If an American citizen feels that he or she has been discriminated against, then he or she has the right to make a civil rights complaint. This can be filed in a number of local, state and federal courts. After the complaint has been made, the defendant will receive notice that he or she is being sued. A certain amount of time is given for that individual to hire legal counsel and a court date is set. A judge, and in some cases, a jury, will hear both sides of the argument and provide a ruling. The offending party may be ordered to pay the discrimination victim a certain sum of money for damages or the case may be dismissed.