A termination becomes wrongful if the employer’s reason for firing you is based on discrimination, retaliation for engaging in a legally protected activity, or a breach of an employment contract. Simply being fired for an unfair or arbitrary reason is not necessarily illegal.
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(415) 444-5800Wrongful Termination
San Francisco Wrongful Termination Lawyer
Losing your job is hard. Losing it because of who you are or a physical condition you live with is something else entirely. If you were fired for a discriminatory reason, you may have more legal options than you realize, even in a state like California where at-will employment is the norm.
A termination becomes wrongful when your employer fires you for an unlawful reason, such as your race, gender, disability, or sexual orientation. Simply being let go without a clear explanation is not, on its own, illegal. But when discrimination drives the decision, the law stands firmly on your side. The Law Offices of Jeannette A. Vaccaro PC focuses exclusively on representing individuals who have been wrongfully terminated in matters involving workplace discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. To date, our firm has recovered over $20 million on behalf of clients.
What Is Wrongful Termination?
A termination is wrongful when an employee is fired for an unlawful or impermissible reason. Even in an at-will employment state like California, you might still have a wrongful termination claim if you were fired for any of the following reasons:
- Gender (including pregnancy)
- Disability
- Race or national origin
- Religion or religious practices
- Marital status
- Sexual orientation
- Gender identity or gender expression
- Military or veteran status
- Use of family or medical leave
- Retaliation for complaining about illegal or unsafe practices
- Retaliation for raising concerns about discrimination
- Retaliation for complaining about overtime, or other Labor Code violations, such as failure to provide meal or rest breaks
- Retaliation against health care workers for reporting patient safety concerns
Terminating an employee for a discriminatory or retaliatory reason is unlawful. If you think you were wrongfully terminated or are being forced out on account of one of the above unlawful reasons, you can count on us.
Clients We Represent
We represent former employees across California who were fired for discriminatory or retaliatory reasons. Our clients come from many different backgrounds and situations, including those who were terminated due to:
- Discrimination, Harassment, or Other Workplace Misconduct: You took a stand against discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or other unlawful behavior; supported a colleague’s complaint; participated in an investigation; or refused to engage in improper conduct. Soon after, you were terminated, forced out, or given a questionable reason for termination tied to your actions.
- Reporting, Refusing, or Speaking Up About Illegal or Unsafe Conduct: You were dismissed for refusing to falsify records, break the law, engage in fraud, overlook safety concerns, hide misconduct, report unpaid wages, or raise issues about workplace conditions. These scenarios often involve whistleblower protections and vary by law and state.
- Requesting Leave, an Accommodation, or Another Protected Right: You were terminated after requesting or using medical or family leave, asking for an accommodation due to disability, taking pregnancy-related leave, serving on jury duty, fulfilling military obligations, or exercising another legally protected right. Employers may frame these firings as performance issues, policy violations, or restructuring.
- Being Pushed to Resign Instead of Being Formally Fired: You were not directly terminated, but persistent harassment, retaliation, demotion, pay cuts, threats, or other mistreatment created an unbearable work environment, leaving you with no realistic option but to resign. Depending on the circumstances, resignations under such conditions may legally qualify as terminations.
If your situation resembles any of the above, you may have a valid claim. We offer free case evaluations to help you understand your options.
Wrongful Termination Laws and Filing Your Claim
California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and federal laws such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibit employers from firing employees for discriminatory or retaliatory reasons. While California is an at-will employment state, meaning employers can generally terminate employees for any reason, that right does not extend to firings rooted in discrimination or retaliation for protected activity.
If you believe you were wrongfully terminated, here is how the process typically works:
- Document everything. Write down the events leading up to your termination, including specific dates, conversations, and the names of any witnesses. Gather relevant documents such as your termination letter, performance reviews, and any written communications from your former employer.
- File a complaint with a government agency. Before pursuing a civil lawsuit in California, you are generally required to file a charge with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). There are strict deadlines for filing, so acting promptly matters.
- Obtain a right-to-sue notice. Once the agency issues this notice, you can proceed with a civil lawsuit against your former employer.
- Work with an experienced attorney. Wrongful termination cases involve detailed legal standards, tight deadlines, and procedures that can be difficult to manage alone. Having skilled legal representation on your side significantly strengthens your position.
An attorney can help you through each stage of the process, informing you of your legal rights and options as you seek compensation for your mistreatment.
Why Choose Our Firm
Our practice focuses solely on representing employees. We do not represent employers. That singular focus means every resource, every strategy, and every ounce of effort in our office goes toward protecting the people who come to us for help.
Jeannette personally handles each case with meticulous attention and a genuine commitment to her clients’ outcomes. Past clients describe her as relentless, thorough, and deeply invested in their cases. Our results speak for themselves, including settlements and awards ranging from $400,000 to $2 million in discrimination and wrongful termination matters.
Take Action Today
If you were fired from your job for a discriminatory reason, do not wait. Deadlines for filing a wrongful termination claim can be as short as 300 days from the date of the adverse action. Contact the Law Offices of Jeannette A. Vaccaro PC today for a free, confidential case evaluation by submitting a consultation request online.
FAQs About Wrongful Termination
Can I be fired for no reason in California?
Yes, California is an at-will employment state. This means an employer can terminate an employee at any time, for almost any reason, or even for no reason at all. However, this ability has limits: termination cannot be based on illegal reasons, such as discrimination or retaliation.
What should I do if I was fired after reporting unethical activity?
You should immediately document everything you can remember about the circumstances leading to your termination, including dates, specific events, and potential witnesses. It is also crucial to gather relevant documents like your employment contract, performance reviews, and termination letter.
What potential damages can I recover in a wrongful termination lawsuit?
You may be able to recover compensation for emotional distress and, in limited cases, punitive damages. If successful, you may also recover attorney’s fees and costs associated with the lawsuit.
Do I need an attorney to file a wrongful termination claim?
While you can file a claim on your own, wrongful termination cases involve complex legal issues and strict deadlines. An experienced employment attorney can protect your rights, navigate the legal process, and help you work towards the best possible outcome.
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.
Over
$20 MILLION
Recovered on Behalf of Employees
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.
$2,000,000
Settlement after arbitration in a disability discrimination case involving a tech worker.
$1,822,000
Settlement after successful jury verdict in disability discrimination case.
$1,021,000
Arbitration award in race harassment and discrimination suit.
$924,000
Arbitration award obtained on behalf of employee terminated on account of his national origin.
$800,000
Settlement on behalf of a janitor in a medical leave retaliation case.
$475,000
Settlement for employee that was retaliated against on account of reporting discrimination.
$425,000
Settlement for employee discriminated against on account of her gender.
$425,000
Pre-litigation settlement for victim of race & national origin discrimination.
$400,000
Settlement negotiated in a gender discrimination case.
What Our Clients Say
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