Who Can File A Complaint?

Any person claiming to be harmed or on behalf of a person claiming to be harmed by a discriminatory practice or act may make, sign, and file a complaint with the Commission.  The Director of the Commission may initiate complaints when there is reason to believe that an act may violate the discrimination laws of the City.

In order for the Commission to have jurisdiction to look into your allegations, the following, in general, have to be present:

- You have to be an employee if you are alleging employment discrimination, and your employer has no less than six employees.

- The alleged discriminatory act or harm has to have occurred within 180 days of the date your complaint is filed.

- The harm or act you are alleging must occur within the territorial boundaries of the City of Fort Wayne.

- You should self identify the basis (race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, place of birth, ancestry, familial status, or sexual orientation) upon which you believe the alleged discriminatory act was done to you. 

HOWEVER,  if you do not meet the above criteria, the Commission may still be able to take your complaint and forward it onto the appropriate agency for investigation.  Certain criteria exist for these complaints as well.

For the Commission to transfer employment discrimination complaints the following criteria must be met:

- You must be an employee and your employer has no less than 15 employees.

- The alleged discriminatory act or harm has to have occurred within 300 days of the date your complaint is filed.

- You should self identify the basis (race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information or age) upon which you believe the alleged discriminatory act was done to you.

In housing discrimination complaints, the following must exist:

- The alleged discriminatory act or harm has to have occurred within one year of the date your complaint is field.

- You should self identify the basis (race, color, sex, religion, national origin, handicap, or familial status) upon which you believe the alleged discriminatory act was done to you.