State Senator Matt Woods prefiled a bill Wednesday aimed at ending the misuse of nondisclosure agreements, or NDAs, against child sexual abuse and trafficking victims in civil settlements.
Trey’s Law, which the senator called “a significant step toward justice and transparency,” would prohibit NDAs in cases involving child sexual abuse and trafficking, ensuring that survivors can share their stories without fear of legal repercussions.
“Trey’s Law aims to dismantle the coercive power of NDAs in abuse settlements, ensuring that survivors like Trey are not silenced by perpetrators seeking to conceal their crimes,” Woods said. “By curtailing the misuse of NDAs, Trey’s Law restores voice and agency to survivors, fostering a just legal system where accountability is paramount. Trey’s Law not only honors Trey’s memory but also enacts critical changes for future generations. By spotlighting the misuse of NDAs, this legislative push seeks to cultivate a landscape where justice prevails, and victims feel heard and supported.”
Woods’ release shared the background of Trey’s Law:
“Trey Carlock, a cherished member of the Dallas community with deep family roots in Alabama, became a symbol for the silenced following his tragic passing in 2019, at the age of 28. His life was marred by the abuse of NDAs that perpetuated his trauma and withheld vital truths from the public. Trey’s civil case against Kanakuk Ministries, where he—and many others—suffered abuse at the hands of director Pete Newman, ended with a restrictive NDA. Despite a 2009 investigation that unveiled the direct perpetrator’s criminality, NDAs continued to shield other liable parties, obscuring accountability and preventing healing.
“Originally designed to protect intellectual property and confidential data in corporate contexts, NDAs have been unjustly repurposed in civil child sexual abuse and trafficking cases, trapping survivors in silence. These agreements, whether standalone or buried within broader settlement contracts, bind victims to confidentiality, preventing the disclosure of critical information that could thwart further victimization and corruption.”
