Significance Regarding Employers

• The Fair Employment and Housing Act makes it illegal for a potential employer to ask an applicant questions regarding their general health, medical conditions or any mental or physical disabilities they may have or the employer perceives they have. Once employed an individual can not be discriminated against because they are perceived to have, or are associated with individuals who are perceived to have, a disability including: HIV or AIDS, hepatitis, epilepsy, seizure disorders bipolar disorder or clinical depression.
  
  

Housing

• The Fair Employment and Housing Act makes it illegal for a property owner to refuse to rent, sell or lease housing accommodations to individuals they perceive have a disability. It is also illegal for a property owner to make the representation that a housing unit is unavailable when in fact it is.
  
  

Remedies

• If an individual thinks they have been discriminated against due to a perceived disability they have the right to file a complaint with the California Attorney General. They also have the right to file a private lawsuit. Lawsuit remedies for discrimination include: an award of payment of the plaintiff's attorney's fees, monetary damages and punitive damages.