Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 51:2261

  • Commission: means the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 51:2232
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Person: means one or more individuals, governments, governmental agencies, public authorities, labor organizations, corporations, legal representatives, partnerships, associations, trustees, trustees in bankruptcy, receivers, mutual companies, joint stock companies, trusts, unincorporated organizations, or other organized groups of persons. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 51:2232
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.
  • Unlawful practice: means a discriminatory practice in connection with employment, a discriminatory practice in connection with public accommodations, or any other practice prohibited by this Chapter or by Chapter 3-A of Title 23 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 51:2232

A.  If the commission determines that the respondent has not engaged in an unlawful practice, the commission shall state its findings of fact and conclusions of law and shall issue an order dismissing the complaint.  A copy of the order shall be delivered to the complainant, the respondent, the attorney general, and such other public officers and persons as the commission deems proper.

B.  If the commission determines that the respondent has engaged in an unlawful practice, the commission shall state its findings of fact and conclusions of law and shall issue an order requiring the respondent to cease and desist from the unlawful practice and to take such affirmative action as in the judgment of the commission will carry out the purposes of this Chapter.  A copy of the order shall be delivered to the respondent, the complainant, the attorney general, and to such other public officers and persons as the commission deems proper.

C.  Affirmative action ordered under this Section may include but is not limited to:

(1)  Hiring, reinstatement, or upgrading of employees with or without back pay.  Interim earnings or amounts earnable with reasonable diligence by the person or persons discriminated against shall operate to reduce the back pay otherwise allowable.

(2)  Admission or restoration of individuals to union membership, admission to or participation in a guidance program, apprenticeship training program, on-the-job training program, or other occupational training or retraining program, and the utilization of objective criteria in the admission of individuals to such programs.

(3)  Admission of individuals to a place of public accommodation, resort, or amusement.

(4)  The extension to all individuals of the full and equal enjoyment of the advantages, facilities, privileges, and services of the respondent.

(5)  Reporting as to the manner of compliance.

(6)  Posting notices in conspicuous places in the respondent’s place of business in a form prescribed by the commission.

(7)  Sale, exchange, lease, rental, assignment, or sublease of immovable property to an individual.

(8)  Payment to the complainant of damages for injury caused by an unlawful practice, including compensation for humiliation and embarrassment, expenses incurred by the complainant in obtaining alternative housing accommodations, and other costs actually incurred by the complainant as a direct result of such unlawful practice.

D.  The commission may publish or cause to be published the names of persons who have been determined to have engaged in an unlawful practice.

E.  The proceeding for enforcement of a commission order shall be initiated by filing a complaint in the district court of the parish in which the subject of the complaint occurred or in the parish in which a respondent resides or has his principal place of business.  Copies of the complaint shall be served upon all parties of record.  Within thirty days after the filing of the complaint by the commission, or within such further time as the court may allow, the commission shall transmit to the court the original or a certified copy of the entire record upon which the order is based, including a transcript of testimony, which need not be printed.  By stipulation of all parties to the proceeding, the record may be shortened.

F.  The findings of fact of the commission shall be conclusive unless manifestly erroneous in view of the probative and substantive evidence on the whole record.  The court may grant such temporary relief or restraining order as it deems just and may enter an order enforcing, modifying, and enforcing as modified, or setting aside in whole or in part the order of the commission, or remanding the case to the commission for further proceedings.

Acts 1988, No. 886, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1314, §1, eff. July 1, 1995.