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Offering Legal Representation to Employees Who Were Unfairly Terminated
When you take pride in the work you do, it can be devastating to be terminated. This is especially true when you know you were working hard and doing everything your employer requests. Unfortunately, sometimes hardworking employees are terminated for unfair reasons that have nothing to do with work quality. In fact, some reasons for termination are not only unfair, but also illegal.
If you suspect you were fired for an illegal reason, this idea is worth exploring with a wrongful termination attorney in Orange County. It might turn out that the reason you lost your job was beyond your control and unfair to you, in which case you could be entitled to compensation.
Contact our Orange County, CA law firm to speak with an experienced wrongful termination attorney during an initial consultation.
What Is Wrongful Termination?
You might have a wrongful termination case if your employer lets you go for a reason that is illegal according to California employment law. For example, if you lost your position after you reported or refused to go along with sexual harassment, illegal conduct, or safety breaches at work, you may have been wrongfully terminated.
Similarly, if you were fired after filing a workers’ compensation claim or asking for an appropriate workplace accommodation for a disability, you should talk to a wrongful termination lawyer in Orange County. You have a right to work in an environment where you feel safe from harm, harassment, or retaliation for your valid requests.
Protected Classes
This is the case even in an at-will employment state like California. Whether you have a written employment contract or an at-will employment agreement, there are certain circumstances for which your employer cannot fire you. In particular, it’s against the law for an employer to fire an employee based on protected characteristics that include:
- Race
- Age
- Gender
- Religion
- Disability
- Pregnancy
- Marital status
- Sexual orientation
- National origin
- Veteran status
Other Circumstances for Wrongful Termination
When an employer fires someone because they belong to a protected class, that’s discrimination, which could lead to a wrongful termination claim. A loss of employment after you reported wrongdoing, such as wage violations, may also be wrongful. Even if your employer simply didn’t follow the guidelines in the employee handbook before terminating you, you might have been wrongfully terminated. If you think you have a case, call our law firm to talk to an Orange County wrongful termination attorney.
What Compensation Can You Seek for Wrongful Termination?
Sudden job loss can result in financial hardships and embarrassment. You should not have to deal with these consequences after unfairly losing your job. This is why wrongful termination cases seek compensation for employees. You likely don’t want your job back after your employer wrongfully terminated you, but you need income to support yourself, so you should talk to an Orange County wrongful termination lawyer about the compensation you can seek.
Monetary Benefits
The monetary benefits you collect will depend on the details of your situation, but many wrongful termination cases pursue damages for:
- Lost wages
- Lost benefits, such as health insurance
- Emotional distress
- Damage to your professional reputation
- Lawyer fees
- Punitive damages
An experienced wrongful termination attorney in Orange County, CA will review the details of your case before calculating a fair settlement. Skilled wrongful termination lawyers will consider not just your current wages and benefits, but also potential raises and bonuses you could have gotten if you had not been terminated for an unlawful reason.
Additionally, your Orange County wrongful termination attorney can determine the monetary value of the emotional distress and reputation damage of an unlawful or discrimination-based termination. If you’re ready to discuss your settlement, contact our Orange County, CA law firm for a free consultation with an experienced wrongful termination attorney.
How Can You Prove You Were Wrongfully Terminated?
Wrongful termination cases can be difficult to prove on your own, since many employers try to hide the real reason they chose to terminate an employee. But skilled Orange County wrongful termination lawyers know how to uncover the reason for the termination and find proof to present in court.
For example, maybe your employer said you were fired for poor work performance, but you have emails and awards showing that you did your job well and weren’t given any warnings before being fired. If you notice that the termination occurred soon after you requested medical leave, pregnancy leave, or disability accommodations, your job loss could be due to discrimination or another unlawful reason.
In that case, you should gather documents proving this, and then schedule a free consultation with an Orange County wrongful termination attorney who can review your evidence and read the employee contract for your job. An experienced wrongful termination attorney at the right law firm can let you know immediately if you have a strong wrongful termination case worth pursuing.
How Can a Wrongful Termination Lawyer in Orange County Help You?
At Odell Law, PLC, we understand the devastation that being wrongfully terminated can cause hardworking employees. It’s upsetting enough to lose your job, but it’s even worse when you are let go for unfair reasons. This is why you should contact an Orange County wrongful termination lawyer at a trusted law firm if you believe you were wrongfully terminated.
When you hire our Orange County, CA law firm, you’ll get legal support from an experienced wrongful termination attorney who will carefully review the circumstances of your termination before advising you on your next steps. If there is evidence that your employer wrongfully terminated you, we’ll tell you what to expect after establishing the attorney/client relationship and moving forward on your case.
If you’re ready to discuss your circumstances with a caring lawyer in Orange County, CA, contact our law firm at 949-771-8173 for a free consultation.