FEPA Discrimination Charge and Right-to-Sue Procedure — Georgia

FEPA Discrimination Charge and Right-to-Sue Procedure (Georgia)

Quick-Reference Summary

NOTE: Because Georgia has no general private-sector employment discrimination statute, the table below reflects the federal EEOC framework as the primary vehicle for charges of discrimination against private employers, supplemented by narrow Georgia-specific statutes (age, disability, equal pay) and the Georgia FEPA for public employers only.

Part A — Pre-Filing Eligibility Memo

TO: [________________________________] (Complainant)
FROM: [________________________________] (Attorney)
DATE: [__/__/____]
RE: Eligibility to File Discrimination Charge — Georgia (Federal EEOC + Limited State Statutes)

1. Critical Threshold Determination — Public vs. Private Employer

2. Threshold Eligibility Questions (Federal EEOC Route)

3. Substantive Analysis

a. Protected Class. Complainant is a member of the following protected class(es) under federal law (and where applicable, Georgia statute): [________________________________].

b. Adverse Employment Action. [________________________________].

c. Causal Connection.

[____________________________________________________________]

d. Common-Law Wrongful Discharge. Georgia is one of the most rigid at-will jurisdictions in the country and does NOT recognize a general public-policy tort for wrongful discharge. See Reilly v. Alcan Aluminum Corp., 272 Ga. 279 (2000). Narrow statutory exceptions exist for whistleblowers in public employment (O.C.G.A. § 45-1-4) and for certain retaliatory acts (workers' comp retaliation under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-1 et seq. case law). A wrongful-discharge-in-violation-of-public-policy count is generally not viable in Georgia.

e. Damages Snapshot. Title VII compensatory + punitive damages capped at $50,000–$300,000 by employer size (42 U.S.C. § 1981a(b)(3)). § 1981 race claims uncapped. Back pay and attorneys' fees available.

4. Strategic Recommendation

☐ File EEOC charge within 180 days (and cross-designate as Georgia FEPA charge if public employer)
☐ Add § 1981 race-discrimination claim in federal-court complaint (no exhaustion; 4-year SOL)
☐ Add O.C.G.A. § 34-6A disability claim in state-court complaint (15+ employees)
☐ Request EEOC Notice of Right to Sue after 180 days under 29 C.F.R. § 1601.28
☐ Decline representation — claim untimely or non-viable

Recommended Action: [________________________________]

Part B — Charge of Discrimination (EEOC Filing) with Georgia State-Law Addendum

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
CHARGE OF DISCRIMINATION (EEOC Form 5)

Basis of Discrimination (check all that apply)

☐ Race
☐ Color
☐ Religion
☐ Sex (including pregnancy)
☐ Sexual harassment
☐ Sexual orientation / gender identity (covered by Title VII per Bostock v. Clayton County, 590 U.S. 644 (2020))
☐ National origin
☐ Age (40+) (ADEA)
☐ Disability (ADA)
☐ Genetic information (GINA)
☐ Retaliation
☐ Equal Pay Act
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Particulars (Narrative Statement)

I, [________________________________], being duly sworn, depose and state:

1. I am a member of the protected class(es) checked above. Specifically: [________________________________].

2. I was employed by Respondent as [________________________________] from [__/__/____] until [__/__/____] (or, if still employed, "to the present").

3. Discriminatory Acts. On or about [__/__/____], Respondent took the following adverse action(s): [____________________________________________________________].

4. Comparators / Evidence. Similarly situated employees outside my protected class were treated more favorably as follows: [____________________________________________________________].

5. Direct Evidence. [Name/title] made the following statement(s): [________________________________].

6. Internal Complaints. [________________________________].

7. Retaliation (if applicable). [________________________________].

8. I believe I was discriminated against because of my [protected class] in violation of [Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 / the Americans with Disabilities Act / the Age Discrimination in Employment Act / the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act / 42 U.S.C. § 1981].

State-Law Addendum (incorporate if applicable):

9. I further allege that Respondent's conduct violates:
   ☐ Georgia Fair Employment Practices Act, O.C.G.A. § 45-19-20 et seq. (if state-agency Respondent)
   ☐ Georgia Equal Employment for Persons with Disabilities Code, O.C.G.A. § 34-6A-4
   ☐ Georgia Equal Pay Act, O.C.G.A. § 34-5-3
   ☐ Georgia Age Discrimination Act, O.C.G.A. § 34-1-2 (criminal enforcement only)

Verification:

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

Signed: ______________________________ Date: [__/__/____]

State of Georgia, County of [____________] ss.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this ____ day of __________, 20__.
______________________________
Notary Public

Part C — Right-to-Sue Demand Letter

[Date]

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Atlanta District Office
Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center
100 Alabama Street, S.W., Suite 4R30
Atlanta, GA 30303

Via Certified Mail and EEOC Public Portal

Re: Request for Notice of Right to Sue — 29 C.F.R. § 1601.28
Charge No.: [____________]
Complainant: [________________________________]
Respondent: [________________________________]

Dear EEOC Charge Processing:

Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1601.28(a)(1), Complainant requests the issuance of a Notice of Right to Sue in the above-captioned matter. More than 180 days have elapsed since the charge was filed on [__/__/____], and Complainant wishes to proceed with civil litigation.

Complainant understands that, upon receipt of the Notice, Complainant must file a civil action within 90 days under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(f)(1).

Please issue the Notice and serve it on Complainant and Respondent at the addresses on file.

Sincerely,

______________________________
[Complainant Name]

cc: [Respondent / Respondent's counsel]

Part D — Pre-Suit Civil Complaint (Template)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE [NORTHERN / MIDDLE / SOUTHERN] DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
[____________] DIVISION

Civil Action No.: [____________]

COMPLAINT FOR EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION AND RETALIATION — JURY TRIAL DEMANDED

Plaintiff, [________________________________], by undersigned counsel, complains of Defendant as follows:

I. Parties, Jurisdiction, and Venue

1. Plaintiff is a citizen of the State of Georgia residing in [____________] County.

2. Defendant is [a Georgia corporation / foreign corporation registered to do business in Georgia / LLC] with its principal place of business at [________________________________].

3. Defendant is an "employer" within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. § 2000e(b) (15+ employees), 42 U.S.C. § 12111(5) (ADA, 15+), and/or 29 U.S.C. § 630(b) (ADEA, 20+).

4. This Court has subject-matter jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1343, and supplemental jurisdiction over state-law claims under 28 U.S.C. § 1367.

5. Venue is proper in this District under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(f)(3) and 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b) because the unlawful employment practices occurred in this District.

II. Administrative Exhaustion

6. On [__/__/____], Plaintiff timely filed Charge No. [____________] with the EEOC within 180 days of the alleged unlawful practice.

7. On [__/__/____], EEOC issued a Notice of Right to Sue, attached as Exhibit A.

8. This Complaint is filed within 90 days of Plaintiff's receipt of the Notice.

9. The 42 U.S.C. § 1981 claim does not require administrative exhaustion. Jones v. R.R. Donnelley & Sons, 541 U.S. 369 (2004).

III. Factual Allegations

10. [____________________________________________________________]

11. [____________________________________________________________]

12. [____________________________________________________________]

IV. Count I — Title VII Discrimination, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2

13. Plaintiff incorporates the preceding paragraphs.

14. Defendant discriminated against Plaintiff on the basis of [race / color / religion / sex / national origin] in violation of Title VII.

V. Count II — 42 U.S.C. § 1981 (Race-Based Discrimination / Retaliation) [if applicable]

15. Plaintiff incorporates the preceding paragraphs.

16. Defendant intentionally discriminated against Plaintiff because of Plaintiff's race in the making, performance, modification, and termination of Plaintiff's employment contract, in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1981.

VI. Count III — ADA Disability Discrimination / Failure to Accommodate [if applicable]

17. Plaintiff incorporates the preceding paragraphs.

18. Plaintiff is a qualified individual with a disability within 42 U.S.C. § 12111(8).

19. Defendant failed to provide reasonable accommodation and/or terminated Plaintiff because of Plaintiff's disability.

VII. Count IV — Georgia Equal Employment for Persons with Disabilities Code, O.C.G.A. § 34-6A-4 [if applicable]

20. Plaintiff incorporates the preceding paragraphs.

21. Defendant employs 15 or more employees and violated O.C.G.A. § 34-6A-4 by discriminating against Plaintiff because of disability.

VIII. Count V — Title VII Retaliation, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3(a) [if applicable]

22. Plaintiff incorporates the preceding paragraphs.

23. Plaintiff engaged in protected activity by [________________________________].

24. Defendant retaliated by [________________________________].

IX. Prayer for Relief

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for judgment for:

a. Back pay, front pay, and lost benefits;
b. Compensatory damages (subject to 42 U.S.C. § 1981a(b)(3) caps for Title VII/ADA; uncapped under § 1981);
c. Punitive damages;
d. Reinstatement or front pay in lieu thereof;
e. Reasonable attorneys' fees and costs under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(k) and § 1988(b);
f. Pre-judgment and post-judgment interest;
g. Equitable and injunctive relief;
h. Such other relief as the Court deems just and proper.

JURY TRIAL DEMANDED.

Respectfully submitted,

______________________________
[Attorney Name], Ga. Bar No. [____________]
[Firm Name]
[Address]
[Phone] | [Email]
Attorney for Plaintiff

Part E — Pre-Filing Checklist

☐ Confirm whether Respondent is public (state agency = GCEO/FEPA available) or private (federal EEOC primary)
☐ Calendar 180-day EEOC filing deadline (Georgia is non-deferral state for general claims)
☐ Calendar 180-day GCEO filing deadline if state-agency Respondent under O.C.G.A. § 45-19-36
☐ Confirm employer headcount: 15+ Title VII/ADA; 20+ ADEA; any size for § 1981 and O.C.G.A. § 34-1-2 criminal
☐ Identify all protected classes (federal + any narrow Georgia statutes)
☐ Evaluate § 1981 race claim (no exhaustion, 4-year SOL, uncapped damages)
☐ Evaluate O.C.G.A. § 34-6A disability claim (private civil action available at 15+ employees)
☐ Note: no general Georgia public-policy wrongful-discharge tort (Reilly v. Alcan)
☐ Preserve evidence (emails, texts, performance reviews, pay records, comparator data)
☐ Determine concurrent jurisdiction strategy — federal vs. state court
☐ Draft and notarize EEOC Form 5 with Georgia state-law addendum
☐ File via EEOC Public Portal or Atlanta District Office
☐ Calendar 90-day suit window after EEOC Notice of Right to Sue
☐ Confirm venue under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(f)(3)
☐ Assess Title VII / ADA damages caps under 42 U.S.C. § 1981a(b)(3)
☐ Prepare jury demand
☐ Issue litigation hold to client; preservation demand to employer

Sources and References

• Georgia Fair Employment Practices Act, O.C.G.A. § 45-19-20 et seq. (public employers): https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-45/chapter-19/article-2/
• O.C.G.A. § 45-19-22 (definitions): https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-45/chapter-19/article-2/section-45-19-22/
• Georgia Equal Employment for Persons with Disabilities Code, O.C.G.A. § 34-6A: https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-34/chapter-6a/
• Georgia Age Discrimination Act, O.C.G.A. § 34-1-2: https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-34/chapter-1/section-34-1-2/
• Georgia Equal Pay Act, O.C.G.A. § 34-5: https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-34/chapter-5/
• Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity: https://gceo.georgia.gov/
• EEOC Atlanta District Office: https://www.eeoc.gov/field-office/atlanta/location
• EEOC — How to File: https://www.eeoc.gov/how-file-charge-employment-discrimination
• 29 C.F.R. § 1601.28 (Notice of Right to Sue): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XIV/part-1601/subpart-B/section-1601.28
• Reilly v. Alcan Aluminum Corp., 272 Ga. 279 (2000) (no public-policy wrongful-discharge tort in Georgia)
• Bostock v. Clayton County, 590 U.S. 644 (2020) (Title VII covers sexual orientation and gender identity)
• Smith v. Lockheed-Martin Corp., 644 F.3d 1321 (11th Cir. 2011) (convincing-mosaic framework)
• Jones v. R.R. Donnelley & Sons, 541 U.S. 369 (2004) (4-year SOL for § 1981 post-formation claims)