EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION DEMAND LETTER
Rhode Island Law
Rhode Island Fair Employment Practices Act, R.I.G.L. Section 28-5-1 et seq.
[ATTORNEY/FIRM LETTERHEAD]
[Firm Name]
[Address Line 1]
[City, Rhode Island ZIP]
Tel: [Phone Number]
Fax: [Fax Number]
[Attorney Email]
[Rhode Island 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]
RICHR Complaint No.: [If filed]
EEOC Charge No.: [If filed]
CONFIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT COMMUNICATION - R.I.R.E. 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").
I. LEGAL FRAMEWORK
A. Rhode Island Fair Employment Practices Act (RIFEPA)
Rhode Island prohibits employment discrimination under R.I.G.L. Section 28-5-1 et seq.
Protected Classes Under RIFEPA:
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
- Gender identity or expression
- Disability
- Age (40+)
- Country of ancestral origin
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Domestic violence victim status
- Homelessness
B. Rhode Island Civil Rights Act (RICRA)
R.I.G.L. Section 42-112-1 et seq. provides additional protections and allows direct court filing.
C. Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws
| Statute | Protected Class | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Title VII | Race, color, religion, sex, national origin | 42 U.S.C. Section 2000e et seq. |
| ADEA | Age (40+) | 29 U.S.C. Section 621 et seq. |
| ADA | Disability | 42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq. |
D. Administrative Options
RIFEPA: Requires RICHR filing within 1 year
RICRA: Allows direct court filing within 3 years
II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
[Client Full Name] was employed by [Company Short Name] from [Start Date] through [End Date / Present] as a [Job Title] in [City], Rhode Island.
III. LEGAL CLAIMS
A. Violation of RIFEPA
[Company Short Name] violated Rhode Island law by discriminating against our client based on [protected class].
Key Provisions:
- Applies to employers with 4+ employees
- Broad protected classes including homelessness
- No caps on compensatory damages
IV. DAMAGES
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Back Pay | $[Amount] |
| Lost Benefits | $[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].
Sincerely,
[Attorney Name]
[Title]
[Firm Name]
[Rhode Island Bar No.]
RHODE ISLAND-SPECIFIC PRACTICE NOTES (Do Not Include in Final Letter)
Key Rhode Island Considerations
[ ] Two Statutes: RIFEPA (requires exhaustion) and RICRA (direct court filing)
[ ] Unique Protected Classes: Homelessness and domestic violence victim status protected
[ ] Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity: Protected under state law
[ ] No Damage Caps: No statutory limits on damages
[ ] Low Employee Threshold: Applies to employers with 4+ employees
Statute of Limitations Reference
| Claim | Deadline | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| RICHR (RIFEPA) | 1 year | R.I.G.L. Section 28-5-17 |
| RICRA Court Action | 3 years | R.I.G.L. Section 42-112-4 |
| EEOC (deferral state) | 300 days | 42 U.S.C. Section 2000e-5(e) |