Civil Rights

This is FindLaw’s collection of Civil Rights articles, part of the Litigation and Disputes section of the Corporate Counsel Center. A civil right is an enforceable right or privilege, which if interfered with by another gives rise to an action for injury. Examples of civil rights are freedom of speech, press, and assembly, the right to vote, freedom from involuntary servitude, and the right to equality in public places. Corporations have been gaining more civil rights in the courts throughout the years. Law articles in this archive are predominantly written by lawyers for a professional audience seeking business solutions to legal issues. Start your free research with FindLaw.

Civil Litigation

Civil Rights Articles

California Supreme Court Recognizes a Partial Taking

The California Supreme Court offers landowners some good news and some bad news in its latest decision on "regulatory takings." In Kavanau v. Santa Monica Rent Control Board, 16 Cal.4th 761 (1997), the court recognized that a property owner alleging ...
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Certain Evidence In Age Discrimination Cases Found Improper by Court of Appeals

Recently, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a Baton Rouge jury's award of over $260,000 to two executives who sued their former employer claiming they were terminated because of their age. The case, Wyvill v. United Companies Financial ...
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Changes To California Law Warrant Revisions To Employer Policies and Practices

In addition to changing the overtime and sick leave laws, (See Footnote 1) the California State Legislature recently made some important changes to the Fair Employment and Housing Act ("FEHA") and California Labor Code that will be effective January ...
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Civil Rights Forum: Fall 1996, Vol.10, No. 3

1. Title VI Public Service Announcement Airing on Minority-Emphasis Radio Stations 2. Justice Files Amicus Curiae Brief in Environmental Justice Case 3. Justice Activates Title VI Telephone Information Line 4. Civil Rights Commission Faults ...
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Civil Rights Forum: Winter, 1997, Vol. 11, No. 1

The Forum "Debriefs" Deval Patrick Pinzler Tapped as Acting AAG for Civil Rights Justice Initiative Underway to Combat Police Misconduct College Board Revises Test to Improve Chances for Girls to Win Scholarships Department of Education and Courts ...
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Civil Rights: No Housing Discrimination Claim Where Plaintiff Failed to Apply for Housing

Plaintiff, a Chaldean-American, alleged that he had visited an apartment complex and was advised by the manager that there were no rental units available and that the complex was not accepting applications. Plaintiff further alleged that on the same ...
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Civil Rights: No Qualified Immunity for ADA Discrimination in Prisons

Plaintiff was a state prisoner who alleged that prison officials discriminated against him on the basis of his hearing disability in violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C.§ 12131, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 ...
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Civil Rights: No Violation of Civil Rights Where There Was Only an Attempted Deprivation of Liberty

Plaintiff, a prison inmate, alleged that a prison official approached three other inmates and asked them to sign affidavits stating that Plaintiff was selling drugs. Plaintiff filed suit, alleging that this conduct constituted a violation of ...
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Civil Rights: Physical Injury During Arrest Does Not Establish Excessive Force

Plaintiff brought suit under 42 U.S.C. §1983, alleging that he had been the victim of excessive force when Defendants arrested him. Defendants moved for summary judgment, arguing that the force employed was not excessive, as a matter of law ...
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Civil Rights: Rezoning Does Not Give Rise to Constitutional Claims

Plaintiffs were residents of a neighborhood in which the Detroit City Council approved the construction of a Super Kmart department store. The residents claimed that the development was unconstitutional on the grounds that it violated substantive ...
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