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Wrongful Termination

In most instances, employers can terminate a working relationship at any time, including laying off employees due to reorganization, downsizing, bankruptcy, or for no reason at all. However, it is unlawful to be terminated because of your race, religion, gender, or national origin or for engaging in a protected activity. If you have been terminated for any of these reasons, you may have sufficient grounds to sue your employer for wrongful termination. Some recoverable damages in a wrongful termination suit include reinstatement, back pay, front pay, and compensatory and emotional distress damages.

Our Los Angeles wrongful termination attorneys help our clients understand what exactly constitutes wrongful termination. Many times, employees do not realize they’ve been the target of unlawful discrimination or wrongful termination. Regardless of the employer’s stated reason for termination, employees may have been the victim of wrongful termination based on what has actually transpired in the workplace. The following are some of the grounds upon which wrongful termination lawsuits often arise:

• Racial Discrimination

• Racism is not always as open, explicit, and obvious as it once was. If you are or have been the target of racially-charged language, bullying, playful workplace banter, or if you were terminated on the basis of your race, you should contact an employment attorney immediately. If you notice that people of color were heavily over-represented in a recent round of layoffs, you should speak to a wrongful termination attorney.

• Sexual Harassment and Assault

• Sexual harassment and abuse in the workplace is a serious issue. The #MeToo movement has publicized what many women have been experiencing for ages. Unfortunately, sexual harassment continues to be a problem, and there are no signs that it is becoming less prevalent or pervasive in the workplace. Our attorneys have years of experience in dealing with sexual harassment cases for both men and women.

  In fact, the recent notoriety is the direct result of women finally having the confidence and security to speak up against their abusers. Executives and individuals in supervisory positions often engage in sexualy illicit conduct or make advances towards employees. Although sexual harassment is not limited to a male (supervisor/executive) and female (employee) relationships, the most prevalent sexual harassment type acts are committed by male executives, supervisors, and co-workers against female employees. This is especially true with young women, who often find themselves in very vulnerable positions. They are often caught off guard by their desire to advance in their chosen career and the trust they place in more experienced and connected male colleagues. However, no female should ever be forced to tolerate or submit to inappropriate or degrading sexual acts and advances against them.

  If you were fired, demoted, denied a promotion, or subjected to other adverse employment actions because you refused the sexual advances of a colleague, reported him/her after he/she sexually harassed you (physically or verbally), or suffered retaliation after your refusal, then you are likely the victim of sexual harassment. If you are someone who has witnessed or been subjected to such misdoings, you should immediately contact West Coast Trial Lawyers. Similarly, if you decided to report such acts and lost your job after doing so, call us immediately for a free case evaluation.

• National Origin

• California has one of the largest and most diverse populations in the world. The state attracts talent from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and other regions. The vast majority of California employers welcome such diversity. Unfortunately, some do not. National Origin means the country where a person was born; the country from which his or her ancestors came; or the display of physical, cultural, or linguistic characteristics of a particular national group. If you believe you were treated differently or terminated because of your national origin, you may have a case for wrongful termination.

• Religious Affiliation

• The United States is a land of religious freedom and tolerance. The religion you practice is your own affair. In 2016, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) reported that 7.2% of wrongful termination cases are related to the religious beliefs of the aggrieved employee. Everyone has the right to practice any religion, and employers have a duty to foster a workplace free of religious discrimination

  Religious discrimination cases usually arise from the employer denying the employee the right to engage in religious practices (e.g., Jehovah’s witness not allowed to wear jean skirts, Muslim woman not allowed to wear hijab, Jewish men not allowed to wear a yamaka, etc.). Contact a wrongful termination lawyer immediately if you were fired based on your religious affiliation and practices.

• Age

• If you are fit, healthy, and able to do your job, you cannot be fired because you are above the age of 40. To cut costs in the areas of pay, benefits, and pensions, some companies have resorted to laying off older, more experienced employees in favor of younger workers. If you suspect that your termination is based on your age, then you should seek the advice and counsel of one of our experienced Los Angeles wrongful termination attorneys.

• Retaliation

• If you engaged in a protected activity, such as complaining about not being paid all your wages, reported it, and were fired because of this, then your termination was likely illegal, and you should contact us right away.

  The key to winning such a case is producing convincing evidence that supports your claim. You must begin collecting this evidence from the very first moment you suspect something is wrong. Here are some of the things you can do to strengthen your case:

Relevant Communication

Employers are not likely to be open about their wrongdoings. It is important to preserve all emails, letters, voice message, and text messages from your abuser. They may be crucial evidence in your case.

Discovery Documents

Our lawyers will immediately request your complete employment and pay records. This will allow your lawyer to review all the documents related to the case and examine internal communications between your immediate superior and others. Other documents such as counseling forms and emails between the person who has abused you and others can also be requested and examined.

One of the key facts to determine with the help of these documents is a pattern and timeline. If you can discern a pattern that suggests certain groups of people have been demoted and fired, then you may be able to prove that your employer has been engaging in unlawful behavior.

Prior Lawsuits

Lawsuits are a matter of public record. If your previous employer has been sued before for wrongful termination, a record likely exists and can be obtained. A knowledgeable employment lawyer will obtain this documentation on your behalf. If the company was involved in a number of wrongful termination suits in the past, it may be evidence that it has a culture of racism, misogyny, or intolerance in the workplace.

Contact a Skilled Wrongful Termination Lawyer

Being wrongfully terminated is frightening, unjust, and economically devastating. If you believe that you lost your job because of the way you look, the religion you practice, or the justified act of reporting illegal, immoral, or wrongful activities, then reach out to the wrongful termination lawyers at West Coast Trial Lawyers. Our experienced team will help and guide you through every step of your case. We will fight for your justice and help you obtain maximum compensation.

Contact us today for a free consultation. We handle our cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that you only pay us if we get compensation for you. You can reach our legal team 24 hours a day by calling (888) 888-9285 or emailing [email protected].

Discrimination

Everyone has the right to be treated fairly in the workplace. You should be paid the same as anyone else with your qualifications and experience. You should have the same opportunities for advancement. You should be given the same advice and counseling you need to make improvements in your work performance as others. To be cut off from these privileges or to be arbitrarily terminated because of your race, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or status as a parent is against the law. It is unjust treatment, and you can do something about it.

Hiring an experienced discrimination lawyer is the best response to being fired, denied a promotion, or being subject to other adverse employment action.

If you believe you’re being treated differently because you are a person of color, a woman, or a member of a religious minority, the last thing you want to do is accuse your employer of discrimination without hiring an experienced discrimination attorney. Our experienced labor and employment attorneys will guide you through the entire legal process. Being known as a racist or sexist company is a public relations nightmare, and the corporation being charged may do everything in its power to deny, counter the charge, and undermine your credibility. That is why you must develop a concrete and workable legal strategy before you take any action against your employer.

Our Los Angeles employment discrimination attorneys will help you put together your case, and help you pursue the lawsuit to obtain the justice you’re entitled to.

Here are a few of the many categories of unlawful employment discrimination recognized under the law:

• Race Discrimination

• Racism is a serious and pervasive issue. Racists have adopted language, gestures, and actions that can be plausibly defended as being race-neutral. If you are a person who has been the target of racial slurs or racial bullying, then you have the right to seek legal help. If you were terminated, or you notice that you or your coworkers of a similar race were part of a recent round of layoffs, then you may have a discrimination suit based on racial discrimination. The bottom line is, you cannot be treated like less, receive fewer opportunities for advancement, or be terminated because of your race.

• National Origin

• California has one of the largest and most diverse populations in the world. The state attracts talent from India, China, and other countries. The vast majority of Californian companies welcome such diversity. Unfortunately, some do not. If you were treated differently because of your national origin, you may have a case for employment discrimination.

• Gender Discrimination

• Gender discrimination can arise in many ways. For example, pay inequality is a very large problem in corporate America. Many executives assume that their female employees will not press the matter, and so they offer them less in compensation for doing the same job as men. This is perhaps the most prevalent form of gender discrimination. Another for of gender discrimination is the degradation and humiliation of women in the workplace. Sexual harassment, sexist jokes, and other sexually charged forms of speech are often employed to frustrate and belittle women so that they are not taken seriously, cannot earn the trust and respect of colleagues, and cannot do their jobs in a safe and professional environment. If you have been subjected to such treatment, then you should consult with a gender discrimination lawyer.

• Age Discrimination

• An employer is prohibited from discriminating against employees ages 40 and above. You cannot be denied a job on the sole basis of your age. Nor can you be terminated because of your age. You cannot be denied promotion or be subjected to mistreatment because of your age. If you are able to carry out the essential functions of your position, it is illegal for you to be denied the opportunity to do so because of your age.

• Sexual Orientation Discrimination

• There are state and federal laws in place to protect LGBTQ individuals from discrimination. An employer cannot refuse you employment or terminate your employment because of your sexual orientation. You cannot be denied advancement based on your sexuality. It is unlawful for a company to allow an environment of harassment, intimidation, or discrimination to exist against members of the LGBTQ community. If you have experienced this kind of mistreatment, then you should contact an employment discrimination attorney.

• Political Affiliation

• This has become more of a problem over the last decade or so. Our laws protect private sector employees against discrimination or harassment based on their political affiliations or speech. The reasonable expression of your political belief is a legally protected activity.

• These are just some of the types of discrimination protected under the law. If you believe you have been discriminated, you should contact our discrimination attorneys immediately to discuss your case.

How do you prove you have been discriminated against? You can win your case with the help of our experienced discrimination lawyer if you do the following