Los Angeles Civil Rights Attorney

As Americans, the Constitution provides us with a number of personal rights and protections. The term “civil rights” refers to the rights of individuals to receive fair and equal treatment and to be free from unfair discrimination. These rights apply in a number of settings including employment, education, and housing, to name a few. Your civil rights cannot be violated by your employer, a private business, a governmental agency or any other institution.

Federal and state laws guarantee equal protection for all, regardless of age, race, gender, disability, nationality, religion, pregnancy, veteran status or sexual orientation. If you believe you have been the victim of discrimination in the workplace or have lost employment opportunities due to a violation of your civil rights, please contact Strong Advocates to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a landmark piece of civil rights legislation, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender or national origin. It provides all Americans with equal voting rights and ended racial segregation in schools, workplaces and public facilities.

Under this law, employers must not hire or fire any individual or make any decisions relating to his or employment based on race, color, religion sex or national origin. Employers cannot limit, segregate or classify employees or job applicants using any of the above factors as determinants. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 applies to entities including employers, employment agencies, unions and training programs.

Potential Legal Options

If you believe that you have faced unlawful discrimination in the workplace, there are a number of legal options available to you. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be able to resolve the issues through informal negotiations, a civil lawsuit, or through a government claim.

Informal negotiations: If you have a civil rights matter, you can try to resolve it outside of court. This may occur before or after a lawsuit has been filed. This process generally requires both sides to meet with a mediator and provide a detailed accounting, including evidence and witness statements supporting their case. A successful mediation ends with both parties signing an agreement in which the employer agrees to pay the employee and the employee agrees to give up her right to sue. A skilled lawyer can help you negotiate the best resolution possible.

Private lawsuit in civil court: You may be able to take your civil rights issue to civil court. You or your attorney will need to file a written legal complaint that explains what wrongdoing occurred, the harm that was done and how the opposing party was responsible for the civil rights violations. You will have the burden of proving the legal elements of the charge have been met. Because this is generally a lengthy and sometimes arduous process, considerations include the amount of potential damages and strength of your evidence.

Claim with the government: If your civil rights have been violated, you can ask the government to conduct an investigation into your allegations. Once you file your claim, the government agencies will determine where and how the case will be handled. Many individuals opt to hire private attorneys to also represent them, even if a government agency elects to file a lawsuit.

Protecting Your Rights
If your civil rights have been violated in the workplace, it is important that you begin documenting the events that occurred and the policies or procedures that violated your rights. Contact a Los Angeles employment lawyer at Strong Advocates to review the details of your case and help you determine the best possible course of action. Call us at (800) 260-1495 to schedule your consultation.