Discrimination Claims

Discrimination Solicitors

Discrimination happens every day, in all kinds of situations. And being discriminated against can leave you feeling upset, angry and embarrassed.

Our specialist discrimination team can help you;

1. Remove barriers to accessibility
2. Make lasting change, and
3. Claim compensation.

We represent people who have suffered discrimination at the hands of service providers, in shops and venues, by local authorities, healthcare providers, universities and central government.

What is Discrimination?

Discrimination is treating a person unfairly because of certain characteristics.

The Equality Act 2010 sets out 9 ‘Protected Characteristics’. This makes it illegal to discriminate against someone because of;

1. Age
2. Disability
3. Gender
4. Gender reassignment
5. Marriage and civil partnership
6. Pregnancy and maternity
7. Race
8. Religion or belief
9. Sexual orientation

Types of Discrimination

Discrimination can occur in various forms, including;

Direct Discrimination

Occurs when an organisation treats a person unfairly with a protected characteristic.

For example: A holiday park refusing to let a person take part in activities because they have a disability.

Indirect Discrimination

Happens when an individual or organisation has a policy that applies to everyone. However, it puts people with a protected characteristic at a disadvantage.

For example: A retail chain does not let people with covered faces in their stores. This could be indirect discrimination against people who wear headscarves for religious reasons.

Discrimination By Association

Is when you are treated unfairly because of your association with someone who has a protected characteristic.

For example: A restaurant refusing to serve you because you are with a person who has gone through gender reassignment.

Discrimination by Perception

When you’re treated unfairly because someone believes you belong to a group of people with a protected characteristic.

For example: A property owner refusing to let a property to you because he thinks you’re pregnant.

Harassment

This is unwanted behaviour that offends, humiliates or intimidates an individual. This includes physical gestures, physical and verbal abuse, jokes, emails, text messages, etc.

For example: A male gym member making an unwanted sexual joke to a female member.

Victimisation

When a person is subject to unfair treatment because they complained about discrimination.

For example: You complain about a bank manager who made a joke about your sexual orientation. He later closed your account because you made a complaint.

Who Can You Make a Discrimination Claim Against?

You can make a discrimination claim against anyone that provides a service to the public. This include private businesses and public bodies, such as;

• Retail stores, restaurants and high street chains
• Educational institutions including universities
• Leisure providers, including gyms and holiday resorts
• Healthcare providers, both private and NHS
• Local councils
• Transport providers, including public buses, trains and private hire companies
• Private clubs
• Government departments

How to Make a Discrimination Claim

If you think you have been the victim of discrimination, you may be able to bring a claim.

Whilst many discrimination cases can be straight forward with a positive outcome , cases involving a campaign of discrimination can be long, complex and stressful. As such, you should get expert advice from our team.

We will take some brief details about the discrimination suffered to ensure that you have a case. We may also ask you if you have any evidence in support of your claim. This could include;

• Documents – letter, emails, voicemail, text messages, etc
• Witness statements – from any people who saw what happened
• Your own version of events – If discrimination happened in a conversation and you don’t have physical evidence, we may be able to use your notes

Once we have reviewed your details, we will reach out to confirm whether you have a viable claim. If so, we will talk you through the process and explain how to get the best possible outcome.

Why Choose Ringrose Law?

Our expert discrimination team have represented individuals in many high profile discrimination claims. This includes;

• Single acts of discrimination, as well as
• Cases involving discriminatory policies affecting thousands of people.

We have acted against private companies and public bodies alike and are committed to making positive change to accessibility and inclusion across the board.

We cover claims including, but not limited to:

• Accommodation: Physically inaccessible hotels or where a refusal of a stay has been made due to age, religion, race, or requirement for a guide dog or service animal.
• Healthcare Facilities: Medical providers failing to provide BSL Interpretation or accessible information or documents and physical inaccessibility.
• Transport: Lack of ramps or assistance to embarking and disembark, no wheelchair spaces or wheelchair adapted vehicles, refusing to allow guide dogs and inaccessible rail replacement services.
• Inaccessible buildings: Physical barriers into shops, banks, stadiums and entertainment venues. This includes stepped entrances, high counters and inaccessible queueing facilities together with a lack of accessible toilets and facilities.
• Restaurants and eateries: Failing to make dietary adjustments or blend food, not having disabled access or facilities or refusing to allow entry with a guide dog or service animal.
• Inaccessible information: Failing to provide electronic documentation and email instead of paper correspondence and refusal to provide BSL Interpretation or Text Relay services.
• Universities and higher education: Failing to make reasonable adjustments for both physical and hidden disabilities, including the provision for extra support, additional time for exams or a note taker.

Successful Claims

Our team have represented clients to bring about positive change and secure compensation payments. Cases include;

• Centre Parcs – secured a company-wide policy change, retraining of staff and a substantial compensatory payment after a client was refused access to a water slide for not removing his prosthetic leg.
• Southern Rail – secured £17,000 compensation for a client who was left stranded on trains and station platforms more than thirty times after workers failed to provide wheelchair assistance.