North Carolina Jury Instruction — 1.1.3 Public Employee Equal Protection Claim Race and or Sex Discrimination Hostile Work Environment — Separate Liability In North Carolina, the Jury Instruction 1.1.3 addresses the legal framework and requirements pertaining to public employees' equal protection claims regarding race and/or sex discrimination in a hostile work environment. This instruction specifically covers situations where liability may be separate due to the nature of the claim. Types of North Carolina Jury Instruction — 1.1.3 Public Employee Equal Protection Claim Race and or Sex Discrimination Hostile Work Environment — Separate Liability: 1. Equal Protection Claims: The instruction highlights the importance of equal protection under the law for public employees in cases related to race and/or sex discrimination. It emphasizes that public employers must not engage in discriminatory practices that create a hostile work environment based on such protected characteristics. 2. Hostile Work Environment: This instruction recognizes that a hostile work environment can create adverse conditions that violate public employees' equal protection rights. It outlines the elements required to establish a hostile work environment claim, such as pervasive and severe discriminatory conduct, which goes beyond occasional or isolated incidents. 3. Race and Sex Discrimination: The instruction emphasizes that public employees have the right to be free from discrimination based on their race and/or sex. It provides guidance on how to evaluate acts or behaviors that may contribute to discriminatory practices, taking into account the circumstances and impact on the employee's work environment. 4. Separate Liability: This specific aspect of the instruction highlights that the liability for race and/or sex discrimination and hostile work environment claims may be separate. It clarifies that while the individual responsible for creating a hostile work environment may be held personally liable, the employer or agency may also be accountable for their failure to take appropriate action in response to complaints or knowledge of discrimination. This North Carolina Jury Instruction — 1.1.3 ensures that the jury understands the legal framework surrounding public employee equal protection claims related to race and/or sex discrimination, specifically within the context of a hostile work environment. It serves as a guide to evaluate the evidence based on the applicable legal standards, providing fair and just outcomes for victims of discrimination in public employment.