Lawyers For Civil Rights Inc

Programs: Lawyers' committee for civil rights and economic justice, inc. (the organization") is a nonprofit, nonpartisan legal organization that fosters equal opportunity and fights discrimination on behalf of people of color and immigrants. The organization engages in creative and courageous legal action, education, and advocacy in collaboration with law firms and community partners. The organization handles major law reform cases as well as legal actions on behalf of individuals. The organization also engages in public policy, advocacy, community legal education, community economic development, and other legal services that further the cause of civil rights.

huot et al. V city of lowell et al. (federal court)- lawsuit on behalf of asian-american and latino residents, challenging at-large electoral system for lowell city council and school committee, a city that is majority-minority and yet has elected virtually no candidates of color to either of these elected bodies in its entire history. If we prevail, we will have a claim for attorneys' fees. City of chelsea et al. V. Trump et al. (federal court)- lawsuit on behalf of the cities of chelsea and lawrence to invalidate executive order 13,768, which threatens sanctuary jurisdictions with withdrawal of federal funding. If we prevail, we will have a claim for attorneys' fees. Romero et al. V. Mccormick & schmick's (federal court)- sexual harassment lawsuit filed on behalf of five low-wage latina workers of a prominent national restaurant chain, alleging a hostile work environment filled with lewd behavior, sexually inappropriate comments, and unwanted touching. If we prevail, we will have a claim for attorneys' fees. Jones v. City of boston (federal court)- title vii disparate impact case challenging hair drug test used by boston police department as scientifically unreliable and discriminatory against african-americans. If we prevail, we will have a claim for attorneys' fees. Students for fair admissions v. Harvard (federal court)- in this lawsuit challenging harvard university's race-conscious admissions policy, lccr represents amici current and prospective students who believe their educations would be harmed were harvard prohibited from valuing racial diversity in admissions. No attorneys' fees expected. Hernandez v. Strega waterfront restaurant (mcad)- sexual harassment complaint on behalf of a kitchen worker who was sexually harassed by her supervisor and subsequently fired. Favorable ruling secured at mcad. Attorneys' fees currently being sought. Respondent has appealed. Finley v. Lexington public schools and paul ash (mcad, removed to middlesex superior court)- mcad complaint on behalf an african-american social worker who was employed in the lexington elementary school metco program. Complaint alleges that ms. Finley was unlawfully terminated in retaliation for her advocacy on behalf of african-american students and for her complaints regarding disparate, discriminatory school discipline. If we prevail, we will have a claim for attorneys' fees. High point families united et al. V. Kargman (suffolk superior court)- lawsuit alleging subsidy discrimination when section 8 project-based contract was not renewed. No attorneys' fees expected. Lccrej v. Hodgson & bristol county sheriff's office (bristol county superior court)- lawsuit seeking public records from the bristol county sheriff's office relating to immigration detention, enforcement and/or participation in a 287(g) program. Finklea v. Csc and bpd (suffolk superior court) - complaint for judicial review of a civil service commission decision, filed on behalf of a black man bypassed for appointment as a boston police officer. No attorneys' fees claimed or recovery. Morgan v. Csc and bpd (civil service commission)- civil service commission appeal filed on behalf of a black man bypassed for appointment as a boston police officer. No attorneys' fees expected. Wahnon v. Walpole - racial profiling matter on behalf of black motorist stopped by walpole police department. Case successfully settled. We received $3,750 in attorneys' fees during 2018. Young et al. V. Amazon (mcad)- complaints alleging discrimination in use of overly-stringent background checks. If we prevail, we will have a claim for attorneys' fees. Baker v. Mass trial courts & sjc (mcad)- complaint filed on behalf of black court officer, alleging racially hostile work environment and retaliation in massachusetts trial court. If we prevail, we will have a claim for attorneys' fees. Castro v. Beecher (federal court)- monitoring of consent decrees governing hiring in police and fire departments in various municipalities in commonwealth. No attorneys' fees expected. Federal fair housing case - fair housing case filed at mcad in fall 2015 and subsequently removed to federal court in february 2016. Case alleges that landlord failed to respond adequately to tenant-on-tenant racial harassment and then terminated the tenancy of our clients, an african-american family, in retaliation for asserting their legal rights under fair housing laws. The case was favorable settled in april 2017 and we received $1,750 in attorneys' fees. National origin discrimination matter (mcad) - mcad complaints on behalf of two latino cemetery maintenance workers whose supervisor subjected them to disparate treatment, hostile work environment, retaliatory termination, and post-termination retaliation, based on their national origin. They were denied hire after complaining of unfair and unsafe working conditions. Case successfully settled in 2017. No attorneys' fees recovered. Sexual harassment matter (mcad) - mcad complaint on behalf of a latina janitor who was suspended and ultimately terminated after reporting sexual harassment by a supervisor. Case successfully settled in 2017. We received $9,000 in attorneys' fees in 2018. Lccr v. Spence (sjc) - lawsuit against the trial court for failure to disclose public records related to its employment practices and the impact of those practices on minority women in particular. Case successfully resolved in 2017. No attorneys' fees were received. Pilot & zerai-misgun v brookline (norfolk superior court) - complaint filed alleging that brookline police department is a racially hostile work environment, based on racial slurs and other disparate treatment against our clients, two black police officers. Case successfully settled for one officer in 2017; other case ongoing. We received $15,000 in attorneys' fees in 2017. Naacp v. Boston latin school - complaint filed requesting that the u. S attorney's office investigate allegations of a racially hostile school environment at boston latin school. U. S attorney's office found a civil rights violation and entered into an agreement with the school for far-reaching reforms. No attorneys' fees claimed or recovery. Doe v. Peyser (sjc) - we represent students of color, students with disabilities, and english language learners who assert that their education would be harmed were the cap on charter schools declared unconstitutional. No attorneys' fees claimed or recovery. Graham-smith v. Boston police department (mcad) - mcad complaint on behalf of african-american boston police officer, who alleges that the boston police department violated state and federal anti-discrimination laws by relying on flawed hair drug test to make hiring and firing decisions despite the risk of false positive results for african-americans. This case was settled in 2017 and no attorneys' fees were received. Mcnish v. Wakefield public schools (us dept of education office of civil rights) - complaint with the u. S department of education office for civil rights (ocr) alleging acts of racial harassment in wakefield public schools in violation of title vi of the civil rights act of 1964. This case was settled in 2017 and no attorneys' fees were received. Tilahun v. Weymouth public schools (us dept of education office of civil rights) - complaint with the u. S department of education office for civil rights (ocr) alleging acts of racial harassment in weymouth public schools in violation of title vi of the civil rights act of 1964. This case was settled in 2017 and no attorneys' fees were received. Contreras v. A&m roofing (mcad) - mcad complaint on behalf of a 38 year old construction worker from honduras who was subjected to racist comments and abusive treatment by his supervisor. If we prevail, we will have a claim for attorney's fees. Charter school matter (mcad) - mcad complaint on behalf of african-american female who was employed for three months as an associate teacher in a charter school. Complaint alleges that she was subject to racial discrimination by her mentor teacher, and the she was later unfairly and wrongfully terminated from the school. If we prevail, we will have a claim for attorney's fees.