Employment law attorneys and HR professionals (and the businesses we help to support) often focus on workplace policies, harassment prevention, and wage compliance. But with Law Day upon us on May 1st, sometimes it’s worth stepping back to examine the broader legal principles — principles that ultimately affect the environment in which all businesses operate.

A new lawsuit filed last Thursday in Connecticut state court by an employer alleges that the employer’s due process rights are being violated by “inherently conflicted and irreparably unfair proceedings” at the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) — the state agency responsible for investigating and enforcing the state’s anti-discrimination laws. 

In the lawsuit,

Over the years, I’ve openly questioned whether the CHRO has been improperly awarding emotional distress damages and attorneys fees in employment discrimination claims.  

Indeed, back in February 2009, I noted “Nearly 15 years ago, the Connecticut Supreme Court came out with a pair of decisions that seemed to put to rest the question of