Employment discrimination comes in many forms and is outlawed by both federal and state law. A jury decision could either result in substantial damages awarded to the aggrieved employee or a determination that the employer has not broken the law. Whichever side of an employment discrimination lawsuit you are on, you deserve robust legal counsel that understands the law and advocates for your best interests. Stanfield Bechtel Law represents both employers and employees in many types of employment discrimination claims. If you’ve either been accused of discrimination or have been discriminated against in the workplace, it’s time to explore your legal options with us.
Types of Employment Discrimination Cases We Handle
Our firm has experience representing employers and employees in various employment discrimination lawsuits. These claims are based on the following laws:
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (concerning race, religion, national origin, and retaliation lawsuits)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
The Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act
Numerous other related state and federal statutes
Both current and prospective employees are protected by these and other laws, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, and other traits and characteristics. Discrimination can occur at any stage of employment and in numerous ways, including:
- Refusing to interview or hire someone based on their membership in a protected class (e.g. race)
- Hiring, firing, and promoting employees on the basis of race and other protected categories
- Paying unequal compensation to different employees who work the same position
- Refusing to allow employees equal access to company facilities and benefits
- Assigning or denying work duties on the basis of a protected characteristic
- Demoting, disciplining, decreasing pay, and other negative workplace treatment
- Denying reasonable job transfer requests
- Assigning unreasonably challenging job duties to try to force an employee to quit
- Isolating an employee due to discriminatory treatment
- Adopting neutral workplace policies that have a discriminatory effect (disparate impact)
- Permitting or encouraging workplace conduct that creates an intimidating or hostile work environment against a protected group
- Retaliating against an employee who reports employment discrimination
If your organization is facing these allegations, or you have been subjected to such treatment, it is vital that you retain counsel. Taking quick action is the best way to either avoid potentially significant legal damages or position yourself to make the strongest possible case against your employer.
Possible Damages in an Employment Discrimination Lawsuit
Every employment discrimination claim is different, which means the potential damages will vary from one lawsuit to another. In general, however, plaintiffs can seek the following:
- Reinstatement to a position from which they were terminated
- Back pay for the wages or income the employee should have received
- Benefits that were revoked or denied due to discrimination
- Compensatory damages, e.g. for emotional distress
- Punitive damages to punish an employer for particularly egregious conduct
- Attorney’s fees and court costs
How We Defend Employers Against Discrimination Claims
When representing an employer, we bring to bear our considerable legal knowledge and experience to, if possible, defuse complaints before they escalate to lawsuits. If a lawsuit is ultimately filed, our goal then becomes to either refute the plaintiff’s allegations or mitigate the damages that a jury may award. More specifically, we provide these services:
- Conducting a thorough investigation of the allegations, including the use of discovery if a lawsuit is filed
- Answering discovery requests and other inquiries from the attorney representing the plaintiff
- Mediating employee complaints, either before or after a lawsuit is filed
- Defending your business in court or before administrative bodies, including the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities
- Negotiating with the plaintiff to reach a settlement that may save substantial sums of money and avoid a potentially embarrassing trial
- Counseling your business on best practices to adopt to minimize the likelihood of future employment disputes
- Reviewing your business practices to identify and manage other litigation risks
- Drafting and updating employee handbooks to, among other objectives, ensure compliance with state and federal employment discrimination laws
- Drafting employment contracts and severance documents in a way that reduces the likelihood of employment discrimination claims
How We Represent Employees In Discrimination Claims
We take employee claims of discrimination seriously, whether the individual currently works for the employer or has already left employment with the company. The goal is to arrive at a just and fair resolution of the claim, which includes seeking the maximum legal damages allowed by law. If you’ve been discriminated at your job, we can assist by:
- Acquiring the evidence needed to substantiate your claim
- Handling all aspects of discovery if a lawsuit is filed, which includes sending and responding to discovery requests
- Representing you in mediation with your current or former employer to reach a satisfactory resolution if possible
- Handling administrative claims and communications with administrative bodies
- Filing and prosecuting an employment discrimination lawsuit against the employer
- Demanding all available legal damages, monetary and otherwise
- Handling all settlement negotiations with the employer
- Assisting you with whistleblower claims to ensure your employer does not unlawfully retaliate against you
- Representing you in litigation against your employer concerning illegal retaliation
Contact Our Connecticut Employment Discrimination Attorney
Employment discrimination cases are serious, and they therefore demand serious legal representation. Has your business been accused of discriminatory practices? Have you been discriminated against in your workplace? Count on the dedicated team at Stanfield Bechtel Law to fight for you. Call us today to get started.