Zanesville Civil Rights Lawyer

The United States government grants all individuals certain rights. These rights are known as civil rights. Their purpose is to ensure that you and every other person in the country, whether they are a United States citizen or a resident alien, are treated fairly by government agents and private parties.

When your civil rights are violated, you can take action to seek justice and compensation for your related damages. The right way to take action after a civil rights violation depends on the nature of the violation. For example, an employee who faces discrimination in the workplace can file a discrimination claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and a victim of police brutality can file a police misconduct claim with the officer’s department.

Your First Amendment Right

Under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, you have the right to free speech. This means that, within reason, the government cannot infringe on your right to openly express yourself.

Your Civil Rights During Interactions with Law Enforcement

Law enforcement must respect all parties’ civil rights during all stages of a criminal investigation. The following acts are civil rights violations:

• Using excessive force on an individual;
• Restraining an individual without just cause to do so;
• Searching an individual’s person, home, or vehicle without his or her consent or a valid search warrant;
• Failing to notify an arrested individual of his or her right to remain silent and to work with a lawyer during questioning; and
• Depriving an individual in custody of food or water.

Discrimination is a Violation of your Civil Rights

When discrimination occurs, your civil rights are violated. Housing and the workplace are two specific areas where discrimination can have long-lasting, severe consequences for a victim.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 defines and prohibits discrimination in the workplace. Discrimination based on sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, race, and color is prohibited in the workplace. Its definitions of workplace discrimination include:

• Wrongfully terminating an employee;
• Refusing to hire or promote an employee;
• Segregating employees by department, office branch, or job duties; and
• Treating employees unfairly regarding workload and disciplinary measures.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits the following types of discrimination based on race, sex, family status, religion, color, and national origin:

• Marketing homes for sale or rent explicitly to certain groups or explicitly excluding certain groups in an advertisement for a home;
• Offering different lease, sale, or mortgage rates to          consumers based on one of the classes above; and
• Refusing to rent or sell a home to an individual based on one of the classes listed above.

Work with an Experienced Zanesville Civil Rights Lawyer

When your civil rights are violated, you have the right to seek justice for yourself. In some cases, you also have the right to seek monetary compensation for the damages you suffered because of the violation. Discuss your rights and legal options in greater detail with our team of Zanesville civil rights lawyers at Marshall Forman & Schlein LLC. Give us a call today to set up your initial consultation in our office.