Find a Discrimination Lawyer Continued…

What Actions Are Protected by Discrimination Law? As amended in 1972 and 1991, the Civil Rights Act now protects individuals against discrimination in many cases. These include, for example, ethnicity/national origin (including a person's birthplace, ancestry, culture), limited English proficiency (LEP), sexual orientation, pregnancy status, veteran status, marital status, physical disabilities, mental illness and weight conditions. The law also protects the rights of people in jail, people in places of religious worship, people voting, and people entering reproductive health clinics. Examples of Discrimination Sometimes discriminatory acts are not only lodged against an individual for his or her own characteristics but also for just associating with or being part of a group of non-preferred people. Either way, civil rights are violated. These actions come in the form of unfair insurance practices (figuring premium rates, or denial of coverage, based on physical or mental problems; genetic information; sex; age and race); denial of organizational memberships; denial of financial assistance; “redlining” in real estate insurance transactions, and unfair housing practices. Discriminatory employment actions are reflected as preferences in the areas of shifting job assignments and denial of promotions, as well as hiring and termination decisions. Discrimination also takes place in the sports arena and even in selecting students for school athletic teams. Attorneys are often retained to advise business entities and ensure compliance with discrimination laws. Where an incident occurs, the remedy at law is to file a complaint, which often leads to filing a lawsuit. You may be the plaintiff or defendant in such a matter; in either case, you'll need to retain with an attorney. By Kathleen Goolsby