Employment Discrimination Cases Abound

By Nathan Abbott

Published on December 11, 2006

A recent study by the University of Arizona has found that since the Civil Rights Act of 1991 gave more strength to anti-discrimination laws, litigation has exploded in that field of law, with the number of cases increasing by 268 percent. The financial numbers have risen accordngly: in 1992, courts ordered companies to pay $14.7 million for discrimination claims. In 2005, that number had risen to $100.3 million, and another $271.6 million was paid in settlements, a 130% increase.

Research indicates that the financial incentive is the most important factor in inciting people to make claims, but is not the only factor. The study found that people are using the statutes for not only their own benefit but also to protect the rights of other workers.

Not all of the news was good for potential plaintiffs, however. The study also found that many claims were filed because workers have incorrect views on how the laws might protect them, with workers translating a bad event into a belief that they were discriminated against, making the retention of competent counsel extremely important.

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