CRED’s Complaint Process

If you believe you have been discriminated against in employment, education, housing, or a place of public accommodation because of your race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or familial status, or if you believe you have been subjected to retaliation for reporting or participating in an investigation of unlawful discrimination, you may file a complaint with the Civil Rights Enforcement Division.

A complaint filed with CRED will remain confidential unless a court orders otherwise or you provide your consent to disclose it. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-205(g)(1).

There are time limits for filing a complaint with CRED. A complaint must be filed within 180 days of the date of the alleged discriminatory act. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-204(e).

The Tennessee Human Rights Act (THRA) and Tennessee Disability Act (TDA) allow aggrieved parties to file their own private lawsuit in chancery court or circuit court within one year after the alleged discriminatory practice ceases. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-311. You are not required to file a complaint with CRED before filing your own lawsuit under the THRA or TDA. However, please also note that filing a complaint with CRED does not extend the one-year statute of limitations for filing your own lawsuit under the THRA or TDA.

What to Expect After Filing a Complaint:

STEP ONE: When you file your complaint with CRED, you will receive

  • Confirmation of receipt
  • Assigned case number

STEP TWO: Your complaint will be reviewed to determine whether CRED has jurisdiction. You may also be asked to participate in an intake interview to allow our team to gather more details about the discrimination alleged.

STEP THREE: Our team of attorneys will then determine whether your claims warrant additional action. That may include one or more of the following:

  • Investigation. During an investigation, CRED may request relevant information or documentary material from the complainant, the respondent, or third parties. CRED may also interview or conduct examinations under oath of individuals believed to have information relevant to the claims asserted. If the recipient of an investigative request fails to comply, CRED may seek a court order compelling its compliance. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-205.
  • Mediation. Parties may request to seek prompt resolution of a complaint at any time through a voluntary, informal process facilitated by an impartial mediator. The Office of the Tennessee Attorney General offers this service at no cost to the parties. For more information about mediation of CRED complaints, click here.
  • Litigation. If CRED finds reason to believe that a violation has occurred, is occurring, or is about to occur, it may file a lawsuit to seek relief designed to protect the rights of affected Tennesseans and the public interest. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-302.
  • Closure. CRED may close its file at any time for lack of jurisdiction, insufficient evidence, or any another reason as determined by our legal team.