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Introduction
Housing & Lending
Public Accomodations
Hate Threats & Violence
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Introduction
Discrimination, threats and violence based on gender (sex), race, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, marital or family status, or medical condition is against the public policy of the state California. Accordingly, citizens have a fundamental right to be free from these types of transgressions. Many forms of discrimination are criminal (such as hate crimes), but many people are unaware they can also enforce their rights personally by filing a civil law suit.
Our civil rights lawyers handle housing and lending discrimination, business discrimination, and hate threats and violence law suits throughout the Los Angeles area (including Pasadena, Santa Monica, Glendale, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Burbank) and greater southern California (including Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego). We usually handle these cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only get paid if our client gets paid.
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Housing & Lending
You have a civil right to seek and maintain an apartment or other housing without unlawful discrimination. The Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) specifically prohibits housing discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, religion, gender (sex), sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, parental status, disability, age, or source of income. In addition, the Unruh Civil Rights Act (also known as the Unruh Act) prohibits discrimination in "all business establishments of every kind whatsoever." Business establishments include landlords, hotels, mortgage lenders, real estate brokers and agents, and homeowners' associations. Both FEHA and the Unruh Act prohibit discrimination against persons who are perceived to be a member of a protected class, even if they in fact are not.
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Public Accommodations
The Unruh Civil Rights Act, or Unruh Act, applies to all business establishments which provide services, goods, or accommodations to the public. The Unruh Act prohibits not only discrimination based on gender (sex), race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability and medical condition, but prohibits all types of arbitrary discrimination. Thus, it is comprehensive and expansive, and California courts are continuously identifying new classes of protected citizens and new types of discrimination. For instance, the Unruh Act prohibits a business from giving arbitrary favors, discounts, or free services to members of one group or people and not others.
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Hate Threats & Violence
It is your civil right to be free from violence or violent threats based on your perceived or actual race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, political affiliation, gender (sex), sexual orientation, age, or physical or mental disability. This right is protected not only by criminal laws, but civil laws as well. Both the Ralph Civil Rights Act and the Bane Civil Rights Act provide criminal, administrative and civil remedies for victims of these types of violence or threats. Under both laws, victims are entitled to awards for money lost, emotional distress, reasonable attorney fees, and a civil penalty of $25,000.
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Although we are a Los Angeles based commercial litigation and employment law firm, our lawyers handle matters throughout greater southern California, including Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and San Diego County. Work with the lawyer best suited to you, not closest to you. If you need a commercial lawyer or employment lawyer in Los Angeles or southern California, we are only a click or phone call away.
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