Michigan state law is very clear: Discriminating against someone who falls under a protected class is a violation of their civil rights. Our lawyers are here to protect any Livonia resident whose rights were infringed upon.
At Christensen Law, our main concern is seeking justice, not scoring a quick settlement. Our Livonia personal injury lawyers will fight hard for the outcome you deserve, even if we have to take your case to trial. For a free case review, call us today.
Our Law Firm Puts Our Civil Rights Clients First
When a person or an organization discriminates against you, it is easy to feel angry, helpless, and isolated. Our Livonia civil rights lawyers want you to know that we are on your side and willing to help.
The first thing we do for clients is make them feel comfortable and safe. We encourage you to contact our office and share your entire story with us. We will listen attentively and compassionately to everything you have to say and help you come up with the right legal strategy for your situation.
How Our Attorneys Pursue Civil Rights Cases in Livonia
Our attorneys realize that every civil rights case is unique: they involve different protected groups, different discriminatory acts, different liable parties, and different sets of damages. You can rely on our civil rights team to provide individualized legal advice by:
- Investigating the incident: Our civil rights attorneys will pursue evidence from as many sources as possible. That includes requesting materials from and/or speaking with your doctors, the Livonia Police Department, eyewitnesses, and the liable party.
- Communicating with all parties: Not only do our Livonia lawyers keep you informed of your case’s progress, we also represent you to the liable party, their representatives, and the court. Our legal team will even handle all of the paperwork, so you do not have to think about finding and filling out the right forms.
- Pursuing a fair settlement or award: Many cases settle out of court, and we are ready to negotiate a settlement. At the same time, we assume that every case will end up at trial and prepare for that possibility. This way, we are never caught off-guard by the direction your case takes.
- Charging nothing up front: Do not worry about paying our attorneys’ fees. We work on contingency, which means we take a portion of your settlement as payment. You only pay our fees if we win. This makes it easier to afford the legal services you want.
Our Attorneys Value Our Clients Above All Else
As our client testimonials show, our law firm always prioritizes our clients’ needs. In the words of one satisfied client, we provide “excellent, courteous, and professional legal services” when our clients are going through very tough times.
With our assistance, you will have the chance to hold the liable party accountable without adding any more stress to an already difficult situation. Call Christensen Law today for a free, confidential consultation.
How Filing a Livonia Civil Rights Case Helps Your Family
The benefits of taking legal action against the liable party are twofold. First and foremost, you make Livonia a better place to live by demonstrating that there are legal and material consequences for ignoring civil rights laws.
Second, our Livonia civil rights attorneys will fight hard for financial compensation for the things you lost because of the discriminatory act. You can use this money to cover your:
- Lost wages: For example, if your employer refused to give you a bonus or created such a hostile work environment that you missed work, our civil rights law firm will fight to reimburse you for the income you should have earned.
- Lost earning capacity: This represents income you would have earned in the future but now cannot. One example of this is if you were unjustly fired and are now deprived of the money you would have earned in that job over your career.
- Medical expenses: Our Livonia attorneys will make sure you ask for enough to cover all of your treatments, whether you need help with physical wounds, psychological trauma, or both.
- Pain and suffering: A civil rights violation can have a big impact on your health. If you experienced any physical discomfort, anxiety, or distress because of this event, we want to pursue the money you deserve to help make up for your unnecessary pain.
- Lost quality of life: You might have temporary problems coping with the abuse, or you might have to deal with the aftermath for a lifetime. Either way, this suffering has affected your ability to live happily and peacefully, and our lawyers will include it in your lawsuit.
- Loss of consortium: Have your close personal relationships suffered because of the discrimination you faced? This is a compensable loss under Michigan law.
Our personal injury lawyers can help you seek these and other damages for your Livonia civil rights case.
Who Can You Hold Responsible for Civil Rights Violations?
In a civil rights case, one or more parties may have participated in the discrimination against you. While some acts may be the work of one individual, sometimes multiple individuals, and/or an organization is also to blame.
Below is an incomplete list of institutions and individuals that have a legal responsibility to treat you with dignity—and who our lawyers will help you hold accountable for any failure to uphold the law.
Livonia Police and Your Civil Rights
Both the Lansing Police Department and the Michigan State Police have a duty to treat everyone equally and with respect. Even if you are accused of a crime, you should never be subjected to discriminatory treatment or undue force.
Civil rights violations by police include:
- Racial profiling
- False arrest or imprisonment
- Excessive force
- Intimidation or harassment
- Sexual assault or abuse
Your Employer and Your Civil Rights
Job hunting is not easy for anyone, but people in protected groups often face additional hurdles from discriminatory interviewers or employers who make decisions based on factors other than their ability to do the job.
Once you get a job, you have the right to expect fair pay, reasonable accommodations for your disabilities, and respectful treatment. You should be able to report unjust behavior from coworkers or bosses without worrying about reprisals, such as wrongful termination.
Business Owners and Employees and Your Civil Rights
Businesses do have the right to refuse service to customers, including customers who are disruptive or making threats. However, a person’s identity does not make them a threat, and they should not be denied service or followed around the store based on how they look or speak.
Your Livonia School and Your Civil Rights
Students, just like workers, deserve the opportunity to pursue their passions and succeed in their chosen fields. They should not have to deal with an admission committee that denies entrance to a qualified student on the basis of their protected status.
Once a student enrolls at an institution, they are entitled to the same services as everyone else. The teachers, administration, and the school board must never make a student feel excluded or deny reasonable accommodations.
Prisons and Your Civil Rights
People in jail or prison still retain their basic civil rights, including the right to a sanitary environment free of abuse. Prison guards and staff should not use intimidation, excessive force, or denial of necessities to control you.
Prisons should also protect the people incarcerated there. If other prisoners threaten or bother you, you should be able to go to a prison employee and get help.
Defining Civil Rights in Livonia, Michigan
In our state, Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 37.2102 (part of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act) defines what civil rights are and what constitutes a violation of those legal rights. The Act identifies two key aspects of civil rights:
- Protected activities: Everyone in the state is entitled to look for a job and a home, access public services and places of public accommodation, and pursue an education.
- Protected groups: No one can use your race, color, age, gender, sexuality, disability, medical condition (including pregnancy), marital status, height, weight, religion, or country of origin as an excuse to block you from your pursuit of protected activities.
How Can You Tell if Someone Has Violated Your Civil Rights?
It is not always easy. For example, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), employers are not allowed to ask questions pertaining to a job applicant’s race, medical history, disability, or age. However, some employers try to find workarounds by asking more subtle questions to get this same information. This is illegal but harder to detect.
The Livonia civil rights attorneys at Christensen Law encourage you to get in touch with us about your case. Even if you are not sure of your rights, we will sit down with you and help you figure out what to do next.
Protecting Your Civil Rights Is Our Livonia Lawyers’ Main Goal
Christensen Law is proud to serve as the voice of the unheard in Livonia. Our civil rights lawyers will listen to your story, determine the best ways to protect your rights, and fight aggressively until we win the compensation your family deserves. Call now for a free case review with a member of our team.
