CA Civil Rights Department vs. Ralphs: Upholding California’s Fair Chance Act and Giving Criminal Convicts Second Chances

The California Civil Rights Department (“CRD”) recently filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit against grocery mega store Ralphs Grocery Company (“Ralphs”) over alleged violations of California’s Fair Chance Act. The CRD asserts that Ralphs has unlawfully screened out numerous job applicants across Southern California based on their criminal history, in contravention of California’s Fair Chance Act.