Louisiana Commission on Human Rights (LCHR) Charge of Discrimination

CHARGE OF DISCRIMINATION — LOUISIANA COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Filing Information
2. Charging Party Information
3. Respondent Information
4. Bases of Discrimination
5. Date(s) of Discrimination
6. Statement of Particulars
7. Comparator and Pretext Evidence
8. Damages and Relief Requested
9. Dual-Filing Election
10. Verification and Signature
11. Submission Information
12. Louisiana Practice Notes
13. Sources and References

1. FILING INFORMATION

To: Louisiana Commission on Human Rights
1001 N. 23rd Street, Suite 262
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Mailing: P.O. Box 94094, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9004
Telephone: (225) 342-6969
Website: https://humanrights.la.gov/

LCHR Charge No. (assigned by Commission): [________________________________]

EEOC Charge No. (if dual-filed): [________________________________]

Date charge submitted: [__/__/____]

Date of last alleged discriminatory act: [__/__/____]

Days elapsed since last act: [____] (must be ≤ 180 for LCHR; ≤ 300 for EEOC dual-filing)

2. CHARGING PARTY INFORMATION

Full Legal Name: [________________________________]

Date of Birth: [__/__/____]

Home Address: [________________________________]

City, State, ZIP: [________________________________]

Telephone: [________________________________]

Email: [________________________________]

Preferred contact method: ☐ Phone ☐ Email ☐ Mail

Attorney (if represented): [________________________________]

Attorney's Bar Roll No.: [________________________________]

Attorney's Address / Phone / Email: [________________________________]

3. RESPONDENT INFORMATION

Employer Name: [________________________________]

Employer Type: ☐ Private ☐ State/Local Government ☐ Federal Contractor ☐ Educational Institution ☐ Other: [____]

Address of Workplace Where Discrimination Occurred: [________________________________]

City, Parish, State, ZIP: [________________________________]

Telephone: [________________________________]

Number of Employees in Louisiana (estimate): [____]

Registered Agent for Service of Process (if known): [________________________________]

Charging Party's Position / Job Title: [________________________________]

Direct Supervisor: [________________________________]

HR Contact (if known): [________________________________]

Dates of Employment: From [__/__/____] to [__/__/____ or "present"]

4. BASES OF DISCRIMINATION

I have been discriminated against because of (check all that apply):

• ☐ Race — La. R.S. § 23:332; Title VII; 42 U.S.C. § 1981. Specify: [________________________________]
• ☐ Color — La. R.S. § 23:332; Title VII. Specify: [________________________________]
• ☐ Religion — La. R.S. § 23:332; Title VII. Specify: [________________________________]
• ☐ Sex (including pregnancy) — La. R.S. §§ 23:332, 23:341; Title VII; PDA.
• ☐ Sex — Sexual Orientation — Title VII per Bostock v. Clayton County (federal only — no Louisiana state protection)
• ☐ Sex — Gender Identity — Title VII per Bostock v. Clayton County (federal only — no Louisiana state protection)
• ☐ National Origin — La. R.S. § 23:332; Title VII. Specify: [________________________________]
• ☐ Age (40+) — La. R.S. § 23:312; ADEA, 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq. Date of birth: [__/__/____]
• ☐ Disability — La. R.S. § 23:323; ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12112. Specify disability: [________________________________]
• ☐ Genetic Information — GINA, 42 U.S.C. § 2000ff
• ☐ Sickle Cell Trait — La. R.S. § 23:368
• ☐ Military Status / Veteran — La. R.S. § 23:332; USERRA, 38 U.S.C. § 4301 et seq.
• ☐ Natural, Protective, or Cultural Hairstyle — La. R.S. § 23:332 (CROWN-style protection added by Act 121 of 2022)
• ☐ Retaliation — La. R.S. § 51:2256; Title VII § 704(a); ADA § 12203; ADEA § 623(d). Protected activity: [________________________________]

5. DATE(S) OF DISCRIMINATION

Earliest discriminatory act: [__/__/____]

Most recent discriminatory act: [__/__/____]

Continuing action? ☐ Yes ☐ No

If continuing, this charge alleges a continuing violation, and the limitations period runs from the most recent act per National Railroad Passenger Corp. v. Morgan, 536 U.S. 101 (2002).

6. STATEMENT OF PARTICULARS

I, [CHARGING PARTY NAME], allege the following:

A. Background.

I was employed by Respondent [EMPLOYER] as a [POSITION TITLE] from [START DATE] to [END DATE / present]. I am a member of a protected class under Louisiana and federal law because [describe protected status — e.g., I am African-American; I am a woman; I am 52 years old; I have a qualifying disability; I am pregnant; I observe the [religion] faith; I am of [national origin] origin].

Throughout my employment, I performed my job duties competently and met or exceeded Respondent's legitimate performance expectations. [Reference performance reviews, awards, customer commendations, sales metrics, etc.]

B. Discriminatory Conduct.

Beginning on or about [DATE], I was subjected to discriminatory treatment as follows:

1. [Date]: [Describe specific incident — what happened, who did it, who witnessed it, what was said. Be specific. "On April 5, 2026, my supervisor [Name] told me, 'We need someone younger for this role,' in front of [Witness] in the [location]."]

2. [Date]: [Describe second incident.]

3. [Date]: [Describe third incident.]

4. [Continue chronologically.]

C. Adverse Employment Action.

On [DATE], Respondent [took the following adverse action: terminated my employment / demoted me / denied my promotion / cut my hours / cut my pay / disciplined me / failed to accommodate my disability / subjected me to a hostile work environment so severe that I was constructively discharged].

The reason given by Respondent was [STATED REASON]. That reason is pretextual.

D. Internal Reporting.

I reported the discrimination internally on [DATE] to [HR / SUPERVISOR / HOTLINE]. Respondent [describe response or lack thereof — e.g., "did not investigate," "took no remedial action," "retaliated by [action]"].

E. Protected Activity (if retaliation alleged).

I engaged in protected activity by [opposing discrimination / filing an internal complaint / participating in an investigation / requesting accommodation / requesting FMLA / filing a workers' compensation claim] on [DATE]. After my protected activity, Respondent [describe retaliatory action] on [DATE] — a temporal proximity of [NUMBER] days.

7. COMPARATOR AND PRETEXT EVIDENCE

Comparators (similarly situated employees outside my protected class who were treated more favorably):

• [NAME], [POSITION], [NOT-IN-PROTECTED-CLASS] — was treated more favorably by [describe — e.g., "received a written warning instead of termination for the same conduct"].
• [NAME], [POSITION], [NOT-IN-PROTECTED-CLASS] — [describe favorable treatment].

Evidence of pretext:

• ☐ Shifting explanations by Respondent for the adverse action
• ☐ Departure from Respondent's own written policies or procedures
• ☐ Statistical disparities in workforce composition or discipline
• ☐ Discriminatory remarks by decisionmakers
• ☐ Temporal proximity between protected activity and adverse action
• ☐ Pattern of similar treatment of other employees in my protected class
• ☐ Failure to investigate
• ☐ Comparator evidence (above)
• ☐ Other: [________________________________]

Witnesses:

8. DAMAGES AND RELIEF REQUESTED

Economic damages claimed:

• Lost wages / back pay since [__/__/____]: $[____]
• Lost benefits (health insurance, retirement, etc.): $[____]
• Out-of-pocket medical / counseling expenses: $[____]
• Job-search expenses: $[____]
• Other economic loss: $[____]

Non-economic damages claimed (federal-only — note no punitive under LEDL):

• Mental anguish, emotional distress, humiliation: requested per Title VII / § 1981 / ADA
• Damage to reputation, loss of professional standing
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Relief requested from the Commission:

• ☐ Investigation of the charge and a determination of reasonable cause
• ☐ Conciliation and back pay
• ☐ Reinstatement to former position with full seniority and benefits
• ☐ Front pay if reinstatement is impracticable
• ☐ Removal of disciplinary records and adverse references
• ☐ Posting of anti-discrimination notices
• ☐ Training of supervisors and managers on anti-discrimination law
• ☐ Policy reform at Respondent
• ☐ Right-to-sue letter / Notice of Right to Sue at the conclusion of the investigation
• ☐ Other: [________________________________]

9. DUAL-FILING ELECTION

I, [CHARGING PARTY], request that this Charge be:

• ☐ Dual-filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) pursuant to the EEOC/LCHR work-sharing agreement under 29 C.F.R. § 1601.13. I understand that filing with LCHR will be deemed filing with the EEOC for the same allegations on the same date.
• ☐ Cross-filed with municipal commission at [________________________________] (e.g., New Orleans Human Relations Commission), if applicable.
• ☐ LCHR-only filing (federal claims expressly waived — uncommon; consult counsel).

Lead agency for investigation: ☐ LCHR ☐ EEOC ☐ Either

I acknowledge:

• ☐ The 180-day filing deadline for state-law claims;
• ☐ The 300-day filing deadline for federal Title VII / ADA / ADEA claims (Louisiana is a deferral state due to LCHR's FEPA status);
• ☐ That the agency will provide a copy of this charge to Respondent;
• ☐ That I must keep my address current with the agency to receive notices;
• ☐ That I have a duty to cooperate with the agency's investigation.

10. VERIFICATION AND SIGNATURE

STATE OF LOUISIANA

PARISH OF [PARISH]

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of Louisiana and the United States that the foregoing is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

[________________________________]

[CHARGING PARTY SIGNATURE]

Date: [__/__/____]

Printed Name: [________________________________]

SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED before me this [____] day of [_______________], 20[____].

[________________________________]

NOTARY PUBLIC

(Printed Name): [_______________]

Bar/Notary No.: [_______________]

My commission expires: [_______________]

11. SUBMISSION INFORMATION

By Mail:
Louisiana Commission on Human Rights
P.O. Box 94094
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9004

In Person / Courier Delivery:
Louisiana Commission on Human Rights
1001 N. 23rd Street, Suite 262
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

By Phone: (225) 342-6969

Online Information / Forms: https://humanrights.la.gov/file-complaint/

Office of the Governor — LCHR page: https://gov.louisiana.gov/page/lchr

EEOC New Orleans Field Office (for federal dual filing):
Hale Boggs Federal Building
500 Poydras Street, Suite 809
New Orleans, LA 70130
Phone: 1-800-669-4000
Online portal: https://publicportal.eeoc.gov/Portal/Login.aspx

Documents to attach:

• ☐ Personnel records, performance reviews
• ☐ Termination letter / disciplinary write-ups
• ☐ Email / text correspondence evidencing discrimination or retaliation
• ☐ Photographs of discriminatory conduct (e.g., signage, graffiti)
• ☐ Witness statements
• ☐ Pay records / W-2s / pay stubs
• ☐ Medical records (for disability or pregnancy claims)
• ☐ Job description and offer letter
• ☐ Employee handbook / discrimination policy
• ☐ Internal complaint and Respondent's response
• ☐ EEOC charge (if previously filed) and Right to Sue Notice (if issued)

12. LOUISIANA PRACTICE NOTES

• LCHR's role. The Louisiana Commission on Human Rights is a state Fair Employment Practices Agency ("FEPA") within the Office of the Governor. It investigates employment-discrimination claims under La. R.S. § 51:2231 et seq. and La. R.S. § 23:301 et seq. (LEDL). It has authority to investigate, issue determinations, conciliate, and (where authorized) bring enforcement actions.
• EEOC dual-filing. Under the work-sharing agreement, charges filed with either agency are dual-filed with the other. Most practitioners file with EEOC because (a) EEOC has more resources, (b) most charges allege federal-law violations as well, and (c) the right-to-sue is necessary for a Title VII / ADA / ADEA suit. LCHR-direct filings are appropriate where the claim is purely state-law (e.g., natural-hairstyle claims that may not be covered federally; claims against employers in the 15-19 employee range for non-race claims).
• 180-day vs. 300-day deadline. State-law charge must be filed within 180 days (La. R.S. § 51:2236). Federal Title VII / ADA / ADEA charges in Louisiana benefit from the 300-day deadline because LCHR is a FEPA. To preserve all claims, file within 180 days.
• Prescription for civil suit. La. R.S. § 23:303(D) sets a one-year prescriptive period, suspended during LCHR/EEOC review for up to six months. After right-to-sue, federal claims must be filed in federal or state court within 90 days; LEDL claims within the suspended one-year period.
• No state SO/GI protection. The LEDL and Chapter 38 do not enumerate sexual orientation or gender identity. The EEOC, however, will accept SO/GI charges under Title VII per Bostock v. Clayton County, 140 S. Ct. 1731 (2020). Check the "Sex" box and specify SO/GI in the narrative; the dual-filing will route appropriately.
• No punitive damages under state law. Louisiana's strict no-punitives rule (La. C.C. art. 2315; Ross v. Conoco) precludes punitive damages under LEDL. Federal claims preserve punitive-damages exposure for Respondent.
• Pre-suit notice (§ 23:303(C)). Distinct from the LCHR charge — the LEDL also requires 30 days' written pre-suit notice to the employer detailing the discrimination. File this notice in parallel with (or shortly before) court filing; the LCHR charge alone is not the same as § 23:303(C) notice.
• Right-to-sue. Request the right-to-sue if the agency has not made a determination within 180 days (federal) or per LCHR rules. The right-to-sue triggers the 90-day federal-court filing window.
• Position statement. Respondent will be served and asked to submit a position statement. Charging party may request and respond. Use the EEOC's "Respondent Position Statement and Procedures" practice for both agencies.
• Mediation. Both EEOC and LCHR offer mediation. Successful mediation can resolve the matter quickly and confidentially without a determination on the merits.
• Confidentiality. EEOC files are confidential under 29 C.F.R. § 1601.22. LCHR records are similarly protected, though Louisiana's public-records law has some interaction; consult counsel.

13. SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• Louisiana Commission on Human Rights — https://humanrights.la.gov/
• LCHR — Office of the Governor — https://gov.louisiana.gov/page/lchr
• LCHR Filing a Complaint — https://gov.louisiana.gov/page/filing-a-complaint-with-lchr
• LCHR File a Complaint Page — https://humanrights.la.gov/file-complaint/
• Louisiana State Legislature — https://www.legis.la.gov/
• La. R.S. § 23:301 et seq. (LEDL) — https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=83864
• La. R.S. § 23:332 — https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=83879
• La. R.S. § 51:2231 et seq. (LCHR — Chapter 38)
• U.S. EEOC — https://www.eeoc.gov/
• EEOC FEPA / Dual-Filing — https://www.eeoc.gov/fair-employment-practices-agencies-fepas-and-dual-filing
• EEOC New Orleans Field Office — https://www.eeoc.gov/field-office/neworleans/location
• EEOC How to File a Charge — https://www.eeoc.gov/how-file-charge-employment-discrimination
• EEOC Public Portal — https://publicportal.eeoc.gov/
• Louisiana Law Help — https://louisianalawhelp.org/resource/filing-a-charge-of-discrimination-with-the-lchr
• Bostock v. Clayton County, 140 S. Ct. 1731 (2020)
• National Railroad Passenger Corp. v. Morgan, 536 U.S. 101 (2002) (continuing-violation doctrine)
• 29 C.F.R. § 1601 (EEOC procedural regulations)

Disclaimer: This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. An attorney licensed in Louisiana must review and customize this document before submission. Filing deadlines, agency procedures, and statutory authorities change; verify all information at the time of submission. The LCHR may require submission on its standard intake form; this charge can be attached as a narrative supplement.