Legal Question in Discrimination Law in New Jersey

What should we do as customers being discriminated against?

My friend and I (both age 17) have

recently been experiencing

problems at a local bookstore. We

are told by the manager that we

are only allowed to look at a single

book between the two of us. We

were yelled at and called ''rude,

disrespectful, little kids'' because

we look at more than one book at a

time, and we leave them in neat

piles (after being told not to re-

shelf books).

We finally told the manager this

was age discrimination, and the

manager admitted to it (using the

word ''discrimination.'')

We are furious about how we are

being treated, and we would like to

take action. We understand that

we are minors, but we will definitely

enlist the aide of our parents and

whomever else it requires.

We are wondering what the

appropriate action to take would

be.

Thank you!


Asked on 9/20/08, 11:48 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Fred Shahrooz Scampato Law Office of Fred Shahrooz Scampato

Re: What should we do as customers being discriminated against?

The first step in asserting your rights is to find out what your rights are in NJ regarding age discrimination. Here's a flyer that is put out by the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights on the issue:

http://www.nj.gov/oag/dcr/downloads/fact_age.pdf

I would suggest you and your friend contact the Division on Civil Rights and see if they would file a complaint on your behalf. Here is their website information about filing a complaint: http://www.nj.gov/oag/dcr/filing.html

They may very well tell you that you do not have a case, but, at the very least, it will be a learning experience for the both of you and you will learn what it takes to assert your rights for anything that comes up in the future.

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Answered on 9/21/08, 8:56 am
Jason Kessler Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler, P.C.

Re: What should we do as customers being discriminated against?

Make a complaint to consumer affairs or the better business bureau.

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Answered on 9/21/08, 4:11 am


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