It is hard to go a day without hearing stories in the news about people’s rights being violated. It happens far too frequently. Sometimes, those responsible try to brush such accusations under the rug, but victims do not have to let such behavior stand. Those in New York who are victims of civil rights violations may be entitled to seek compensation for their losses.
Civil rights are protections granted to everyone who resides in the United States. Some people claim civil rights violations when, in fact, the right they are saying was violated does not qualify as a protected right. So, before pursuing legal actions, it is important to understand the difference between protected and unprotected civil rights.
For the purpose of understanding the difference, this column will use fair housing rights as an example. Landlords and tenants have rights. For instance, a landlord has the right to refuse to lease property to a pet owner if he or she does not want pets on the property. The landlord, however, does not have the right to refuse to lease property to someone based on that individual’s skin color, religion, sexual preference or gender — among other factors.
New York residents who believe that they are victims of civil rights violations in either their personal or professional lives may be able to take legal actions against the person or persons responsible. An experienced attorney can review one’s case and, if it is deemed appropriate, file any applicable civil claims in court. Such cases may ultimately be resolved through litigation or out-of-court negotiations.
Source: FindLaw, “Have Your Civil Rights Been Violated?“, Accessed on Nov. 15, 2017
