S1E11: Carol Merchasin on the Legal Landscape of Coercive Control

What does it take to hold coercive organizations legally accountable? Attorney Carol Merchasin—known in some circles as "the cult ninja"—joins Cara for a deep dive into the legal landscape survivors face when seeking justice.Carol traces her path from large law firm partner to specialist in high-control group litigation, including the pivotal influence of Anita Hill's testimony and how it revealed the cultural divide around coercion. She breaks down the Human Trafficking Act, explaining why "trafficking" is broader than most people realize and how it's been used against groups like NXIVM and OneTaste. Carol clarifies the difference between criminal and civil courts, what "coercion that negates consent" actually means, and why juries still struggle with psychological harm the way they once struggled with workplace harassment.Content Note: Discussion of sexual assault, coercion, human trafficking, and institutional harm.ABOUT CAROL MERCHASIN:Carol Merchasin has substantial experience investigating, litigating, and publicly addressing sexual abuse, exploitation, forced labor, and coercive control within high-demand and high-control groups. She is the founder and former leader of a specialized litigation practice devoted exclusively to these issues. Widely engaged in interdisciplinary dialogue through public education, media, and conference speaking, Carol is committed to survivor-centered, ethically grounded, and collaborative approaches.Carol was a partner at Morgan, Lewis in Philadelphia with experience in addressing sexual misconduct and discrimination in the workplaces of Fortune 50 companies and the head of team of lawyers litigating on behalf of plaintiffs in coercive spiritual organizations at McAllister Olivarius.Carol's current legal practice has focused on coercive control and undue influence; sexual abuse in spiritual and religious communities; forced labor and human trafficking (civil) in high-demand and high-control groups; civil RICO and systemic abuse litigation; survivor-centered investigation and advocacy.As member of the Board of the International Cultic Studies Association, she has collaborated closely with clinicians, scholars, survivor-advocates, and other professionals. She has been a guest on more than thirty-five podcasts; had numerous television and media interviews in the United States and Canada; and been a speaker at national and international conferences across legal, therapeutic, academic, and survivor-centered communities.RESOURCES:Safer Sex-Positive and Spiritual Communities: 3SC.CommunityICSA (International Cultic Studies Association): ICSA.orgThe BITE Model: freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/bite-model/Seek Safely: https://seeksafely.org/Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741CONNECT:Conversations like these helped me get through the darkest times, and I hope they help us get through dark times together.I'd love to hear from you.Questions or feedback: [email protected]: https://caracordoni.substack.com/Instagram: @caracordoniMusic: "Midnight Rendezvous" by Sasha Ende (ende.app)Licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0