EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION DEMAND LETTER
Mississippi / Federal Law
Title VII, ADEA, ADA, and 42 U.S.C. Section 1981
[ATTORNEY/FIRM LETTERHEAD]
[Firm Name]
[Address Line 1]
[City, Mississippi ZIP]
Tel: [Phone Number]
Fax: [Fax Number]
[Attorney Email]
[Mississippi Bar No.]
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]
Re: Employment Discrimination Claim of [Client Full Name]
EEOC Charge No.: [Number]
CONFIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT COMMUNICATION - FRE 408 / MRE 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"). Please direct all further communications concerning this matter to our office.
We write to demand immediate action to remedy the unlawful discrimination and to resolve this matter without litigation. The Company's conduct violates federal anti-discrimination laws and exposes it to substantial liability.
I. LEGAL FRAMEWORK
A. Mississippi State Law Limitations
Mississippi is one of few states without a comprehensive state civil rights act covering private employers. State law protections are limited to:
- Miss. Code Section 25-9-149: Prohibits discrimination against state employees only
- Common Law: Limited tort claims may be available
As a result, private sector employees must rely primarily on federal anti-discrimination laws.
B. Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws
| Statute | Protected Class | Citation | Employee Threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Title VII | Race, color, religion, sex, national origin | 42 U.S.C. Section 2000e | 15+ employees |
| ADEA | Age (40+) | 29 U.S.C. Section 621 | 20+ employees |
| ADA | Disability | 42 U.S.C. Section 12101 | 15+ employees |
| Section 1981 | Race, ethnicity | 42 U.S.C. Section 1981 | No minimum |
| EPA | Sex (wages) | 29 U.S.C. Section 206(d) | No minimum |
| GINA | Genetic information | 42 U.S.C. Section 2000ff | 15+ employees |
C. EEOC Procedures (Non-Deferral State)
CRITICAL: Mississippi is a non-deferral state with no state FEP agency. The EEOC filing deadline is 180 days from the discriminatory act.
EEOC Jackson Area Office:
- Address: 100 W. Capitol Street, Suite 207, Jackson, MS 39269
- Phone: (601) 965-4537
II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
A. Employment History
[Client Full Name] was employed by [Company Short Name] from [Start Date] through [End Date / Present] as a [Job Title] in [City], Mississippi.
Employment Summary:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Start Date | [Date] |
| Final Position | [Title] |
| Final Salary | $[Amount] per [year/hour] |
| Supervisor | [Name, Title] |
| Work Location | [Address] |
| Employment Status | [Terminated / Constructively Discharged / Still Employed] |
B. Protected Class Status
Our client is a member of the following protected class(es):
[ ] Race: [Specify]
[ ] Color: [Specify]
[ ] National Origin: [Specify]
[ ] Sex/Gender: [Specify]
[ ] Religion: [Specify]
[ ] Age: [Age, if 40+]
[ ] Disability: [Describe disability and any accommodation requests]
[ ] Pregnancy: [Describe pregnancy-related status]
C. Discriminatory Conduct
[Company Short Name] subjected our client to unlawful discrimination, including:
[ ] Disparate Treatment: [Describe]
[ ] Hostile Work Environment: [Describe]
[ ] Failure to Accommodate: [Describe]
[ ] Retaliation: [Describe]
[ ] Wrongful Termination: [Describe]
Specific Incidents:
- On or about [Date]: [Describe incident]
- On or about [Date]: [Describe incident]
- On or about [Date]: [Describe incident]
III. LEGAL CLAIMS
A. Violation of Title VII (42 U.S.C. Section 2000e)
[Company Short Name] violated Title VII by discriminating against our client based on [protected class].
B. Violation of 42 U.S.C. Section 1981 (Race Discrimination)
[If race-based claim:] [Company Short Name] violated Section 1981 by discriminating against our client based on race. Section 1981 provides:
- No employee threshold requirement
- 4-year statute of limitations
- No administrative exhaustion required
- Uncapped compensatory and punitive damages
C. Violation of ADEA (If Age Discrimination)
[Company Short Name] violated the ADEA by discriminating against our client based on age (40+).
D. Violation of ADA (If Disability Discrimination)
[Company Short Name] violated the ADA by:
[ ] Discriminating based on disability
[ ] Failing to provide reasonable accommodation
[ ] Retaliating for requesting accommodation
E. Retaliation (Title VII Section 704)
[Company Short Name] retaliated against our client for engaging in protected activity.
IV. DAMAGES
A. Economic Damages
1. Back Pay
| Category | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lost base salary | $[Annual] x [months] / 12 | $[Amount] |
| Lost bonuses | [Calculation] | $[Amount] |
| Subtotal | $[Amount] |
2. Lost Benefits
| Benefit | Monthly Value | Months | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | $[Amount] | [X] | $[Amount] |
| 401(k)/retirement | $[Amount] | [X] | $[Amount] |
| Subtotal | $[Amount] |
B. Compensatory Damages
Title VII Damage Caps (42 U.S.C. Section 1981a):
| Employer Size | Combined Cap (Compensatory + Punitive) |
|---|---|
| 15-100 employees | $50,000 |
| 101-200 employees | $100,000 |
| 201-500 employees | $200,000 |
| 500+ employees | $300,000 |
Note: Section 1981 claims (race) have NO damage caps.
C. Summary of Damages
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Back Pay | $[Amount] |
| Lost Benefits | $[Amount] |
| Front Pay | $[Amount] |
| Compensatory Damages | $[Amount] |
| Punitive Damages | $[Amount] |
| Attorney's Fees | $[Amount] |
| TOTAL | $[Amount] |
V. SETTLEMENT DEMAND
We demand that [Company Short Name] pay $[Settlement Demand Amount] to resolve all claims.
VI. RESPONSE DEADLINE
Please respond within twenty-one (21) calendar days, no later than [Response Deadline Date].
If we do not receive a satisfactory response, our client will file suit in the United States District Court for the [Northern/Southern] District of Mississippi.
VII. DOCUMENT PRESERVATION
Immediately implement a litigation hold to preserve all relevant documents and ESI.
VIII. CONFIDENTIALITY
This letter is a confidential settlement communication protected by Federal Rule of Evidence 408.
Sincerely,
[Attorney Name]
[Title]
[Firm Name]
[Mississippi Bar No.]
MISSISSIPPI-SPECIFIC PRACTICE NOTES (Do Not Include in Final Letter)
Key Mississippi Considerations
[ ] No State Civil Rights Act: Mississippi has no comprehensive state law protecting private sector employees from discrimination
[ ] Non-Deferral State: 180-day EEOC deadline (not 300 days)
[ ] Section 1981 Critical for Race Claims: Uncapped damages, 4-year SOL, no exhaustion required
[ ] Federal Court Only: Most discrimination claims must be brought in federal court
[ ] Limited State Remedies: Consider intentional infliction of emotional distress or other tort theories if applicable
Venue Options
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Mississippi (Oxford, Aberdeen, Greenville)
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Mississippi (Jackson, Gulfport, Hattiesburg)
Statute of Limitations Reference
| Claim | Deadline | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| EEOC Charge | 180 days | 42 U.S.C. Section 2000e-5(e) |
| Section 1981 | 4 years | 28 U.S.C. Section 1658 |
| Title VII suit | 90 days after right-to-sue | 42 U.S.C. Section 2000e-5(f) |