San Diego Wrongful Termination Lawyer
San Diego Wrongful Termination Attorney
If you have recently suffered a job loss or unfair termination in San Diego, you may be entitled to file a wrongful termination claim. Losing your job can not only negatively impact your personal finances and cause undue hardship, but it can also result in harm to your mental health through anxiety, depression, and loss of satisfaction in life. If you believe you have been wrongly let go from your job, a San Diego wrongful termination lawyer is essential.
Losing your job can be a terrifying experience, especially when it happens due to no real fault of your own or because you have simply exercised your rights as an employee in the state. At Diefer Law Group, we understand that these are troubling times and hope to do everything we can to assist you in getting back on your feet and holding your employer responsible for the damages you have suffered.
What Defines Wrongful Termination in San Diego?
California is classified as an at-will state, meaning that an employer can usually fire their employees with little or no reasons at all. However, there are some key exceptions. There are a handful of reasons an individual might be terminated that can be considered illegal and can open the way for this individual to file a wrongful termination claim. These illegal reasons can include any of the following:
- Discrimination. You may have suffered from wrongful termination if you have reason to believe you were fired based on discriminatory reasons. These reasons can include being fired for your sex, gender, race, age, disability, nation or origin, marital status, gender identity, medical condition, religion, skin color, military status, veteran status, ancestry, or genetic information.
- Retaliation. If you lost your job following the reporting of certain safety violations or after cooperating in investigations following a claim of wrongdoing by your employer or company, you may have grounds to file a wrongful termination claim. You may also suffer termination should you take certain actions that would qualify you as a whistleblower. These actions might include reporting suspected law violations.
- Harassment. State employment law makes it illegal for employees to be harassed at their place of work due to their skin color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion, age, nation of origin, or similar defining characteristics. If you believe that you were terminated as an act of harassment or because you did not grant your harasser what they wanted from you, you may have grounds to file a claim.
- Breach of contract. If your employer or the company you work for made certain promises regarding your employment or if there was a policy in place that laid out the reasons for termination and that policy or those promises were violated, you are able to bring a claim of wrongful termination forward.
Diefer Law Group: Protecting Your Right to Work
At Diefer Law Group, we believe that no one deserves to be wrongfully terminated from their place of work. We hope to come alongside our clients who have faced this unfair treatment and do whatever we can to get them the maximum compensation amount that they are owed. When you choose to work with our team, you can rest assured knowing that you have the right people in your corner, fighting to protect your employment rights.
At Diefer Law Group, our attorneys come with over 60 years of shared experience. We have the resources necessary to offer sound legal guidance, investigate your case in order to gather evidence to prove wrongful termination, assist you in filing your wrongful termination claim paperwork, represent you in any situation of negotiation, and represent you and your interests in a courtroom should your case move to trial.
How to Prove a Wrongful Termination Claim
- Eyewitness testimony from co-workers who can corroborate your side of the story.
- Any documentation demonstrating discrimination, retaliation, or harassment.
- Emails, photos, text messages, or other digital or physical forms of evidence that allow your claim to have more legitimacy.
FAQs
Q: How Much Is a Wrongful Termination Lawsuit Worth?
A: Because each wrongful termination lawsuit is different in the state, there is no real average settlement amount that can be depended on. Rather, each case will depend on several factors that will impact the overall worth of the settlement. These factors can include the reason for the termination, the strength of the evidence, the experience of the attorneys, and the types of damages recoverable in the case.
Q: Do I Have to Pay My Own Lawyer Fees in a Wrongful Termination Claim?
A: In California, when it comes to wrongful termination claims, there may be some instances in which you are able to collect your attorney’s fees from your employer. However, this is only a real possibility in a few unique types of wrongful termination cases. These can include those that fall under the Fair Employment and Housing Act or FEHA.
Q: How Long Does It Take to Settle a Wrongful Termination Lawsuit?
A: Because every wrongful termination lawsuit is different, each case can come with its own unique timeframe. There are several factors that can influence this timeline, which can include the overall complexity of the claim, the nature of the claim — such as it arising from sexual harassment or racial discrimination — the cooperation of your employer and their legal team, and the availability of the courts.
Q: What Are Examples of Recoverable Damages in a Wrongful Termination Case?
A: The type of damages you may be able to seek in a wrongful termination case can vary depending on the nature or reason for your termination. Most often, however, these damages can include those for lost wages, front pay or back pay, the medical costs incurred by any necessary counseling or therapy, damages for mental or emotional distress, and damages for any pain or suffering caused by the wrongful termination.
Speak With Trusted Legal Counsel and Representation in San Diego Today
If you believe you have been the victim of wrongful termination in San Diego, it is time to reach out to the attorneys at Diefer Law Group. We can assist you through all the steps necessary to file your claim and can represent you should your claim move to a trial. No one deserves to be terminated from their place of employment for illegal reasons. Contact our offices today to schedule your free consultation and learn more.
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