Watkins v. Labor & Industry Review Commission

Does the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act authorize the Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations (DILHR) to award reasonable attorney’s fees to the prevailing complainant in a discrimination action even though that Act contains no express statutory language authorizing such an award? This is the question raised by Gloria Watkins, the prevailing party in a racial discrimination action that she brought against her employer under, this Act. She contends that the authority is implicit in the language of the Act and is necessary to carry out the legislative intent. Because the Act is…