Pregnancy discrimination demand letters are different from a CRD complaint. California law states that, in most cases, before you can file a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit, you must first file a complaint with the applicable government agency. If your discrimination claim is based on California law, then you would file a complaint with California’s Civil Rights Department (CRD), formerly California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH). If the claim is based on a violation of federal law, then you would file a complaint with either: CRD, or the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), based in Washington, DC.