California Civil Rights
Lawyer

California Civil Rights Attorney

f you or a loved one believe your civil rights have been violated in California or Nevada, it’s crucial to understand your legal protections and the avenues available for justice. Our experienced civil rights attorneys are here to guide you through the process, ensuring that your rights are upheld and justice is served.

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Understanding Civil Rights Protections

In the United States, civil rights are safeguarded at federal, state, and local levels. These rights protect individuals from discrimination and ensure equal treatment under the law. In California and Nevada, specific laws reinforce these protections, addressing issues such as:

• Police Misconduct: Instances of excessive force, unlawful arrests, and racial profiling.
• Employment Discrimination: Unfair treatment based on race, gender, age, or disability.
• Housing Discrimination: Denial of housing opportunities due to race, religion, or family status.
• Educational Inequities: Disparities in school discipline and access to quality education.

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Real-World Examples of Civil Rights Violations

Understanding the prevalence of civil rights violations can underscore the importance of legal advocacy:

• Racial Disparities in Policing: Data reveals that Black drivers in Los Angeles are over four times more likely to be stopped by police compared to white drivers .
• Educational Inequities: Black students in Southern California are disproportionately suspended, missing more school days than their white counterparts .
• Workplace Discrimination: Female correctional officers in California have filed lawsuits against the state for denying pregnancy-related accommodations .

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How Our Civil Rights Attorneys Can Help

Our dedicated legal team offers comprehensive support to victims of civil rights violations:

Ongoing Support: Throughout the legal process, we provide continuous updates and guidance, ensuring you’re informed every step of the way.

Free Consultation: We begin with a no-obligation consultation to understand the specifics of your case.

Case Evaluation: Our attorneys assess the merits of your claim, identifying potential legal strategies.

Legal Representation: We advocate on your behalf, whether through negotiation or litigation, to seek justice and compensation.

What Are Civil Rights?

Civil rights are legal protections that ensure individuals are free from discrimination, harassment, and unequal treatment based on characteristics such as race, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, and more. These rights are essential for promoting equality and justice within society.

It’s important to distinguish civil rights from civil liberties. While civil liberties refer to fundamental freedoms like freedom of speech and religion, civil rights focus on the right to be free from discriminatory treatment in settings such as employment, education, housing, and public accommodations.

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Key Civil Rights Legislation

The Civil Rights Act of 1964

A cornerstone of American civil rights law, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It marked a significant step toward ending segregation and promoting equal opportunity in various aspects of public life.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Enacted in 1990, the ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and public and private places open to the general public.

California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA)

California’s FEHA offers broader protections than federal laws, covering additional categories such as sexual orientation, gender identity, and marital status. It applies to employers, housing providers, and public accommodations within the state.

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Common Civil Rights Protections

Individuals in the United States are generally protected under civil rights laws in the following areas:

• Freedom of Speech and Assembly: The right to express opinions and gather peacefully.
• Right to Privacy: Protection against unwarranted government intrusion.
• Freedom from Unreasonable Searches and Seizures: Safeguards against arbitrary arrests and searches.
• Freedom from Involuntary Servitude: Prohibition of forced labor.
• Right to Vote: Ensuring equal access to the electoral process.

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Civil Rights Issues in California and Las Vegas

Discrimination in Education

In California, efforts are underway to combat discrimination and harassment in educational institutions. A bill reintroduced by Congressman Pete Aguilar aims to require colleges and universities to designate employees responsible for ensuring compliance with Title VI, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin.

Workplace Discrimination

Cases of workplace discrimination continue to surface. For instance, a Black Los Angeles Fire Department firefighter filed a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination and harassment by colleagues at multiple stations.

Discrimination Based on Hairstyle

California has taken steps to outlaw racial discrimination based on hairstyles through the CROWN Act, which prohibits schools and workplaces from enforcing dress codes that forbid natural hairstyles like braids and twists. whether it is from police officers or other government officials.  This has become a very important freedom with the rise in popularity of several videos that had caught police officers using excessive force.

Civil Rights Laws in California

California stands at the forefront of civil rights protections in the United States, offering robust safeguards that extend beyond federal mandates. These state-specific laws are particularly progressive in areas such as gender identity, sexual orientation, and public accommodations. Understanding these rights is crucial for residents and visitors alike, especially when navigating potential discrimination or civil rights violations.

What are Some Examples of Civil Rights Discrimination?

Our attorneys have decades of experience representing civil rights. Below are some common examples of civil rights discrimination:

• When the landlord rejects to rent out their home to someone due to their race
• What an employer refuses to hire someone because of their religion
• Physical harassment or verbal harassment due to gender
• Vandalizing property because of someone’s race

Civil Rights Statutes and Acts

The most important set of laws that have built the foundation for our freedoms and civil rights are:

• Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Employment Act Discrimination
• The Americans with Disabilities Act

Who Can File a Civil Rights Lawsuit?

The common misconception is that the plaintiffs could just be individuals, but this is not the case. 

Besides individuals that have had their civil rights violated, other parties that can also file a lawsuit are:

• Legal guardians:  this is usually the circumstance when the individual did not have the mental capacity or meet the age requirement for filing a lawsuit. Those with disabilities or children could have their lawsuit filed on behalf of their legal guardian.
• Non-profit organizations: non-profit organizations have a right to file a lawsuit on an individual’s behalf to make sure that they promote civil rights and hold parties accountable for their actions.

What Are the Damages I Could Receive for My Civil Rights Claim?

Each civil rights lawsuit differs from one another. Some may have severe injuries whereas other civil rights lawsuits may not allow monetary compensation. Civil Right lawsuits usually allow monetary damages for compensatory damages such as:

• Medical bills
• Emotional suffering
• Property damage
• Past lost income
• Future lost income

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are oftentimes awarded for civil rights violations. Punitive damages hold the responsible party accountable for their actions. The Court awards punitive damages against the civil rights violator. The amount of damages differs depending on the jurisdiction. But, courts usually award this to prevent any other future circumstances similar to the lawsuit. 

Injunctive Relief

Injunctive relief is also a very common Court judgment following a civil rights lawsuit. Injunctive relief is meant to hold the party accountable for their actions and orders the party to stop certain actions against the victim.

Our highly rated attorneys have represented client cases involving:

• Excessive physical force from police officers
• Excessive use of force from false arrest or imprisonment
• Harassment from any party due to disability, sex, age, national origin, color
• Workplace discrimination based on disability, sex, age, national origin, color
• Workplace safety and retaliation
• Being deprived of procedural due process (such as being fired from a government job or terminating a professional license)
• Prisoner (inmate) rights
• Unusually cruel punishment from the judicial system such as malicious prosecution
• Exploitation or bribery by a public official
• Violations of your personal and medical privacy (especially HIPAA violations during the COVID-19 pandemic)
• False imprisonment
• Infringement on the 1st, 4th, or 14th amendments of the U.S. Constitution

Civil Rights Attorney Near Me

If you are the victim of civil rights discrimination, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We understand that it could be a traumatic experience, however, it is important to note that we are here on your side and will be able to handle your civil rights litigation claim. There are not that many law firms out there that handle civil rights litigation. We have offices located in every major city in California and Nevada, including Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

We work to help citizens stand up and protect their rights. We fight for others that are unable to fight for themselves. We have extensive experience representing police misconduct, employment discrimination, racial discrimination, Americans with Disabilities Act discrimination, civil rights abuses, etc. Our attorneys believe that people should be able to stand up and fight for their rights. They should have the ability to file a claim against another party to demand accountability in the situation.

We have fought against the civil rights violations of California citizens for years. If you or a loved one were injured because of a civil rights violation, give an experienced team of attorneys the chance to defend your rights.