, for har…

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IMMIGRATION AND/OR THE BORDER
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Signal International, LLC

2:12-cv-00557 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

Filed Date: April 20, 2011

Closed Date: Dec. 29, 2016

This is the second case filed in the Signal International cases.On Apr. 20, 2011, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed suit against defendant Signal International, LLC, in the U.S…

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IMMIGRATION AND/OR THE BORDER
David v. Signal International, LLC

2:08-cv-01220 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

Filed Date: March 7, 2008

Case Ongoing

This is the first case filed in the Signal International cases.On Mar. 7, 2008, twelve Indian guestworkers recruited for work in the United States in exchange for green cards filed this class-action …

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