Federal, state, and local laws prohibit race discrimination in the workplace. Employers are forbidden from making decisions to hire, fire, promote, or to provide training or other benefits because of a person’s race. The law also protect against race-based harassment by an employee’s co-workers, supervisors, clients, or customers. The use of racial slurs or epithets or other offensive comments because of an employee’s race is illegal.
“Every individual shall have an equal opportunity to participate fully in the economic, cultural and intellectual life of the District and to have an equal opportunity to participate in all aspects of life, including, but not limited to, in employment.”— District of Columbia Human Rights Act.
Race Discrimination Lawyers Serving the Greater Washington D.C. Area
Correia & Puth attorneys are driven to achieve the core purpose of state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination: to secure an end to discrimination in the workplace for any reason other than individual merit. We have represent employees subjected to race discrimination under both state and federal law. We have negotiated on behalf of workers who experienced race discrimination in violation of Federal laws such as the Civil Rights Act of 1866, a powerful law also known as “Section 1981,” and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and local laws such as the District of Columbia Human Rights Act, the Prince Georges County Human Rights Act, and the Montgomery County Human Rights Act.
The lawyers at Correia & Puth have the experience and commitment to fight employers who have wrongfully treated employees differently at work or fired them because of their race, or who retaliated against them because they spoke up against race discrimination. Recently, for example, we resolved a case filed in federal court against a Maryland hospital that fired a certified nursing assistant, and even created a false record regarding a patient’s care, after she and two other African American co-workers complained to their white supervisor’s white supervisor that they were treated differently than their co-workers. In another case, we resolved claims on behalf of a human resources manager who was fired after she reported her finding that an employee had been discriminated against and advocated for an outside investigation to ensure appropriate actions were taken against the discriminating supervisor.
The law provides broad protection from race discrimination and racial harassment. An employee who proves race discrimination may recover lost wages and compensation for the emotional harm caused by race discrimination. In some cases employees subjected to race discrimination may receive awards of punitive damages, or can be reinstated to their jobs or promoted to their rightful place if it was denied due to race discrimination. The law also provides that an employee who successfully wins a lawsuit or settlement may recover all reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.
Contact Correia & Puth for Assistance Filing a Race Discrimination Claim
If you have been a target of race discrimination, racial harassment or retaliation, the lawyers at Correia & Puth can help you hold your employer accountable. We can guide you through the process of making a complaint to your employer, the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), or to a state or local agency. We zealously represent our clients in negotiating a resolution with employers, and we file lawsuits to achieve our clients’ goals in court where appropriate. Contact us online for help against race discrimination.
Practice Areas
It takes courage to fight back against those who discriminate.Contact us to see how we can help you.