The Commission was created to enforce its Anti-Discrimination Ordinance.

The mission of the Cuyahoga County Human Rights Commission (CCHRC) is to promote full civil and human rights in the County. The Commission protects people from unlawful discrimination based on LGBTQ status alone and in combination with other protected attributes such as race, color, religion, military status, national origin, disability, age, ancestry, familial status, and sex.

We pursue our mission by:

• Advancing effective public policies on civil rights
• Mediating disputes
• Educating the public
• Providing information and referrals
  
  

This Commission is made up of three Commissioners, appointed by County Executive Armond Budish and confirmed by Cuyahoga County Council for two-year terms that began March 1, 2019. The Commissioners oversee the work of the Commission, make policy decisions and hear complaints of discrimination in violation of Cuyahoga County’s Ordinance Title 15.

This ordinance established protections against discrimination based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression.

To be eligible for mediation, all parties, must agree to a mediation track, and be willing to discuss and negotiate a settlement.

• CCCHR Consent to Mediation and Confidentiality Agreement

Unlawful discrimination includes the segregation, separation, maltreatment, ill-treatment, or any unfavorable difference in treatment based on race, color, religion, military status, national origin, disability, age, ancestry, familial status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. You may not be discriminated against in housing, employment or public accommodations based on your membership in a protected category.

A few examples of actions that are illegal under the law are:

• A landlord may not refuse to rent an apartment to you because of your gender identity.
• A store clerk may not harass you because of your race.
• An employer may not refuse to provide you with a reasonable accommodation for your disability.

You may file a complaint of discrimination by mail or in person. If the incident you describe states a case of unlawful discrimination, and the incident happened within 330 days for housing complaints and 150 days for employment or public accommodation complaints, the Commission may accept a Complaint of Discrimination in which you formally make a complaint against the party who you believe is discriminating against you.

If the incident you describe does not state a possible case of unlawful discrimination, or does not fall within the Commission’s purview, you will be referred to another agency that may be able to help with your problem.

If you do not wish to work with the Commission, or if the Commission declines to accept your case, you may consult an attorney about your options.

The CCHRC is not a legal services or advocacy organization, though we are able to provide you a list to such groups.

No. There are no fees or other charges that an individual must pay in connection to filing a discrimination complaint with the Commission.

Please refer to the Process Flow Chart.

All other deadlines and proceedings are suspended and postponed during the mediation process. If an agreement is reached, the case is closed. Discussions at a mediation conference are confidential and do not become part of the Commission’s process. However, settlement agreements are a public record unless the parties enter a private agreement to resolve their dispute.

1. All witnesses will be placed under oath at the hearing.
2. There will be a separation of witnesses. In other words, if someone wants to bring another person along as a support person, that’s permissible, but if that person is also going to be a witness, they will have to leave the room when others are testifying. That person may remain in the room after the person’s testimony is completed.
3. Each side will be given 60 minutes to present evidence. The Complainant will be allowed 15 minutes of rebuttal time. The parties may request additional time to present testimony and evidence.
4. Parties may submit pre-hearing briefs, including exhibits, 14 calendar days before the scheduled hearing.
5. You have 30 days to appeal the Commission’s final decision.

If you are a landlord, the owner or operator of a business, or in some other way provide housing or public accommodations, and someone believes that you have acted in a discriminatory manner, a Complaint of Discrimination may be filed against you.

If the Commission accepts the Complaint, it does not mean that you have been found to violate the County’s Anti-Discrimination ordinance. It only means that the Commission has agreed to review and hear the allegation.

If a complaint is filed against you, your company or organization as a Respondent, a copy of the complaint will be served on the named Respondent via mail within 14 days of the date the Commission receives a perfected (notarized and dated) complaint. Your response to the complaint is due within 30 days after service of the Complaint. Failure to respond/answer a complaint and/or appear at an administrative hearing can result in a finding of a default finding against you.

Not at all. If you file a Complaint, or if a Complaint is filed against you, you may have an attorney represent you if you wish, but many complainants and respondents do not use an attorney.

Yes. The Commission encourages settlement and mediation. The complainant or the respondent may make a settlement offer at any time, and the Commission can facilitate an informal settlement process. In addition, if both sides agree to attempt to resolve the dispute through formal mediation, the Commission will provide the services of a professional independent mediator.

There is no charge to either party for participation in mediation. Mediation services are confidential, and do not become part of the Commission’s hearing process. If the mediation process fails, the Commission will recommence its review and hearing process. Agreements that come out of an informal settlement process or formal mediation resolve the charge and are enforced by the Commission if the terms of the agreement are later violated. Commission settlements are generally public documents unless both parties enter into a private agreement.

The Commission acts as a neutral third party. The Commission’s role is to determine, based on the Complaint, whether unlawful discrimination occurred in violation of the County’s ordinance. The Commission can’t take sides in the dispute. If upon all the evidence presented, the Commission determines that the Respondent has engaged in, or is engaging in, any unlawful discriminatory practice or act under Title 15 of the County Code, whether against the Complainant or others, the Commission shall issue a notice of violation, and may issue an order to Respondent to cease and desist the unlawful discriminatory Practice (See Title 1501.05).

If, after a hearing, the Commission determines that there is sufficient evidence to show that unlawful discrimination did, in fact, occur, then the Commission will endeavor to work with both parties to correct the situation.

Retaliation is a violation of Cuyahoga County’s Anti-Discrimination Ordinance. If you believe that you are being retaliated against because you complained about discrimination informally or because you filed a Complaint with the Commission, you may file a new complaint or amend your pending complaint.

If the Commission determines that there is sufficient evidence to show that unlawful discrimination occurred, the Commission may impose financial penalties and attorney’s fees.

Yes. In some instances, you may file a civil suit on your own charging someone will unlawful discrimination. You may go to other organizations, such as the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Equality Ohio Legal Clinic, the Fair Housing Center for Rights and Research, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, FHEO (HUD) or the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.

Yes. The Respondent must be notified of your identity to provide him or her a reasonable opportunity to respond to the Complaint. In most cases, the Commission will not use the names of minors in any public documents. In addition, the Commission has the authority to bring complaints in the public interest, without the participation of an individual Complainant.

Members of the public may obtain copies of documents filed with the Commission if they are a public record under the Ohio Public Records Act. The parties must not list their social security and driver’s license numbers on any filed or submitted documents. The parties must redact or white-out social security and driver’s license numbers if appear on any supporting documentation.

Any party to the proceeding, claiming to be aggrieved by a final decision of the Commission, may obtain judicial review by filing a notice of appeal within 30 days to the Cuyahoga Court of Common Pleas consistent with the provisions of Chapters 2505 and 2506 of the Ohio Revised Code [See Title 1501.06 (A)].