10:5-12.6 Liability imposed on employers who discharge, discriminate against employee who displays the American flag.


10:5-12.6  Liability imposed on employers who discharge, discriminate against employee who displays the American flag.
      1.      No employer, public or private, shall discharge or discriminate against an employee in compensation or in terms, conditions or privileges of employment for displaying the American flag on the employee's person or work station, provided the display does not substantially andmaterially interfere with the employee's job duties.  An employer who discharges or discriminates against an employee as described in this section shall be liable to the employee for damages caused by the discharge or discrimination, including punitive damages, and for reasonable attorney's fees as part of the costs of any action for damages.  If the court determines that the action for damages was brought without substantial justification, the court may award costs and reasonable attorney's fees to the employer.

      L.2001,c.385.
 
10:5-13.     Filing complaint; prosecution of suit in Superior Court, jury trial 
     Any person claiming to be aggrieved by an unlawful employment practice or an unlawful discrimination may, personally or by an attorney-at-law, make, sign and file with the division a verified complaint in writing which shall state the name and address of the person, employer, labor organization, employment agency, owner, lessee, proprietor, manager, superintendent, or agent alleged to have committed the unlawful employment practice or unlawful discrimination complained of and which shall set forth the particulars thereof and shall contain such other information as may be required by the division. Upon receipt of the complaint, the division shall notify the complainant on a form promulgated by the director of the division and approved by the Attorney General of the complainant's rights under this act, including the right to file a complaint in the Superior Court to be heard before a jury; of the jurisdictional limitations of the division; and any other provisions of this act, without interpretation, that may apply to the complaint. The Commissioner of Labor, the Attorney General, or the Commissioner of Education may, in like manner, make, sign and file such complaint.  Any employer whose employees, or some of them, refuse or threaten to refuse to co-operate with the provisions of this act, may file with the division a verified complaint asking for assistance by conciliation or other remedial action. 

    Any complainant may initiate suit in Superior Court under this act without first filing a complaint with the division or any municipal office. Upon the application of any party, a jury trial shall be directed to try the validity of any claim under this act specified in the suit. All remedies available in common law tort actions shall be available to prevailing plaintiffs. These remedies are in addition to any provided by this act or any other statute. Prosecution of such suit in Superior Court under this act shall bar the filing of a complaint with the division or any municipal office during the pendency of any such suit. 

    At any time after 180 days from the filing of a complaint with the division, a complainant may file a request with the division to present the action personally or through counsel to the Office of Administrative Law. Upon such request, the director of the division shall file the action with the Office of Administrative Law, provided that no action may be filed with the Office of Administrative Law where the director of the division has found that no probable cause exists to credit the allegations of the complaint or has otherwise dismissed the complaint. 

    A party to an action based upon a violation of this act shall mail a copy of the initial pleadings or claims, amended pleadings or claims, counterclaims, briefs, and legal memoranda to the division at the same time as filing such documents with the Office of Administrative Law or the court. Upon application to the Office of Administrative Law or to the court wherein the matter is pending, the division shall be permitted to intervene. 

    L.1945,c.169,s.12; amended 1949,c.11,s.8; 1960,c.59,s.2; 1963,c.40,s.7; 1979,c.404,s.1; 1990,c.12,s.2. 
 
10:5-14  Investigation of complaint; Attorney General's duties.

      13.      After the filing of any complaint, the Attorney General shall cause prompt investigation to be made in connection therewith and advise the complainant of the results thereof.  During the period beginning with the filing of such complaint and ending with the closure of the case or 45 days from the date of a finding of probable cause, the Attorney General shall, to the extent feasible, engage in conciliation with respect to such complaint.  Neither the Attorney General nor any officer or employee of the division shall disclose any conversation between the Attorney General or a representative and the respondent or a representative at such conference, except that the Attorney General and any officer or employee may disclose the terms of a settlement offer to the complainant or other aggrieved person on whose behalf the complaint was filed.

      L.1945,c.169,s.13;  amended 1949, c.11, s.9; 1963, c.40, s.8; 1966, c.17, s.5; 1990, c.12, s.3; 1992, c.146, s.10; 2003, c.180, s.14.