About Us

Meet Marti Thurman, a highly skilled lawyer with over 30 years of experience practicing law and helping others in need with great compassion. Through her hard work ethic, Marti has become a well-respected, seasoned lawyer who earns 5-star reviews from her clients who remain friends for life, not just metrics. She graduated near the top of her class at the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law and earned many honors.. She has practiced law at one of the largest firms in Indianapolis as well as in-house at one of the largest healthcare corporations in Kentucky. Marti has also gained sharp litigation skills after practicing for over a decade as an insurance defense attorney which gave her extensive trial experience. She learned that her true calling was representing people who had been injured or harmed through no fault of their own. As a result of her own personal injuries, Marti has a deep empathy for seriously injured or harmed clients which compels her desire to help others and drives her to fight aggressively and passionately for them, ensuring that each one receives her undivided, dedicated attention.  Her greatest satisfaction comes from receiving heartfelt expressions of gratitude from her clients after successful resolution of their cases when they experience healing and closure from traumatic experiences that she has had the honor of walking alongside them through to the other side. 

AREAS OF PRACTICE

• Personal Injuries
• Wrongful Death
• Brain Injuries
• Paralysis
• Product  Liability
• Dangerous Drugs
• Human Trafficking Claims - Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Invasion of Privacy or Public Disclosure of Private Facts,  Conversion, Assault/Battery, False Imprisonment

CERTIFICATIONS

• Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP), July 2019
  The Society of Clinical Research Associates, Inc.

BAR ADMISSIONS

• Indiana, 1995
• Kentucky, 1996
• U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1995
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana, 1995
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana, 1995
• U.S. District Court Western District of Kentucky, 1996
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky, 1996

EDUCATION

• University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, Louisville, Kentucky J.D. – 1995 
•        Honors       
• Journal of Family Law - Staff Author, Law Review, See Note below under “Publications/ Representative Cases” 
• Judicial Clerk, Hon. Earl O'Bannon, Jefferson Circuit Court
• Who’s Who Among American Law Students, 1995
   
• University of Louisville College of Arts And Sciences, Louisville, Kentucky B.A. magna cum laude – 1992
   
• Honors       
  • National Merit Scholar
  • Woodcock Society
  • Golden Key International Honor Society
  • Mortar Board National Honor Society Fellowship

INVITED PRESENTATIONS

• November 13, 2017, MAGI's Clinical Research Conference - 2017 West, San Diego, CA: "Managing Risk with Contracts: Informed Consent, Subject Injury, Insurance & Indemnification"
   
• February 11, 2019, ExL's 14th Annual Clinical Trial Billing & Research Compliance Conference, New Orleans, LA: "Brightening the Sunshine Act: Research Physician Payments and Conflicts of Interest and the EU General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR") - What You Need To Know"

PUBLISHED WORKS

• Author, Marti E. Thurman, Note, Maintenance: A Recognition of the Need for Guidelines, 33 Univ. Louisville J. Fam. L. 971 (1995) *Cited in several articles

REPRESENTATIVE CASES

• Estate of Pflanz v. Davis, 678 N.E.2d 1148 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997)

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS

· Kentucky Bar Association

· Louisville Bar Association

· Kentucky Academy of Hospital Attorneys

· American Health Lawyers Association

· Health Care Compliance Association

· The Society Of Clinical Research Associates, Inc.

· Founding Member Of Norton Healthcare Employee Resource Group (ERG) "Vets" (Vets Engaging Through Service)

· Sponsorship Of Federal Veterans Treatment Court

· Npower, Norton Healthcare Women's Leadership Academy

· University of Louisville Alumnae Association 

· University of Louisville School of Law Alumnae Association
 

CIVIC ACTIVITIES

· Junior League of Evansville, Evansville, IN – 1998 – 2014

· Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Participant/Volunteer, Evansville, IN – 2012

· Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Corporate Sponsor, Evansville, IN – 2012

· Southeast Christian Church Member, Louisville, KY - 1986 – Present

· Castle Youth Football League Cheerleading Coach, Newburgh, IN - 2011- 2013

· Harmony Elementary Parent Volunteer, Goshen, KY - 2014 – 2015

· North Oldham Middle School Parent Volunteer, Goshen, KY - 2014 – 2018

· North Oldham High School Varsity Cheerleading Chaperone, Goshen, KY - 2015 – 2018

· North Oldham High School Choir Chaperone, Goshen, KY - 2015 – 2016

· North Oldham High School Parent Volunteer and Chaperone, Goshen, KY - 2015 – Present

· Norton Healthcare Teen Board and Teen Ambassador Parent, Louisville, KY - 2018 – Present

· North Oldham High School Marching Band Volunteer and Chaperone, Goshen, KY - 2019 - Present

To my fellow parents, for far too long we have tolerated the enemy's darkest schemes against our precious young ones. His wicked ways have been so cleverly shrewd and hidden, vile and unthinkable, that when the mere hint of them surfaced we have been spastically stomping them out of our mind’s existence with the heels of our boots to get the shuddering thought of them cleared out of our heads. Meanwhile, our indifference left our most cherished, innocent treasures alone to continue sinking deeper, smothering in the sulphuric muck, unable to breathe physically and emotionally. They have been left behind in these cruel vicious traps devised by the devil and perpetrated by those he uses. We can no longer pretend as the parents, Uncles, Aunts, Sisters, Brothers, Cousins, Neighbors, and Friends, it is time for us all to WAKE UP to these horrendous ABOMINIABLE ATROCITIES! As a wise man who recently locked arms with me in this battle said to me, “If we know these things are happening and do nothing, that is unacceptable.” Please join us in this righteous battle to save His children from this most horrific enemy! 

 
To my dear young ones affected by this evil, we are aware of what you are going through and want you to know that we are on your side and you are not alone!  You are not the only one going through this, and we're fighting with you. There is help available for you and what has happened to you is NOT YOUR FAULT! You are not to blame for the actions of others. We want to protect you and keep you safe through this tough experience. YOU ARE NOT AT TO BLAME FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU AND IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT! Remember, you're still you - worthy, whole, and capable of joy. 

Please reach out to someone you trust and let us help you.  

Contact me: marti@divinejustice.us or 1-888-884-8762

 If someone is demanding nudes or sexual images and is requiring that you pay them money, this can be extremely stressful. You need to know that it is a crime for people to blackmail or threaten you in this manner. This type of behaviour can be called ‘sextortion’ or being ‘sexually coerced’. You are not alone in this situation, and you are not to blame. While it can feel very upsetting, organisations like the IWF and others are here to help.

We recommend talking to a trusted adult. This might be a parent, carer or teacher at school. Talking to someone you trust will help you understand the situation and put steps in place to make things better. There’s a guidance page for parents and carers here.

Here are some helpful steps to follow:

1. Report what has happened. You can do this by contacting your local police on 101 or making a report to the National Crime Agency’s CEOP Safety Centre, where a Child Protection Advisor will make sure you get the help you need. Find out more about how CEOP can help you here. Always call 999 if you are in immediate danger.

2. If you’re not ready to make a report to the police or feel worried about what might happen, you can speak to understanding and non-judgmental people at Childline. You don’t need to give your name or details.

3. If you have copies of the images, videos, or links to the website where images or videos may be shown, you can use an online tool called Report Remove. Report Remove is here to help young people, under 18, in the UK to confidentially report sexual images and videos of themselves and the IWF will then try to have them removed from the internet. Once you’ve used Report Remove, you will also be able to talk to a trained Childline counsellor, who will have provided support to other children and young people in the same situation. Check out the Report Remove video above.

4. We advise stopping all contact with anyone who is trying to blackmail or threaten. Do not share any more images or videos or pay any money of any sort (Bitcoin, cash transfer etc). If you have been communicating on an app, there should be in-built tools to block and report the user. You can find helpful information on how to block and report people on apps and social media here.

5. Finally, remember - this is not your fault. The person trying to blackmail or sexually extort you is the one who is in the wrong. Lots of other young people have been in a similar situation. If you're feeling upset and need to talk to someone, you can get in touch with us at: 1-888-884-8762.

If you need help with a criminal matter, we can hep you. Also, a survivor of human trafficking, including sextortion, could bring a civil lawsuit against a human trafficker to seek justice and compensation for the harm endured. These lawsuits typically fall under federal and state laws designed to protect victims and hold perpetrators accountaqble. Below is an overview of the types of civil claims that could be pursued:

Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) (18 U.S.C. S 1595) is a federal law that allows survivors of human trafficking to file civil lawsuits against their traffickers an anyone who knowingly benefits from the trafficking. Sextortion - where someone is coerced into sexual acts or producing explicit material through threats (e.g., blackmail over compromising images) - qualifies as sex trafficking under this law if it involves commerciqal exploittion or coercion.

Damages for Sex Trafficking: A survivor could sue the trafficker for forcing them into commercial sex acts or producing sexual content under duress. For example, if the trafficker threatened to release private images unless the survivor complied, this could meet the TVPRA's definition of trafficking via coercion.

Third-Party Liability: If others (e.g., a hotel, website, or accomplice) profited from or facilitated the trafficking, they could also be sued under the TVPRA for "knowingly benefiting" from the scheme.

Compensation: Survivors can seek:

Economic Damages: Medical costs, therapy expenses, lost wages.

Non-Economic Damages: Pain, suffering, emotional distress, PTSD.

Punitive Damages: To punish the trafficker and deter future acts.

Attorney Fees: Often recoverable under the TVRA.

Statute of Limitations: 10 years from the last trafficking act, or 10 years after turning 18 if the survivor was a minor during the trafficking.  

Kentucky-Specific Claims

Kentucky Human Trafficking Laws (KRS 529.100 & 529.110)

On March 20, 2025, the Kentucky Legislature passed SB 73 which criminalizes sexual extortion, or "sextortion," making it a felony offense in the Commonwealth. The bills targets individuals who use explicit images or content to blackmail or exploit others, imposing stricter penalties to deter such acts. It passed both the Kentucky Senate and House with strong support and became effective upon the Governor's signature.

Civil Action Under State Law: While Kentucky's trafficking statutes are primarily criminal, survivors can use them as a basis for civil tort claims like assault, battery, or intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED). Sextortion could support an IIED claim if the trafficker's threats caused severe emotional harm.

Promoting Human Trafficking: If the trafficker recruited or profited from the survivor's exploitation (e.g., selling explicit material obtained through sextortion), this could strengthen a civil case tied to KRS 529.110.

Tort Claims:

Assault/Battery: For any physical acts tied to the trafficking.

False Imprisonment: If the survivor was confined or controlled through threats.

Invasion of Privacy: If the trafficker distributed or threatened to distribute private images.

Damages: Kentucky allows compensatory damages (for tangible and intanbile losses) and punitive damages if the trafficker's actions were grossly reckless or intentional.

Statute ofLimitations: Typically 1 year for personal injury torts (KRS 413.140), but trafficking-related claims might extend under federal law or if the survivor was a minor (tolling until age 18).

Indiana-Specific Claims

Indiana Human Trafficking Laws (IC 35-42-3.5):

Civil Remedy (IC 34-24-6): Indiana explicitly allows victims of human trafficking to bring civil lawsuits against their traffickers for damages. Sextortion could fall under "sex trafficking" if it involved coercion into sexual acts or content creation for profit or exploitation.

Property Forfeiture Tie-In: If the trfficker used assets (e.g., a phone or computer) for sextortion, the survivor might also seek forfeiture proceeds as part of the remedy.

Tort Claims:

Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress: The psychological terror of sextortion threats could justify this claim.

Invasion of Privacy or Public Disclosure of Private Facts: For misuse of intimate images or data.

Conversion: If the trafficker profited from stolen images or content.

Damages: Indiana permits actual damages (medical bills, lost income), treble damages (up to three times actual damages if malice is proven), and attorney fees under IC 34-24-6-4.

Statute of Limitations: 2 years for most torts (IC 34-11-2-4), but trafficking claims may extend to 7 years from the act or discovery (IC 34-11-2-9), or longer if tied to federal TVPRA.

Sextortion-Specific Angle

Sextortion often involves non-physical coercion, like blackmail with explicit images, which fits the TVPRA's broad definition of trafficking (force, fraud, or coercion for sexual exploitation). These cases can be brought where:

• The trafficker used threats to compel sexual acts or content creation.
• The exploitation had a commercial element (e.g., selling images) or personal gain (e.g., power over the victim).
• Emotional and reputational harm stemmed from the sextortion, amplifying damages.