Oak Park Civil Rights Lawyer

Civil rights are rights granted to all people in the United States. These rights guarantee that all individuals are treated equally and appropriately by the government and its agents, like law enforcement. Certain civil rights requirements extend to private parties, like the rights guaranteed by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968.

When an individual’s civil rights are infringed upon, he or she may file a civil rights violation lawsuit to pursue monetary compensation for his or her related damages. These damages can include his or her medical bills for injuries suffered at a violent police officer’s hands or compensation for wages lost due to workplace discrimination.

What are My Civil Rights?

As an American citizen, your civil rights include:

• The right to free speech. There are limits to this right in certain environments, but overall, you have the right to express your thoughts in public and private spaces;
• The right to assemble freely;
• The right to practice any religion you choose;
• The right to a discrimination-free workplace;
• The right to buy or rent a home without facing discrimination; and
• The right to be treated appropriately by law enforcement and the criminal justice system. This includes being physically handled in a humane manner and not being subjected to malicious prosecution.

How can I Protect and Exercise My Civil Rights?

Protecting your civil rights can mean filing a lawsuit against the party that violated them. In many cases, you must file your claim through a federal agency like the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Your lawyer can advise you about which agency can handle your claim. Even if the violation you suffered occurred because of only one person’s actions, your claim will most likely be against the company or agency that employed him or her at the time, rather than the individual him- or herself.

By working with a lawyer, you can ensure that your case will be handled appropriately and that you will not miss any critical filing deadlines. Your lawyer can also help you gather and use valuable pieces of evidence to support your lawsuit, like eyewitness testimonies to the incident and photographs of the scene. Through your claim, you can pursue compensation for all the damages you suffered because of the violation, including intangible damages like your emotional trauma from facing the violation.

Work with an Experienced Oak Park Civil Rights Lawyer

If you feel your civil rights have been violated, do not simply stand by and allow injustice to continue. Contact an experienced civil rights lawyer to discuss your situation and learn more about your legal rights and options. You could be entitled to recover compensation for the damages you suffered because of the injustice. Get started with our team by contacting the Law Office of Mitchell A. Kline today to schedule your initial legal consultation.