Civil Suit For Marital Status Discrimination

Marital status discrimination can occur in a variety of situations in different places. These include when a person is trying to get residential or commercial premises on rent, at workplaces where employees are treated indifferently because of their marital status, when the person in applying to study in any state educational institution, or when he/she is trying to obtain services from banks, lawyers, doctors or hospitals.

In the United States, marital status discrimination is covered under the provisions stipulated in the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. As per the civil rights law, any discrimination or harassment because of race, religion, sex, color, national origin, physical disability, age, sexual orientation, parental status and marital status is prohibited. For example, other than the qualifications, performance and the behavior of the employee, any other factor including the employee’s marital and parental status should not influence the employer at the time of assigning of work, promotions, wages and benefits to the employee. Any employer discriminating his/her employee based on the marital status is considered to have violated the law.

In case of any discrimination, the complainant may file a civil suit. A civil suit can be described as a municipal legal action filed in court for the declaration, enforcement and protection of rights. A civil suit regarding marital status discrimination is interpreted in accordance with either local or state statutes because only 20 states have equal opportunity laws that protect marital status of an individual. Hence, it is important to check the local state laws before filing a civil suit.