Commission on Human Rights
September 2005 Rulings on Discrimination Complaints

LOUISVILLE - The Kentucky Commission on Human Rights (KCHR) Board of Commissioners approved eight conciliation agreements during its monthly meeting today at the Louisville headquarters. Conciliation agreements are reached through KCHR negotiations between complainants and respondents in consideration for the full and complete resolution of claims of alleged discrimination.
The commission dismissed 31 discrimination complaints, which, after investigation, resulted in findings of no probable cause. The commission dismissed three complaints under reconsideration with findings of no probable cause. The commission accepted five complaint withdrawals with private settlement terms and three complaint withdrawals without settlement.    
Fair Housing Council v. Betty Fuller, in Hartford: The complaint alleged discrimination based on familial status in housing, a violation of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act (KRS 344.360). The complainant alleged the respondent ran a real estate ad that stated, “No kids.” The respondent asserted she did not know that prohibiting families with children from renting real estate is against the law. The two parties agreed to resolve the complaint under terms that require the respondent to comply with laws against discrimination and to report to the KCHR with regard to compliance for three years.

Fair Housing Council v. Ohio County Times News, in Hartford: The complaint alleged discrimination based on familial status in housing, a violation of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act (KRS 344.360). The complainant alleged the respondent ran discriminatory ads, which stated, “no kids” and “retired couple preferred.” The respondent asserted it did have a policy in effect to prohibit discriminatory advertising, but a temporary employee who was covering for a regular employee on medical leave, accepted the ad without realizing this was against policy. The two parties agreed to conciliate the matter, with the respondent compensating the complainant in the amount of $1,700, and paying $5,000 in damages to victims who present reasonable evidence within one year from the publication of such ads, to run ads explaining that familial status discrimination is illegal and listing the complainant’s and the KCHR’s contact information, and to report to the KCHR with regard to compliance for three years.
KCHR Commissioner Richard Brown v. River City Metals, in St. Matthews: The complaint alleged discrimination based on sex in employment, a violation of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act (KRS 344.020 and KRS 344.040). The complainant alleged the respondent has recruited, procured or employed gender specific employees through a staffing agency. The respondent denied all allegations. The two parties agreed to conciliate the matter, and the respondent affirms that its employment practices do and shall comply with the Kentucky Civil Rights Act. The respondent agreed to adopt a policy prohibiting discrimination to disseminate to employees. The respondent will report for one year to the commission and attend civil rights compliance training.
KCHR Commissioner Richard Brown v. Derek Engineering, in Louisville: The complaint alleged discrimination based on sex in employment, a violation of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act (KRS 344.020 and KRS 344.040). The complainant alleged the respondent has recruited, procured or employed gender specific employees through a staffing agency. The respondent denied all allegations. The two parties agreed to conciliate the matter, and the respondent affirms that its employment practices do and shall comply with the Kentucky Civil Rights Act. The respondent agreed to adopt a policy prohibiting discrimination to disseminate to employees. The respondent will report for one year to the commission and attend civil rights compliance training.

KCHR Richard Brown v. United Graphics, in Louisville: The complaint alleged discrimination based on sex in employment, a violation of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act (KRS 344.202 and KRS 344.040). The complainant alleged the respondent has recruited, procured or employed gender specific employees through a staffing agency. The respondent denied all allegations. The parties agreed to conciliate the matter with the respondent agreeing to comply with the law, adopt a policy against discrimination, and attend compliance training.
KCHR Richard Brown v. Carter’s Worldwide Moving, in Louisville: The complaint alleged discrimination based on sex in employment, a violation of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act (KRS 344.020 and KRS 344.040). The complainant alleged the respondent has recruited, procured or employed gender specific employees through a staffing agency. The respondent denied all allegations. The parties agreed to conciliate the matter with the respondent agreeing to comply with the law, adopt a policy against discrimination, and attend compliance training.
KCHR Richard Brown v. Marksbury Cornett, in Louisville: The complaint alleged discrimination based on sex in employment, a violation of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act (KRS 344.202 and KRS 344.040). The complainant alleged the respondent has recruited, procured or employed gender specific employees through a staffing agency. The respondent denied all allegations. The parties agreed to conciliate the matter with the respondent agreeing to comply with the law, adopt a policy against discrimination, and attend compliance training.
Misty Jessie v. Bel-Air Restaurant, in Cave City: The complaint alleged discrimination based on sex, a pregnant female, in employment, a violation of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act (KRS 344.040). The complainant alleged she was terminated due to her pregnancy. The respondent denied all allegations. The parties agreed to conciliate the matter with the respondent agreeing to compensate the complainant in the amount of $1,200, undergo compliance training and post equal employment opportunity notices in it business for all employees to read.
The KCHR is the state government agency that enforces The Kentucky Civil Rights Act and the policies of federal civil rights laws.  It receives initiates, investigates, conciliates and rules upon jurisdictional complaints.  The KCHR has jurisdiction in housing, employment, public accommodations, financial transactions, and private clubs. The Kentucky Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status in housing, disability, age (40 or over) in employment, and smoking status in employment.  Complaints not dismissed, settled or conciliated go to administrative hearing where commission decisions have the authority of a court of law.