EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION DEMAND LETTER
State of Florida
Florida Civil Rights Act and Federal Anti-Discrimination Claims
[ATTORNEY/FIRM LETTERHEAD]
[Firm Name]
[Address Line 1]
[City, Florida ZIP]
Tel: [Phone Number]
Fax: [Fax Number]
[Attorney Email]
[Florida Bar Number]
VIA CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
AND VIA EMAIL TO: [recipient_email]
[Date]
[Employer Contact Name]
[Title]
[Company Legal Name]
[Company Address]
[City, State ZIP]
Copy to:
[Company General Counsel, if known]
[Registered Agent, if different]
Re: Employment Discrimination Claim of [Client Full Name]
FCHR Complaint No.: [Number, if filed]
EEOC Charge No.: [Number, if filed]
Position: [Job Title]
CONFIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT COMMUNICATION PURSUANT TO FRE 408 / FLA. STAT. § 90.408
Dear [Mr./Ms./Mx. Last Name]:
This firm represents [Client Full Name] ("our client") regarding [his/her/their] claims of unlawful employment discrimination against [Company Legal Name] ("[Company Short Name]" or "the Company"). Our client has been subjected to discrimination based on [his/her/their] [protected class] in violation of the Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA), Florida Statutes Section 760.01 et seq., and federal anti-discrimination statutes.
Please direct all further communications regarding this matter to our office.
I. FLORIDA LEGAL FRAMEWORK
A. Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA)
Florida provides employment discrimination protections through the FCRA, which closely mirrors federal Title VII. Florida is a deferral state with a work-sharing agreement with the EEOC.
Coverage:
- Private employers with 15 or more employees (same as Title VII)
- State and local government employers
- Employment agencies and labor organizations
Protected Classes Under Florida Law:
| Protected Class | Statutory Citation |
|---|---|
| Race | Fla. Stat. § 760.10 |
| Color | Fla. Stat. § 760.10 |
| Religion | Fla. Stat. § 760.10 |
| Sex (including pregnancy) | Fla. Stat. § 760.10 |
| National Origin | Fla. Stat. § 760.10 |
| Age | Fla. Stat. § 760.10 |
| Handicap (Disability) | Fla. Stat. § 760.10 |
| Marital Status | Fla. Stat. § 760.10 |
| AIDS/HIV Status | Fla. Stat. § 760.50 |
Note: Florida does NOT explicitly protect sexual orientation or gender identity under state law, though some local ordinances do.
B. Key Florida-Specific Features
1. 365-Day Filing Deadline:
- FCHR complaint deadline is 365 days (longer than EEOC's 300 days)
2. Damage Caps:
- FCRA incorporates Title VII damage caps by statute
- Combined compensatory and punitive capped at $50,000 to $300,000
3. Unique Protections:
- AIDS/HIV status explicitly protected under Fla. Stat. § 760.50
- Marital status protected (not in Title VII)
C. Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws
1. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
- Coverage: Employers with 15 or more employees
- EEOC Filing Deadline: 300 days in Florida (deferral state)
2. Age Discrimination in Employment Act
- Coverage: Employers with 20 or more employees
- EEOC Filing Deadline: 300 days in Florida
3. Americans with Disabilities Act
- Coverage: Employers with 15 or more employees
- EEOC Filing Deadline: 300 days in Florida
D. Administrative Exhaustion Requirements
Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR):
| Requirement | Standard |
|---|---|
| Filing Deadline | 365 days from discriminatory act |
| Right to Sue | Automatic after 180 days; or upon determination |
| Investigation | FCHR investigates if no RTS requested |
| Suit Filing Deadline | 1 year from determination |
FCHR Contact Information:
- Florida Commission on Human Relations
- 4075 Esplanade Way, Room 110
- Tallahassee, FL 32399
- Phone: (850) 488-7082
- Website: fchr.myflorida.com
EEOC Filing (Cross-Filed with FCHR):
| Requirement | Standard |
|---|---|
| Filing Deadline | 300 days from discriminatory act |
| Cross-Filing | Work-sharing agreement with FCHR |
| Right to Sue Letter | Required for federal court |
| Suit Filing Deadline | 90 days from Right to Sue letter |
II. PROTECTED CLASS STATUS
A. Client's Protected Class
Our client is a member of the following protected class(es):
[ ] Race: [Specify]
[ ] Color: [Specify]
[ ] Religion: [Specify]
[ ] Sex: [Specify, including pregnancy]
[ ] National Origin: [Specify]
[ ] Age: [Specify]
[ ] Handicap (Disability): [Specify condition]
[ ] Marital Status: [Specify]
[ ] AIDS/HIV Status: [Specify]
B. Evidence of Protected Class Status
[Describe documentation or evidence establishing membership in the protected class]
III. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
A. Employment Relationship
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Employee Name | [Client Full Name] |
| Position/Title | [Job Title] |
| Department | [Department Name] |
| Dates of Employment | [Start Date] to [End Date / Present] |
| Work Location | [Address in Florida] |
| Salary/Compensation | $[Amount] per [year/hour] |
| Supervisor(s) | [Name(s) and Title(s)] |
| HR Contact | [Name and Title] |
B. Summary of Discriminatory Conduct
Our client was subjected to the following adverse employment action(s):
[ ] Failure to Hire: [Describe]
[ ] Termination: [Describe]
[ ] Demotion: [Describe]
[ ] Failure to Promote: [Describe]
[ ] Hostile Work Environment: [Describe]
[ ] Unequal Pay: [Describe]
[ ] Denial of Accommodation: [Describe]
[ ] Retaliation: [Describe]
[ ] Harassment: [Describe]
[ ] Other: [Describe]
C. Timeline of Events
| Date | Event | Witness(es) |
|---|---|---|
| [Date] | [Describe discriminatory event] | [Names] |
| [Date] | [Describe adverse employment action] | [Names] |
D. Discriminatory Intent / Disparate Treatment
1. Direct Evidence:
- [Describe any discriminatory statements or communications]
2. Circumstantial Evidence:
- [Describe disparate treatment of similarly situated employees]
3. Pretext:
- [Describe evidence that employer's stated reason is pretextual]
IV. LEGAL CLAIMS
A. Violation of Florida Civil Rights Act (Fla. Stat. § 760.10)
[Company Short Name] violated the FCRA by discriminating against our client based on [his/her/their] [protected class]. Under Fla. Stat. § 760.10(1), it is an unlawful employment practice:
"to discharge or to fail or refuse to hire any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual's race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, handicap, or marital status."
B. Hostile Work Environment (If Applicable)
The discriminatory conduct was severe or pervasive enough to create a hostile work environment.
C. Retaliation (Fla. Stat. § 760.10(7))
[If applicable:] [Company Short Name] retaliated against our client for engaging in protected activity.
D. Failure to Accommodate (If Applicable)
[Company Short Name] failed to provide reasonable accommodation for our client's handicap/disability.
V. DAMAGES
A. Economic Damages
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Back Pay | $[Amount] |
| Lost Benefits | $[Amount] |
| Front Pay | $[Amount] |
| Economic Subtotal | $[Amount] |
B. Compensatory Damages
Compensatory Damages: $[Amount]
C. Punitive Damages
Florida/Title VII Damage Caps (Combined Compensatory and Punitive):
| Number of Employees | Cap |
|---|---|
| 15-100 | $50,000 |
| 101-200 | $100,000 |
| 201-500 | $200,000 |
| 500+ | $300,000 |
Punitive Damages: $[Amount]
D. Attorney's Fees and Costs
Under Fla. Stat. § 760.11(5) and 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(k), our client is entitled to reasonable attorney's fees and costs.
Estimated Fees and Costs: $[Amount]
E. Summary of Damages
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Economic Damages | $[Amount] |
| Compensatory Damages | $[Amount] |
| Punitive Damages | $[Amount] |
| Attorney's Fees | $[Amount] |
| TOTAL | $[Amount] |
VI. SETTLEMENT DEMAND
We demand that [Company Short Name] pay $[Settlement Demand Amount] to settle all claims.
This demand will remain open for twenty-one (21) calendar days, expiring on [Response Deadline Date].
VII. ADMINISTRATIVE STATUS AND LITIGATION POSTURE
A. Agency Filing Status
[ ] FCHR Complaint filed on [Date]
[ ] EEOC Charge filed on [Date]
[ ] Right to Sue obtained on [Date]
B. Litigation Venue
[ ] Florida Circuit Court, [County] County
[ ] United States District Court for the [Northern/Middle/Southern] District of Florida
VIII. DOCUMENT PRESERVATION
LITIGATION HOLD NOTICE — Preserve all relevant documents and ESI.
IX. CONFIDENTIALITY
This letter is protected under FRE 408 and Fla. Stat. § 90.408.
Sincerely,
[Attorney Name]
[Title]
[Firm Name]
[Florida Bar No.]
cc: [Client Name]
FLORIDA-SPECIFIC PRACTICE NOTES (Do Not Include in Final Letter)
Key Florida Considerations
[ ] Deferral State: 300-day EEOC deadline; 365-day FCHR deadline
[ ] Same Coverage as Federal: FCRA covers employers with 15+ employees
[ ] Damage Caps: FCRA incorporates Title VII caps by statute
[ ] No Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity: Not protected under state law (check local ordinances)
[ ] AIDS/HIV Status: Explicitly protected under Fla. Stat. § 760.50
[ ] Marital Status: Protected under FCRA (not in Title VII)
Local Ordinances with Additional Protections
[ ] Miami-Dade County: Sexual orientation, gender identity protected
[ ] Broward County: Sexual orientation, gender identity protected
[ ] Palm Beach County: Sexual orientation protected
[ ] City of Orlando: Sexual orientation, gender identity protected
[ ] City of Tampa: Sexual orientation, gender identity protected
Agency Contact Information
Florida Commission on Human Relations:
- 4075 Esplanade Way, Room 110
- Tallahassee, FL 32399
- Phone: (850) 488-7082
- Website: fchr.myflorida.com
EEOC Offices in Florida:
- Miami District Office
- Tampa Field Office
Statute of Limitations
| Claim | Deadline |
|---|---|
| FCHR Complaint | 365 days |
| State Court | 1 year from determination |
| EEOC Charge | 300 days |
| Title VII Suit | 90 days |