Coyle Browne Law

San Diego Wrongful Termination Lawyer

San Diego Wrongful Termination Lawyer

Generally, the employer-employee relationship is governed by agreement between the parties. An employer decides what kind of skills they need for their business, and employees can decide what kind of work they want to do. When an employer no longer has need for the services of an employee, they are free to terminate the employee’s employment. Likewise, when an employee no longer wishes to continue working for a certain employer, they are also free to leave that employment. Employers have the right to establish policies and rules for their employees and employees are required to abide by those rules to keep their employment.

Browne Employment Lawyers: Guardians of Fairness in the Workplace, Your Reliable Allies in San Diego

While this is how things generally work, there are exceptions to this freedom of the employer to exercise control over their employees.  For public policy reasons, the law steps in to prohibit employers from taking certain employment actions. These prohibited employer actions are typically for the protection of a class of persons in society against discrimination. Employers are also prohibited from directing their employees to engage in unlawful actions. When an employee’s employment is terminated for an unlawful reason in violation of federal and state laws, or in breach of their employment contract, the employee might be a victim of a wrongful termination claim. If you have been wrongfully terminated, you need a wrongful termination lawyer to help you understand your rights and legal options.

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employment attorneys from Browne Employment Lawyers

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“David and Stephanie did an amazing job I truly appreciate what they did for me. Totally professional and also very kind and understanding. I would recommend this law firm 100 percent. Thank you both very much.”

– FREDDY MAGDALENO

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“Best Law firm hands down, everyone listens to you and if they can’t help you they will refer you to someone who can. All about results and will make sure that’s you are heard!! Hopefully I won’t need him again but if I need a good lawyer or any legal advice I know who do go to!!”

– JAKALA OWENS

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Why Choose Us?
How Can a Wrongful Termination Lawyer Help?
Wrongful Termination Laws in California
Types of Wrongful Termination Cases
San Diego Wrongful Termination FAQs
Contact Us Today

Why Trust Browne Employment Law With Your Wrongful Termination Case?

At Browne Employment Lawyers, we have a passion for getting justice for victims of adverse employment actions including wrongful terminations. We have secured six- and seven-figure settlements for our clients in wrongful termination cases. Our San Diego wrongful termination lawyers aggressively pursue the interests of our clients to get the justice they deserve. We are open and honest with all our clients, and communicate frankly with our clients about their case and any questions they may have. At Browne Employment Lawyers, our employment lawyers only represent not corporations or employers. Our focus is on using our diverse experience to uplift the victims of injustices and get justice for them.

Notable Case Results – Workplace Termination

  • $2,950,000 Settlement: Our client was threatened and fired for reporting a superior for sexual harassment.
  • $550,000 Settlement: Our client was fired after requesting reasonable accommodations for her cancer treatments.

How Can A Wrongful Termination Attorney Help Your Case?

Not all employer actions are unlawful. Employers have the right to decisions in the interest of their business, and they may include employee terminations. If you have been terminated by your employer, you may question whether the termination is wrongful or not. A wrongful termination attorney can assess the facts of your case and determine whether you have grounds to sustain a wrongful termination claim. The San Diego employment law attorneys at  Browne Employment Lawyers we offer free consultations to investigate and determine what your legal position is and whether we can represent you. To get the best out of your free consultation, it is helpful if you have the specific facts leading up to your termination. Any records of work incidents, including the names and contact information of the persons involved either as defendants or witnesses.

Wrongful Termination Laws in California

In California, all employment is presumed to be at-will. An employer can terminate an employee for no reason at all, or even an unfair reason, as long as the termination is not based on retaliation or discrimination. The employer does not have to justify their decision as long as the termination was not discriminatory or retaliatory.

Exceptions to California’s Employment At Will Doctrine

Although all employment in California is presumed to be at-will, there are exceptions to this general rule. These exceptions include violation of company policy, violation of law, and violation of public policy.

Types of Wrongful Termination Cases

Generally, wrongful terminations fall into three broad categories: breach of contract, discrimination, and retaliation or violation of public policy.

Breach of Contract

Most employment contracts in California are “at-will” agreements, which means that either party is free to terminate the employment at any time for any reason. There are some employment relationships that are based on contractual agreements with specific provisions for the term of the employment and other matters related to the employment. When an employment contract specifies the term or duration of the employment, the employer may not terminate the employment before the term without good cause. In the employment context, a good cause would be the employee’s continued failure to perform their duties or a breach of one of the terms of their contract. If you think you have been terminated in breach of your employment contract, you should speak to a wrongful termination lawyer who can review the terms of your contract and make a determination about your chances in a wrongful termination case.

Discrimination

There are classes of people who are protected from discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act. Persons having protected characteristics such as race, gender, age, disability, or medical condition are prohibited from being terminated for reason of their protected characteristic. If you are a member of a protected class of persons and your employment was terminated because of that, a wrongful termination lawyer can help you understand your rights and take legal action.

Retaliation/Violation of Public Policy

Retaliation is another common type of wrongful termination cases. Sometimes, when employees exercise their rights by engaging in protected activities, employers retaliate by taking adverse employment actions against them. Some actions employers retaliate against include:

  • Protesting or reporting unlawful employer activities including discrimination, harassment, unsafe work conditions and other unlawful employment actions, or illegal activity.
  • Whistle-blowing
  • Filing a Workers’ Compensation claim
  • Requesting protected leave for jury duty, voting, sick leave, maternity leave, etc.
  • Having union discussions, cooperating with law enforcement, filing work-related complaints to regulatory bodies.
  • Refusing to comply with employer-directed fraud or unlawful activity and reporting employer’s violation of the law.

If you believe that you were wrongfully terminated due to discriminatory actions, the workplace discrimination lawyers at Browne Employment Law will help you fight for justice in your workplace.

Do You Have A Wrongful Termination Case?

Losing a job is challenging under any circumstances, but the situation becomes even more complicated and devastating if termination occurred under unlawful conditions. Wrongful termination involves an employee’s dismissal from work for reasons that are illegal or in breach of contract terms. If you find yourself in such circumstances, it is crucial to understand your rights. 

If you’ve experienced adverse action based on any of the following actions, you may have a wrongful termination case: 

  • Whistleblowing
  • Exercising your rights not to be discriminated against or harassed pursuant to an employment or labor law
  • Taking time off to vote or to serve jury duty
  • Taking time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act
  • Retaliation for reporting sexual harassment
  • Performing military service

Under the law, wrongful termination can cover a range of scenarios apart from outright dismissal. It can include a demotion, having your hours cut, unwarranted poor performance reviews, or change of job site that your employer knows is inconvenient for you. 

How To Prepare For A San Diego Wrongful Termination Case

Preparing for a wrongful termination claim is an important step to ensuring your rights are protected and you are vindicated. Here’s what you should do to prepare:

Document Everything: Documenting all relevant incidents, correspondences, and interactions is critical when preparing for a wrongful termination claim. 

This includes any emails or memos that relate to your job performance, instances of discrimination or harassment you experienced or witnessed in the workplace, conversations, as well as proof of positive reviews or feedback received during the course of your employment.

Understand the Alleged Reason for Termination: Be clear about why you were terminated according to your employer– this will impact how we proceed with your case.

Gather Witnesses Information: Witnesses play a crucial role in corroborating wrongful termination claims. If you believe someone else saw illegal actions being taken against you, make sure you get their name and contact information.

They could potentially testify on your behalf and help strengthen your case. In some situations, this may involve formal depositions where witnesses testify under oath to what they’ve seen or heard.

Keep a Record of Job Searches: Document each job application you make after the termination to showcase efforts in mitigating monetary damages due to lost income.

Following these steps will provide a valuable foundation for crafting the most compelling wrongful termination case possible.

Areas We Serve

We serve all over San Diego, CA, including:

Point Loma Bay Ho Rancho Peñasquitos North Park | South Park  | Gaslamp Quarter La Mesa Balboa Park | Bankers Hill | Clairemont | National City Mission Valley | San Ysidro | Normal Heights | Hillcrest Pacific Beach | University Heights | East Village | Mission Hills | Bay Park Little Italy Old Town | Torrey Pines | La Jolla | Paradise Hills | Encinitas | Solana Beach El Cajon

San Diego Wrongful Termination FAQs

What laws protect against wrongful termination in San Diego?

Employees in San Diego are protected by both federal and state laws, including the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).

What constitutes a wrongful termination under discrimination laws?

If you’re fired based on your race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or age (if over 40), it may be considered wrongful termination.

How much does it cost to hire an employment attorney?

Many employment attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if you win your case. Initial consultations are often free, so you can discuss your case without upfront costs.

Can An Independent Contractor File A Wrongful Termination Lawsuit In San Diego?

Because they are not employees, the concept of ‘termination’ typically doesn’t apply to them. However, there might be certain scenarios in which independent contractors can bring legal actions against an entity using their services.

One notable situation is when a worker has been deliberately or carelessly misclassified as an independent contractor instead of as an employee. Often this is done on the employer’s part to avoid providing benefits or fulfilling tax obligations for these workers. If it can be shown that you were wrongly classified and were essentially operating under terms more akin to traditional employment rather than independent contract work, you may have grounds for a wrongful termination claim. 

Contact Our San Diego Wrongful Termination Lawyers Today

If you have been wrongfully terminated, you need to contact a San Diego wrongful termination attorney as soon as possible. Browne Employment Lawyers offers free consultations and if you have a valid wrongful termination case, we will represent you on a contingency fee basis so you do not have to worry about legal fees unless we win. Call us today at 800-421-2594 or email team@coylebrownelaw.com to schedule your free consultation.

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