Civil Rights

The United States prides itself on the many freedoms and opportunities it provides to its people. But, people of every race, gender, color, national origin, and age can illegally have their civil rights violated or taken away.

There are many different kinds of civil rights violations, and for some, you will need to file a claim with a government agency before pursuing a civil lawsuit against the accused. For example, if your civil rights have been violated in the workplace, you will need to file a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) before taking any other action. You cannot file a civil lawsuit against your employer for violating your civil rights until the EEOC has completed its investigation and issued you a notice of right-to-sue. If your violation is one that needs to go through a government agency first, make sure you take note of any deadlines the agency has put in place. The EEOC, for example, requires you to file an employment discrimination claim within 180 days of the incident.