Unfair Practices of Financial Institutions
Under the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD), what are considered unfair practices of financial institutions? Here’s my point of view (NOTE: please read our DISCLAIMER before proceeding).
THE WASHINGTON LAW AGAINST DISCRIMINATION (WLAD)
The WLAD, Chapter 49.60 RCW, "prohibits discriminatory practices in the areas of employment, places of public resort, accommodation, or amusement, in real estate transactions, and credit and insurance transactions on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, [citizenship or immigration status], families with children, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability; and prohibits retaliation against persons who oppose a discriminatory practice, and those who file health care and state employee whistleblower complaints." See WSHRC Official Website --> About Us, last visited 3/2/22 (emphasis and hyperlinks added).
The WLAD, Chapter 49.60 RCW, "prohibits discriminatory practices in the areas of employment, places of public resort, accommodation, or amusement, in real estate transactions, and credit and insurance transactions on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, [citizenship or immigration status], families with children, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability; and prohibits retaliation against persons who oppose a discriminatory practice, and those who file health care and state employee whistleblower complaints." See WSHRC Official Website --> About Us, last visited 3/2/22 (emphasis and hyperlinks added).
UNFAIR PRACTICES OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Under the WLAD, the unfair practices of financial institutions are as follows:
RCW 49.60.175
Unfair practices of financial institutions.
It shall be an unfair practice to use the sex, race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, marital status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability of any person, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, concerning an application for credit in any credit transaction to determine the creditworthiness of an applicant.
RCW 49.60.175 (hyperlinks added).
REMEDIES -- CIVIL ACTION IN COURT
"Any person deeming himself or herself injured by any act in violation of … [the WLAD] shall have a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction to enjoin further violations, or to recover the actual damages sustained by the person, or both, together with the cost of suit including reasonable attorneys' fees or any other appropriate remedy authorized by this chapter or the United States Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended, or the Federal Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 3601 et seq.)." RCW 49.60.030(2) (hyperlinks added).
Learn More
If you would like to learn more, then consider contacting an experienced Washington State Employment Discrimination Attorney as soon as possible to discuss your case. Please note: the information contained in this article is not offered as legal advice and will not form an attorney-client relationship with either this author or Williams Law Group; please see our DISCLAIMER.
