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Philadelphia Civil Rights Lawyers

Our Violation of Civil Rights Attorneys in Philadelphia, PA, Stand Up for Victims of Discrimination, Police and Government Misconduct, Harassment, and More

Throughout the Philadelphia region, discrimination, racial profiling, excessive force by law enforcement, and other violations of civil rights can cause serious harm to victims. The Philadelphia civil rights lawyers at Anapol Weiss can help you hold government institutions, employers, and other entities accountable for their failure to adhere to the law.

Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation.

Civil Rights Lawsuits in Philadelphia, PA

As the most populated city in Pennsylvania and a location critical to the founding of the United States, Philadelphia holds numerous government institutions within its borders. Civil rights violations by any one of these institutions can have far-reaching consequences.

Local government institutions that have committed civil rights violations in the past include:

  • Law enforcement agencies
  • Government-run jails and prisons
  • Government-run hospitals
  • Government-run nursing homes
  • Government-run schools
  • Other government agencies

Where Our Philadelphia Civil Rights Lawyers Can Help You

From our office location on 18th St. in Center City’s Logan Square, Anapol Weiss assists victims of civil rights violations throughout the City of Philadelphia and beyond. The neighborhoods of Philly we serve include:

  • Bella Vista
  • Callowhill
  • Chinatown
  • Fairmount
  • Fishtown
  • Graduate Hospital
  • Logan Square
  • Market East
  • Midtown Village
  • North Broad
  • Northern Liberties
  • Old City
  • Powelton Village
  • Queen Village
  • Rittenhouse Square
  • Society Hill
  • Spring Garden
  • Spruce Hill and Cedar Park
  • University City
  • Washington Square West

Wherever your rights were violated, you don’t have to look far to find a knowledgeable civil rights lawyer to represent you in a legal matter right here in Philadelphia. Anapol Weiss is here to help.

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Do You Have Legal Questions?

What Types of Cases Do Civil Rights Lawyers Handle?

Civil rights refer to the rights guaranteed to the people of the United States by the Constitution and federal laws, as well as state laws that apply.

Individual citizens can bring various civil (non-criminal) legal causes of action against government employees and entities for violating the civil rights afforded to them under the Civil Rights Act of 1871, 42 U.S.C. §1983 and the federal and state constitutions.

Examples of the civil rights Philadelphians enjoy include:

  • Protection from unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex, national origin, and other protected characteristics
  • The right to due process, including the right to avoid self-incrimination and the right to a fair trial
  • The right to bodily integrity
  • The right to be secure in person and effects
  • The right to privacy
  • The right to gainful employment
  • The right to a public education
  • The right to use government services and public facilities

Violations of your civil rights matter. A violation could occur if you are denied a safe place to live, prevented from earning an income, arrested and incarcerated without due process, or even physically injured in an instance of police brutality or a hate crime.

Examples of legal matters that our civil rights attorneys handle include the following:

Police Misconduct and Civil Rights Violations

The police are legally authorized to investigate crimes, make arrests, and use an appropriate degree of force when the situation reasonably requires it under the circumstances. They are not, however, permitted to use excessive force, search or arrest citizens without due process, or discriminate against victims, suspects, and other parties in the course of criminal investigations.

Any form of police misconduct that violates a person’s civil rights can have serious ramifications. Our experienced civil rights attorneys assist clients in claims involving:

  • Unlawful search and seizure
  • Police brutality and use of excessive force/the failure to intervene
  • Racial profiling
  • Mistreatment, including being denied accommodations for disabilities, language barriers, and religious practices, while in police custody or control
  • Deprivation of life, liberty, and property

Harassment and Hate Crimes

Harassment in school, the workplace, a nursing home, a hospital, a courtroom, a jail, or any other such setting may also violate your civil rights. Sexual harassment is a pervasive issue, and many victims don’t know that it may be possible to take legal action against the perpetrators or the organization, such as a workplace or prison, that facilitated the harassment.

Hate crimes are also considered civil rights violations. The harm done by hate crimes can range from the destruction of property to physical violence that can leave victims seriously hurt or even claim their lives.

Although the perpetrators of harassment and hate crimes may face criminal charges for their actions, it may also be possible to file civil lawsuits against them and pursue financial compensation for the harm they or the institution responsible for overseeing them has caused you.

Discrimination Violations of Civil Rights

Examples of types of discrimination that may impact your civil rights include:

  • Discrimination in school, including denial of courses, entry to programs, educational accommodations, or opportunity for scholarships based on your national origin, race, sex, religion, or disability
  • Housing discrimination, including denial of the ability to rent or purchase a home, obtain a mortgage loan, or have access to accommodations for a disability in public housing based on protected characteristics
  • Banking discrimination, including the denial of credit, mortgage lending, small business lending, and other banking services based on your race, national origin, sex, and other protected characteristics
  • Employment discrimination, including denial of accommodations for a disability, as well as the lack of fair consideration as a job applicant, being demoted, or being fired because of protected characteristics not related to job qualifications or performance
  • Healthcare discrimination, including refusing to treat, stabilize, or transfer patients appropriately in emergency rooms because of their age, national origin, race, sex, religion, or ability to pay

Contact the Philadelphia Civil Rights Lawyers at Anapol Weiss Today for a Free Case Review

When a government entity, an employer, or another party has trampled on your rights, you have legal recourse. Attorney and shareholder Kristen Gibbons Feden is leading the civil rights claims practice area at Anapol Weiss.

For help from a civil rights violation attorney in Philadelphia, PA, contact Anapol Weiss online or call 215-608-9645 today.


Frequently Asked Questions About Civil Rights Lawsuits in Philadelphia and Throughout Pennsylvania