CHICAGO, Ill. – In a federal lawsuit filed Monday, the Chicago Bears have been accused of gender and race discrimination after disqualifying a white male law student for a Legal Diversity Fellowship program.
On behalf of Jonathan Bresser, the lawyers at Trent Law Firm, P.C. have filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, seeking damages from the Chicago Bears and specific defendants for the team’s “deliberate discriminatory and sexist hiring practices.”
First-year law student Bresser applied for a Chicago Bears “Legal Diversity Fellow” position, which required candidates to identify as “person of color and/or female law student” in order to be considered.
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Bresser’s lawsuit claims that the Chicago Bears and certain defendants participated in deliberate discriminatory hiring practices based on race and sex, infringing upon his rights as guaranteed by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, § 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, and related laws.
“With respect to this case, my position is simple, and my message consistent. All people, regardless of their race, origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other factor must be entitled to the same opportunities for success,” said Bresser in a statement.
Bresser is seeking a court ruling determining that The Bears’ claimed actions constitute a “civil conspiracy to commit tortious acts” in addition to compensatory and punitive damages for racial and sexual bias.
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