390 U.S. 400 (1968)
Newman v. Piggie Park Enterprises, Inc.
Is a prevailing plaintiff in a civil rights public accommodations case entitled to attorney's fees under the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 allows prevailing plaintiffs to recover attorney fees as part of the costs to ensure they are not economically prohibited from pursuing just litigation that serves the public interest.
The Supreme Court held that prevailing parties in civil rights cases are entitled to attorney’s fees, asserting that such fees are essential for enabling individuals to seek judicial enforcement of civil rights statutes.
Newman v. Piggie Park Enterprises is a landmark decision for civil rights enforcement, highlighting not only the rejection of religious defenses to racial discrimination but also fortifying the financial means to judicial relief for victims of discrimination. It underscores the critical nature of attorney fees as a tool for effectuating private actions that serve public good and policy enforcement.