St. Louis Civil Rights Attorneys Protecting Your Rights

The Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA) is the primary state law protecting against discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations. The MHRA prohibits discrimination based on specific protected classes, but notably does not include sexual orientation or gender identity as protected categories under state law.

However, some local ordinances in St. Louis City and St. Louis County provide additional protections beyond state law. An experienced civil rights attorney can help you understand which laws apply to your specific situation.

To file a claim under the MHRA, you must:

1. File a complaint with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights within 180 days of the discriminatory act
2. Allow the MCHR to investigate your claim
3. Obtain a right-to-sue letter before filing a lawsuit

The MCHR investigates complaints, attempts mediation, and issues findings. If the MCHR does not resolve your case, you can request a right-to-sue letter and proceed to court.

42 U.S.C. § 1983: This federal statute allows individuals to sue government officials who violate constitutional rights while acting under color of state law. Section 1983 is the primary tool for challenging police misconduct, wrongful arrest, excessive force, and other constitutional violations.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): The ADA prohibits disability discrimination in employment (Title I), state and local government services (Title II), and public accommodations (Title III). Unlike the MHRA, employment discrimination claims under Title I require filing a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) before filing a lawsuit.
Fair Housing Act: This federal law prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability. You can file a complaint with HUD or proceed directly to federal court without administrative exhaustion.

Personal Injury Claims: Most personal injury claims in Missouri have a five-year statute of limitations under RSMo § 516.140. This includes many civil rights claims filed in state court.

MHRA Discrimination Claims: You must file a complaint with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights within 180 days of the discriminatory act. Missing this deadline can bar your claim entirely.

Section 1983 Claims: Federal civil rights claims under Section 1983 generally follow Missouri’s five-year personal injury statute of limitations, though you should consult with an attorney to confirm the applicable deadline for your specific case.

Notice Requirements: Some claims against cities may require advance notice under RSMo § 82.210, though Missouri courts have limited the application of this statute.

Police misconduct cases involve violations of constitutional rights by law enforcement officers. These cases often arise under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a federal civil rights law that allows individuals to sue government officials who violate their constitutional rights while acting “under color of state law.”

Common police misconduct claims include:

• Excessive force and police brutality
• False arrest and wrongful imprisonment
• Illegal searches and seizures
• First Amendment retaliation
• Failure to intervene when witnessing misconduct

Injuries from law enforcement encounters can result in serious physical and psychological trauma, affecting victims long after the incident occurs.

Missouri law prohibits employment discrimination through the Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA), codified in RSMo Chapter 213. This state law protects employees from discrimination based on:

• Race, color, religion, and national origin
• Sex and ancestry
• Age (40-69 for employment)
• Disability

Before filing a lawsuit under the MHRA, you must first file a complaint with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights (MCHR). This administrative exhaustion requirement means you must allow the MCHR to investigate your claim before proceeding to court. You have 180 days from the discriminatory act to file your MCHR complaint.

Federal law also protects against employment discrimination through various statutes, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These federal protections often overlap with state law, and many plaintiffs file claims under both state and federal statutes.

If you’ve experienced discrimination at work, our workers’ rights attorneys can help you navigate both the administrative process and potential litigation to protect your rights and seek compensation.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability. Missouri’s Human Rights Act provides similar protections at the state level.

Housing discrimination can take many forms, including:

• Refusing to rent or sell to protected classes
• Imposing different terms or conditions
• Discriminatory advertising
• Steering individuals to certain neighborhoods
• Refusing reasonable accommodations for disabilities

Unlike employment discrimination claims, housing discrimination cases under federal law do not require administrative exhaustion before filing in court, though you may choose to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for investigation.

Property owners have a duty to maintain safe conditions and protect visitors from foreseeable harm. Under RSMo § 537.787, property owners can be held liable for injuries caused by inadequate security measures when criminal acts were reasonably foreseeable.

Negligent security claims often arise in cases involving:

• Assaults in parking lots or common areas
• Inadequate lighting or security personnel
• Broken locks or security systems
• Failure to address known criminal activity

Our premises liability attorneys can help you establish that the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous conditions and failed to take reasonable steps to protect you.

When civil rights violations result in the death of a loved one, family members may pursue a wrongful death claim. These tragic cases often involve police shootings, jail deaths, or other situations where government officials violated the deceased person’s constitutional rights.

Missouri’s wrongful death statute allows certain family members to seek compensation for their loss, including economic damages like lost financial support and non-economic damages such as loss of companionship. Our wrongful death attorneys understand the emotional difficulty of these cases and work compassionately to help families seek justice.