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San Rafael Wrongful Termination Lawyer

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San Rafael Wrongful Termination Lawyer

Wrongful termination refers to incidents when employees are fired or laid off for unlawful reasons. Employment is generally at will in California and throughout the nation, which means that either the employer or the employee can terminate the employment contract for any reason or for no reason. Employers cannot, however, break the law in the process. Wrongful termination claims tend to be legally challenging, and because the stakes are high, working with an experienced San Rafael wrongful termination lawyer is in your best interest.

When Termination Is Deemed Wrongful

The term wrongful termination in California refers to firing or laying off an employee for a reason that isn’t upheld by the law, which includes all the following:

  • Termination that violates an implied contract between the employer and employee
  • Termination that violates public policy
  • Termination that is based on the employee calling the employer out for illegal practices, which is covered under whistleblower protections
  • Termination that is based on the employee taking medical or family leave under the California Family Rights Act 
  • Termination that is based on the employee being injured on the job or on the employee filing a workers’ comp claim
  • Termination that is based on the employer’s own wage and hour violations
  • Termination that is based on the hostile work environment created or allowed by the employer 

Protected Classes

Terminations that are related to the employee being part of a protected class are covered by the Fair Employment and Housing Act, which includes classifications based on the following:

  • Age, for those over 40 
  • Race
  • Skin color
  • National origin
  • Religion
  • Sex, which includes sexual harassment
  • Sexual orientation
  • Gender, gender identity, and gender expression
  • Disability

Seeking Damages

Being wrongfully terminated can lead to serious financial – and even emotional – losses that are addressed by the law. These damages break down into the following basic categories:

  • The pay that was owed to you when you were wrongfully terminated, along with the pay you would have earned if you hadn’t been fired in the first place
  • The benefits you lost as a result of being wrongfully terminated, which can include medical benefits, dental benefits, your retirement plan, and your pension, and can be challenging to accurately quantify
  • Related attorney and legal fees

If the wrongful termination causes you to experience verifiable emotional pain, you can also seek compensation for emotional distress. The fact that many of us closely associate our careers with our sense of personal accomplishment can compound the emotional consequences of wrongful termination. 

Punitive Damages

Finally, if your employer’s actions were particularly egregious in relation to your wrongful termination, the court may order punitive damages. This amount is designed to punish the employer and to dissuade other employers from engaging in similar practices rather than to compensate the employee. 

An Experienced San Rafael Wrongful Termination Lawyer Is on Your Side

If you’ve been wrongfully terminated, Jeannette Vaccaro at The Law Office of Jeannette A. Vaccaro in San Rafael has the experience and drive to fiercely advocate for an outcome that honors your rights and works for you. Learn more by contacting us today.

Think You May
Have A Case?

Jeannette is passionate about employee rights. She fights to shed light on injustices and to help her clients move beyond troubling times. Contact Jeannette today for a free case evaluation.

Jeannette A. Vaccaro is a Passionate and zealous advocate, representing employees in all facets of employment law.

Think You May Have A Case?

Jeannette is passionate about employee rights. She fights to shed light on injustices and to help her clients move beyond troubling times. Contact Jeannette today for a free case evaluation.

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