Discrimination & Retaliation
Everyone has the right to be treated fairly and with dignity, no matter their race, gender, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristic. Federal and state civil rights laws exist to protect people from discrimination or unfair treatment based on who they are in the workplace, in housing, at school, in healthcare, and in many other settings. These same laws also make it illegal to punish someone for standing up against discrimination or for exercising their legal rights, which is known as retaliation.
At Justly Prudent, we represent individuals who have experienced discrimination or retaliation in any area of their lives. We understand that these cases are deeply personal and often involve some of the most difficult experiences a person can face. Our legal professionals take the time to listen, to understand your unique situation, and to build a strong legal strategy that holds the responsible parties accountable.
We handle discrimination and retaliation cases across Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, Florida, and Massachusetts, in both state and federal courts. Contact us to discuss your specific situation and legal needs.
Civil Rights Practice Areas
Employment Discrimination
Employment discrimination happens when an employer treats a worker unfairly because of a protected characteristic such as race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, or sexual orientation. This can take many forms, including refusing to hire someone, firing or demoting them, paying them less than their coworkers, denying them a promotion, or creating a hostile work environment through harassment or intimidation. Federal laws like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act prohibit this type of conduct, and many state and local laws provide additional protections. Our legal professionals have extensive experience assisting employees who have been treated unfairly at work, and we fight to secure remedies that may include back pay, reinstatement, compensatory damages, and changes to employer policies that prevent future discrimination. Contact us to schedule a consultation and learn more about how we can assist you in your pursuit of justice.
Housing Discrimination
The Fair Housing Act and similar state laws make it illegal to discriminate against people in the sale, rental, or financing of housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. Housing discrimination can look like a landlord refusing to rent to someone because of their ethnicity, a mortgage lender offering worse loan terms based on a borrower's race, or a property manager failing to make reasonable accommodations for a tenant with a disability. These practices cause real harm because they limit where people can live, how much they pay, and whether they can access safe and stable housing. Our firm helps individuals challenge discriminatory housing practices and pursue the compensation and corrective action they deserve. Contact us to discuss your specific housing situation.
Public Accommodations Discrimination
Federal and state civil rights laws require that businesses and places open to the public (such as restaurants, hotels, stores, theaters, parks, and transportation services) serve all customers equally, regardless of their race, religion, national origin, disability, or other protected characteristics. When a business refuses service, provides inferior service, or subjects a customer to harassment or humiliation because of who they are, that person may have a legal claim for public accommodations discrimination. Our legal professionals help individuals who have been denied equal access to goods, services, or facilities that should be available to everyone. Contact us to discuss your specific public accommodations issue.
Education Discrimination
Every student deserves an equal opportunity to learn and succeed, free from discrimination based on race, gender, disability, religion, or other protected characteristics. Education discrimination can occur in public and private schools, colleges, and universities, and can include unequal discipline, denial of accommodations for students with disabilities, sexual harassment, racial harassment, and exclusion from programs or activities. Federal laws such as Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibit discrimination in educational institutions that receive federal funding. Our firm represents students and families who have been harmed by discriminatory practices in educational settings and works to ensure that schools are held accountable for providing a fair and inclusive learning environment. Contact us to discuss your specific situation involving discrimination in the educational setting.
Discrimination in Federal Benefits & Programs
When individuals apply for or participate in federally funded programs (including healthcare, social services, housing assistance, and employment programs), they are protected from discrimination based on race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, and religion. Unfortunately, people are sometimes unfairly denied benefits, subjected to additional barriers, or treated differently because of who they are. Our firm helps individuals who have experienced discrimination in accessing federal benefits and programs, ensuring that government agencies and program administrators comply with civil rights laws and treat all applicants and participants fairly. Contact us to discuss your specific situation involving the denial of the ability to receive a federal benefit or participate in a federal program.
Military Service Discrimination
Members of the armed forces and military veterans are protected by federal laws that prohibit discrimination based on military service status. The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) protects service members from employment discrimination and ensures that they can return to their civilian jobs after a period of military service without being penalized. Despite these protections, some employers refuse to rehire returning service members, deny them promotions, or subject them to unfair treatment because of their military obligations. Our firm has a deep understanding of the unique challenges service members face and is committed to protecting their employment rights. Contact us to discuss your specific situation.
Religious Discrimination & Religious Freedom
The First Amendment and federal civil rights laws protect every person's right to practice their religion freely and to be free from discrimination based on their religious beliefs. Religious discrimination can happen in the workplace when an employer refuses to accommodate an employee's religious practices, in housing when a landlord treats a tenant differently because of their faith, or in public settings when a person is harassed or excluded because of their religion. Our attorneys represent individuals who have been treated unfairly because of their religious beliefs or practices and work to ensure that their rights to religious freedom and equal treatment are fully protected. Contact us to discuss your specific situation involving religious discrimination.
Disability Discrimination & Failure to Accommodate
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and similar state laws prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, public accommodations, transportation, telecommunications, and government services. These laws also require employers, businesses, and government agencies to provide reasonable accommodations that allow people with disabilities to participate fully in work and public life. Disability discrimination includes refusing to hire or promote someone because of their disability, failing to provide necessary accommodations, or designing facilities and programs in ways that exclude people with disabilities. Our firm represents individuals who have been denied their rights under disability rights laws and works to secure the accommodations and compensation they are entitled to receive. Contact us to discuss your specific situation involving disability discrimination.
LGBTQ+ Discrimination
Despite significant legal progress in recent years, LGBTQ+ individuals continue to face discrimination in employment, housing, healthcare, education, and public accommodations. Federal courts have increasingly recognized that existing civil rights laws (including Title VII and the Fair Housing Act) protect individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Many states and localities have also enacted specific protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. Our firm is committed to representing members of the LGBTQ+ community who have experienced discrimination, harassment, or unequal treatment, and we work to ensure that their rights are fully recognized and enforced. Contact us to discuss your situation if you believe you have been the victim of discrimination based on your LGBTQ+ status.
Racial Profiling & Discriminatory Policing
Racial profiling occurs when law enforcement officers target individuals for stops, searches, arrests, or other enforcement actions based on their race or ethnicity rather than on actual evidence of criminal activity. This practice violates the constitutional guarantee of equal protection under the law and causes lasting emotional, psychological, and sometimes physical harm to those who are targeted. Our firm represents individuals who have been subjected to racial profiling or other forms of discriminatory policing, and we work to hold law enforcement agencies accountable for practices that single people out based on the color of their skin rather than their conduct. Contact us if you believe you have been the victim of racial profiling or other discriminatory policng practices.
Voting Rights & Electoral Discrimination
The right to vote is one of the most fundamental rights in our democracy, and it is protected by the Constitution and by federal laws such as the Voting Rights Act. Electoral discrimination can take many forms, including voter suppression efforts that make it harder for certain communities to cast their ballots, gerrymandering that dilutes the voting power of minority groups, and practices that disenfranchise eligible voters based on race, language, or disability. Our firm is committed to protecting the right of every eligible citizen to vote and to have their vote counted equally, and we represent individuals and communities who have been subjected to discriminatory voting practices. Contact us to discuss your specific voting rights situation.
Discrimination in Healthcare
Every person has the right to receive medical care free from discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Healthcare discrimination can include a provider refusing to treat a patient based on their identity, a hospital providing a lower standard of care to patients of certain backgrounds, or an insurance company applying discriminatory coverage policies. Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act and other federal and state laws prohibit discrimination in healthcare settings that receive federal funding. Our firm represents individuals who have been subjected to discriminatory treatment in healthcare and works to ensure that medical providers and institutions meet their legal obligations to treat all patients equally. Contact us to discuss your specific situation involving healthcare discrimination.
Not Sure Where Your Case Fits?
If you have experienced discrimination or retaliation in any area of your life, you do not have to face it alone. Contact Justly Prudent today to schedule a consultation and learn how we can help you fight for justice. You can reach us by phone at (202) 921-6080, by email at info@justlyprudent.com, or by completing the form on our Contact Us page.