EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION DEMAND LETTER
State of Indiana
Indiana Civil Rights Law and Federal Anti-Discrimination Claims
[ATTORNEY/FIRM LETTERHEAD]
[Firm Name]
[Address Line 1]
[City, Indiana ZIP]
Tel: [Phone Number]
Fax: [Fax Number]
[Attorney Email]
[Indiana Attorney 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]
ICRC Complaint No.: [Number, if filed]
EEOC Charge No.: [Number, if filed]
Position: [Job Title]
CONFIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT COMMUNICATION PURSUANT TO FRE 408 / IND. R. EVID. 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 Indiana Civil Rights Law (IC 22-9-1-1 et seq.) and federal anti-discrimination statutes.
Please direct all further communications regarding this matter to our office.
I. INDIANA LEGAL FRAMEWORK
A. Indiana Civil Rights Law (IC 22-9-1-1 et seq.)
Indiana provides employment discrimination protections through the Indiana Civil Rights Law. Indiana is a deferral state with a work-sharing agreement with the EEOC.
Coverage:
- Private employers with 6 or more employees (broader than federal)
- State and local government employers
- Employment agencies and labor organizations
Protected Classes Under Indiana Law:
| Protected Class | Statutory Citation |
|---|---|
| Race | IC 22-9-1-2 |
| Religion | IC 22-9-1-2 |
| Color | IC 22-9-1-2 |
| Sex | IC 22-9-1-2 |
| Disability | IC 22-9-1-2 |
| National Origin | IC 22-9-1-2 |
| Ancestry | IC 22-9-1-2 |
| Veteran Status | IC 22-9-1-2 |
| Age (40-75) | IC 22-9-1-2 |
Note: Indiana does NOT protect sexual orientation or gender identity under state law.
B. Key Indiana-Specific Features
1. Limited Remedies Under State Law:
- Back pay
- Reinstatement
- Injunctive relief
- NO compensatory or punitive damages under state law
- Federal claims necessary for full damages
2. Age Protection Limits:
- State law protects ages 40-75 (not over 75)
- Federal ADEA has no upper limit
3. Coverage:
- Covers employers with 6 or more employees (vs. 15 for 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 Indiana (deferral state)
2. Age Discrimination in Employment Act
- Coverage: Employers with 20 or more employees
- EEOC Filing Deadline: 300 days in Indiana
- Note: No upper age limit (unlike Indiana state law)
3. Americans with Disabilities Act
- Coverage: Employers with 15 or more employees
- EEOC Filing Deadline: 300 days in Indiana
D. Administrative Exhaustion Requirements
Indiana Civil Rights Commission (ICRC):
| Requirement | Standard |
|---|---|
| Filing Deadline | 180 days from discriminatory act |
| Investigation | ICRC investigates complaint |
| Right to Sue | May request after 180 days or upon dismissal |
| Suit Filing Deadline | 90 days from Right to Sue |
ICRC Contact Information:
- Indiana Civil Rights Commission
- 100 N. Senate Avenue, Room N103
- Indianapolis, IN 46204
- Phone: (317) 232-2600
- Website: www.in.gov/icrc
EEOC Filing (Cross-Filed with ICRC):
| Requirement | Standard |
|---|---|
| Filing Deadline | 300 days from discriminatory act |
| Cross-Filing | Work-sharing agreement with ICRC |
| 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]
[ ] Religion: [Specify]
[ ] Color: [Specify]
[ ] Sex: [Specify, including pregnancy]
[ ] National Origin: [Specify]
[ ] Ancestry: [Specify]
[ ] Age: [Specify - 40-75 for state; 40+ for federal]
[ ] Disability: [Specify condition]
[ ] Veteran 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] |
| Dates of Employment | [Start Date] to [End Date / Present] |
| Work Location | [Address in Indiana] |
| Salary/Compensation | $[Amount] per [year/hour] |
| Supervisor(s) | [Name(s) and Title(s)] |
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]
C. Timeline of Events
| Date | Event | Witness(es) |
|---|---|---|
| [Date] | [Describe discriminatory event] | [Names] |
| [Date] | [Describe adverse employment action] | [Names] |
D. Discriminatory Intent / Disparate Treatment
[Describe direct and circumstantial evidence of discrimination]
IV. LEGAL CLAIMS
A. Violation of Indiana Civil Rights Law (IC 22-9-1-3)
[Company Short Name] violated Indiana law by discriminating against our client based on [his/her/their] [protected class].
B. Federal Claims (Title VII / ADEA / ADA)
Our client also asserts federal discrimination claims to access full compensatory and punitive damages not available under Indiana state law.
C. Retaliation (IC 22-9-1-6)
[If applicable:] [Company Short Name] retaliated against our client for engaging in protected activity.
V. DAMAGES
A. Economic Damages
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Back Pay | $[Amount] |
| Lost Benefits | $[Amount] |
| Front Pay | $[Amount] |
| Economic Subtotal | $[Amount] |
B. Compensatory Damages (Federal Claims Only)
Note: Indiana state law does NOT provide compensatory damages.
Compensatory Damages: $[Amount]
C. Punitive Damages (Federal Claims Only)
Title VII Damage Caps:
| 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
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
[ ] ICRC Complaint filed on [Date]
[ ] EEOC Charge filed on [Date]
[ ] Right to Sue obtained on [Date]
B. Litigation Venue
[ ] Indiana Superior/Circuit Court, [County] County
[ ] United States District Court for the [Northern/Southern] District of Indiana
VIII. DOCUMENT PRESERVATION
LITIGATION HOLD NOTICE — Preserve all relevant documents and ESI.
Sincerely,
[Attorney Name]
[Title]
[Firm Name]
[Indiana Attorney No.]
cc: [Client Name]
INDIANA-SPECIFIC PRACTICE NOTES (Do Not Include in Final Letter)
Key Indiana Considerations
[ ] Deferral State: 300-day EEOC deadline; 180-day ICRC deadline
[ ] Limited State Remedies: No compensatory/punitive under state law
[ ] Federal Claims Essential: For full damages, pursue federal claims
[ ] No Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity: Not protected under state law
[ ] Age Cap at 75: State law only protects ages 40-75
[ ] Broader Coverage: ICRC covers employers with 6+ employees
Local Ordinances
[ ] Indianapolis: Marion County has local human rights ordinance with additional protections (sexual orientation, gender identity)
[ ] Bloomington: Local ordinance with additional protections
[ ] South Bend: Local ordinance with additional protections
Agency Contact Information
Indiana Civil Rights Commission:
- 100 N. Senate Avenue, Room N103
- Indianapolis, IN 46204
- Phone: (317) 232-2600
- Website: www.in.gov/icrc
EEOC Indianapolis District Office:
- 101 W. Ohio Street, Suite 1900
- Indianapolis, IN 46204
- Phone: (800) 669-4000
Statute of Limitations
| Claim | Deadline |
|---|---|
| ICRC Complaint | 180 days |
| State Court | 90 days from RTS |
| EEOC Charge | 300 days |
| Title VII Suit | 90 days |