Pattern-or-Practice Case Law and Legal Definition
Pattern-or-practice case means a lawsuit, often a class action, in which the plaintiff attempts to show that the defendant has systematically engaged in discriminatory activities. Also that such engagement in discriminatory activities was especially by means of policies and procedures. Typically, such a case involves employment discrimination, housing discrimination, or school segregation. A plaintiff needs to show that a defendant's behavior forms a pattern of actions or is embedded in routine practices; however, inferences of executive or official complicity may be drawn from a consistent failure to respond to complaints or implement corrective measures.
