If CRD rejects your appeal, refer to the Notice of Case Closure letter. That letter lists resources to help you decide whether to file a civil lawsuit in court on your own.
Things to Keep in Mind
After CRD investigates and closes your case, CRD sends a Notice of Case Closure letter. At this point, you may want to explore your legal options with an attorney.
If you file an appeal with CRD, you may also want to consult an attorney while your appeal is pending.
Do not wait until the CRD appeal process ends to decide whether to file a civil lawsuit or speak with an attorney. The law sets a deadline for filing a civil lawsuit in court; this deadline is identified in your Notice of Case Closure letter.
Filing an appeal with CRD on time may pause (or toll) the deadline to file a civil lawsuit in court. For more information, review Government Code section 12900, including sections 12960(f) and 12989.1(a).
If you have questions about deadlines to file a civil lawsuit in court, you should contact an attorney.
Check on the Status of Your Appeal
To check the status of your pending appeal, email the Appeals Unit at appeals@calcivilrights.ca.gov. Be sure to include your assigned CRD case number in all messages. You may also contact CRD’s Contact Center at 1-800-884-1684 (voice) or 1-800-700-2320 (TTY), and they will direct your call to the Appeals Unit.
FAQ
Am I allowed to contact the CRD investigator to get more information about the complaint?
Yes. Do not hesitate to contact the assigned investigator to discuss the complaint. If the file contains additional non-confidential information about the allegations that are not shown on the official complaint, the investigator verbally may share this information with the respondent.