Discrimination, government misconduct, and equal protection claims.
Civil rights lawsuits address violations of constitutional and statutory rights — including racial, gender, religious, and disability discrimination, police misconduct, government overreach, voting rights, and unequal access to public accommodations.
Discrimination claims.
Federal civil rights laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of protected characteristics in employment (Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act), housing (the Fair Housing Act), public accommodations (Title II of the Civil Rights Act, Title III of the ADA), and education (Title IX).
State and local laws often add further protections — and sometimes broader categories — beyond federal law. Many discrimination claims require administrative filings (EEOC, state agency, HUD) before a lawsuit can proceed, with deadlines that can be short.
Section 1983 and government misconduct.
42 U.S.C. § 1983 allows civil claims against state and local government officials who violate constitutional rights — including excessive force by police, false arrest, illegal searches, and due process violations. Federal officials may be sued under Bivens, though the Supreme Court has narrowed those claims significantly in recent years.
Qualified immunity is a frequently litigated defense in these cases. The doctrine generally protects government officials unless their conduct violated a "clearly established" right that a reasonable official would have known about. Standards continue to evolve through court decisions.
Disability access and accommodations.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires reasonable accommodations in employment, accessibility in public accommodations and government services, and accessible communication. Common claims involve physical barriers, denial of service animals, inaccessible websites or digital services, and failure to provide accommodations in employment.
The Fair Housing Act adds protections related to housing — including reasonable accommodations and modifications for tenants with disabilities. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act applies to programs receiving federal funding.