New Jersey AG and Division on Civil Rights Battle Disability Discrimination: Probable Cause Found in Five Cases

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) enforce anti-discrimination actions, resolving 11 cases and recovering $153,000 for complainants.

MORRIS COUNTY – Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) launched a firm crackdown on disability discrimination throughout the state of New Jersey. They announced today that probable cause had been found in five new cases where violations of the Law Against Discrimination (LAD) had allegedly occurred.

These cases, originating from various counties including Bergen, Camden, Morris, Ocean, and Union, encompass several forms of alleged discrimination. Three cases revolve around purported disability discrimination by housing providers, one case by an employer, and another by a public accommodation place.

In addition to these new cases, the Attorney General and the Division have effectively resolved 11 other disability discrimination cases, retrieving $153,000 for the complainants. These settlements reflect the rigorous commitment to enforcing the LAD, which strictly prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, and public places based on an actual or perceived disability.

“In New Jersey, we will not tolerate discrimination of any kind – including discrimination on the basis of disability. Everyone, regardless of their ability, has the right to work, live, and have equal access to places of public accommodation,” said Attorney General Platkin.

Sundeep Iyer, Director of the Division on Civil Rights, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the pervasive issue of disability discrimination. He emphasized the Division's commitment to enforcing the protections provided by the LAD.

One significant case found a provider of mental health services guilty of failing to accommodate a hearing-impaired person, who required sign language interpretation services. This neglect resulted in the complainant being denied mental health care for nearly six months.

Housing-related cases revealed scenarios where housing providers allegedly violated the LAD by denying requests for living with an emotional support animal. One complainant in Bergen County claimed her move-in date was postponed due to her request for her service animal, forcing her to temporarily reside in a hotel.

In Morris County, a leasing agent allegedly delayed another tenant’s move-in date as he refused to accept the medical documentation provided for her emotional support animal.

A Union County housing provider was found to have dismissed a tenant's medically documented need for emotional support animals, imposed a fine, and attempted eviction for violating a "no pets" policy.

In Camden County, an employee was fired after requesting a shift change to attend physical therapy appointments, indicating potential disability discrimination in the workplace.

Although these findings do not conclude the adjudication of the cases, they denote a reasonable suspicion of violations against the LAD.

In addition to the five cases, 11 others were resolved through negotiated settlement agreements or consent decrees, with a recovery of over $153,000 for the complainants. These respondents also agreed to comply with the LAD’s prohibitions against disability discrimination and to conduct training for their employees on written policies and the LAD. Some have also agreed to DCR’s ongoing monitoring of reasonable accommodation requests.