Discrimination & Sexual Harassment Lawyers in New York City & Pennsylvania

Derek T. Smith Law Group, P.C.

1420 Walnut Street
Suite 608
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102
USA

(800) 807-2209

(212) 587-4169

www.newyorkcityemploymentlaw.com/

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Law Firm Overview Free Consultation

Derek T. Smith Law Group, P.C. focuses on employment law. Our firm has handled literally thousands of cases over the years. These cases seek damages for sexual harassment, all types of discrimination, hostile work environment, or overtime violations. The lawyers at Derek T. Smith Law Group, P.C. fully comprehend a wide range of federal, state, and local laws prohibiting all types of discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

While many lawyers say not to become emotionally involved in a case, Derek T. Smith feels quite the opposite. In fact, Derek T. Smith does tend to become emotionally involved in each of his cases, and this attachment only serves to improve his results. He takes each of his cases personally, and he loves what he does.

The attorneys at Derek T. Smith Law Group, P.C. takes their cases on a contingency basis. His clients pay legal fees only from any recovery. After being wrongfully terminated or harassed, the last thing a person should have to worry about is paying for a lawyer. As such, Derek T. Smith literally becomes partners with his clients and they work together to obtain the best possible recovery. The lawyers at Derek T. Smith Law Group, P.C. know when it is best to approach a case from the standpoint of settlement discussions pre-suit, and they know when it is time to put on the boxing gloves and fight in court.

Practice Areas

Wrongful Termination

Additional Practice Areas: Retaliation; Age Discrimination; Disability Discrimination; Equal Pay/Compensation Discrimination; National Origin Discrimination; Pregnancy Discrimination; Race/Color Discrimination; Religious Discrimination; Sexual Orientation Discrimination.

Practice Areas Description

Our practice includes:

- Sexual Harassment

Sexual Harassment is when a person is subjected to comments or conduct of a sexual nature while at work or a place of public accommodation. It can range from sexual comments about a person's body, to continuously asking a person out on a date, to comments about wanting to have sex with the person, all the way up to forced sexual contact or even rape. It is all illegal and you do not have to take it. Furthermore, the New York City Law is so much more protective of employees with respect to Sexual Harassment. Even a single act or comment can constitute sexual harassment. It is important to speak with an experienced law firm such as the Derek T. Smith Law Group, P.C. to discuss the details.

- Age Discrimination

Age discrimination is illegal, whether you are 70, 50 or even 20 years of age. Under the New York City law, even people under the age of 40 can have a valid claim of age discrimination. Age discrimination occurs when an employee or prospective employee if treated unfairly because of his or her age. Furthermore, it does not even matter if the one discriminating is also of the same age range as the one being discriminated against. You may still have a case. An employer may not discriminate because of age in any area of the employment process, whether it be hiring, firing, raises, promotions, or any term or condition of employment.

- Disability Discrimination

Disability discrimination takes place whenever an employer or place of public accommodation treats a person differently because of their disability. If you are disabled, you have the right to a reasonable accommodation and you have the right to be free from offensive comments or conduct relating to your disability. Additionally, the law even applies to people who are simply associated with someone who has a disability, such as an employer who discriminates against an employee because the employee's relative has a disability. Any form of comments or conduct that relate to a person's disability may be actionable.

- Equal Pay/Compensation Discrimination

Women deserve to be paid the same as men for substantially equal jobs, and vice-versa. If your employer pays you less for substantially the same job as compared to the opposite gender, then you may have a case. Such unequal pay is illegal and it must stop. There should be total fairness with respect to the job at hand taking into consideration one's experience and knowledge. We have all heard the percentage out there that women make roughly 77 cents to the dollar compared to men. Do not let this happen to you. Women have the right to make as much as men do. Women should be based on their qualifications and not on their gender.

- National Origin Discrimination

National Origin discrimination occurs when someone is subjected to unfair treatment because of where they are from or because of their ethnicity or race. This also includes discriminating against someone because of their accent. Additionally, National Origin discrimination can occur even when the harasser is of the same National Origin as the victim. It is illegal to discriminate against an employee based on their National Origin in any term or condition of employment, such as pay, raises, promotions, hiring, firing, benefits, etc.

- Pregnancy Discrimination

Pregnancy discrimination occurs when an employer treats a woman unfairly because she is pregnant or because of a medical condition associated with her pregnancy. Furthermore, the New York City Law is so much more protective of employees with respect to Pregnancy discrimination. It is illegal to discriminate against an employee based on their pregnancy in any term or condition of employment, such as pay, raises, promotions, hiring, firing, benefits, etc. Available remedies may include lost wages, emotional distress, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees.

- Race/Color Discrimination

Race Discrimination is when a person is treated unfairly because of their race. Additionally, the law even applies to people who are simply associated with someone of a particular race such as an employer who discriminates against an employee because the employee's spouse is of a certain race. Discrimination can occur even in situation when the harasser is of the same race as the victim.

- Religious Discrimination

Religious Discrimination is when a person is treated unfairly because of their Religion. Furthermore, the New York City Law is so much more protective of employees with respect to Religious discrimination. Additionally, the law even applies to people who are simply associated with someone of a particular Religion such as an employer who discriminates against an employee because the employee's spouse is of a certain Religion.

- Retaliation

It is illegal to retaliate against someone because of their race, religion, gender, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, age, or sexual harassment. These are called the "Protected Classes." Equally as important, is the fact that it is illegal to discriminate against someone because they have complained about discrimination. The employee is protected even if there was no discrimination in the first place as long as the employee had a good faith belief that they were being unlawfully discriminated against.

- Sexual Orientation Discrimination

Sexual Orientation Discrimination is when a person is treated unfairly because of their Sexual Orientation. Additionally, the law even applies to people who are simply associated with someone of a particular Sexual Orientation such as an employer who discriminates against an employee because the employee's family member is of a certain Sexual Orientation. Discrimination can occur even in situation when the harasser is of the same Sexual Orientation as the victim.