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Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

General
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 USC 2000e, makes it unlawful for an employer to hire or discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his/her compensation, terms, conditions or privileges of employment, because of an individual’s race, color, religion, sex or national origin. This covers hiring, firing, promotions and all workplace conduct.
Filing Requirements and Limitations Period
In general, an individual must pre-file a charge with the EEOC within 180 days after the alleged unlawful practice occurred unless he or she has first filed a charge with an appropriate state agency, in which case the complainant has the earlier of 300 days from the date of the alleged violation or 30 days "after receiving notice that the State or local agency has terminated the proceedings under the State or local law."

Notwithstanding the above, the EEOC regulations allow 300 days for filing a complaint in a State where the State or local FEP agency has subject matter jurisdiction over the claims, regardless of whether the claimant has first filed a claim with the State agency.

Unless excused by the court, a action must be filed within 90 days after reciept of a right-to-sue letter.

Jurisdiction
An employer (a person engaged in an industry affecting commerce) must have fifteen or more employees for each working day in each of twenty or more calendar weeks (in the current or preceding calandar year) to be covered by Title VII.
Remedies and Damages
  1. Back pay is the most common form of relief. Back pay consists of wages , salary and fringe benefits the employee would have earned during the period of discrimination from the date of termination (or failure to promote), to the date of trial.

  2. Compensatory Damages are allowed for future loss, emotional distress, pain & suffering, inconvenience, mental anguish & loss of enjoyment of life. Caps are placed on compensatory damages according to the size of the employer. The limits on damages are as follows:
    • Up to 100 employees: $50,000
    • 101-200 employees: $100,000
    • 201-500 employees: $200,000
    • 500+ employees: $300,000

    These caps apply only to individuals. In a class action situation, each plaintiff can be awarded the maximum amount specified for the size of their company.

  3. Attorney’s Fees may be awarded to the prevailing party.

  4. Punitive Damages are limited to cases where the "employer has engaged in intentional discrimination and has done so with malice or reckless indifference to the federally protected rights of an aggrieved individual." Kolstad v. American Dental Association, 119 S.Ct. 2118 (1999). These damages are capped according to the size of the employer and are the same as those listed above: Up to 100 employees: $50,000; 101-200 employees: $100,000; 201-500 employees: $200,000; 500+ employees: $300,000

  5. Front pay is designed to restore victims to their "rightful place". It compensates the victim for anticipated future losses due to discrimination.

  6. Injunctive relief is available when there is an intentional discriminatory employment practice. For instance, an employee can be reinstated and an employer can be ordered to prevent future discrimination.
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