Wrongful Termination Lawyer in Los Angeles

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Losing your job is hard. Losing it for an illegal reason is worse. California is an at-will employment state, but that doesn't give employers unlimited power. If you were fired for an illegal reason, you may be entitled to lost wages, emotional distress damages, and in some cases punitive damages and attorney's fees.

Consultations are free and confidential, and you pay no attorney's fees unless we win your case. If we don't win, you owe nothing, including case costs.

Under Labor Code section 2922, an employer can generally end employment without giving a reason. An employer cannot fire you for a reason the law prohibits.

Discrimination based on race, sex, pregnancy, age (40+), disability, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or another protected category. Retaliation for reporting harassment, discrimination, unsafe conditions, or illegal activity. Taking or requesting protected leave. Requesting a reasonable accommodation. Complaining about unpaid wages or missed breaks. Refusing to do something illegal. Filing a workers' compensation claim. Violating a contract that promised termination only for good cause.

You were fired shortly after a complaint, a leave request, a medical diagnosis, or announcing a pregnancy. The stated reason doesn't match your performance history. Others who did the same thing weren't fired. There were comments about your age, race, gender, or another characteristic before the firing. Or it was a "layoff" where only you, or only people like you, were let go.

Write down the timeline while you remember it: dates, who said what, and witnesses. Save documents you're lawfully allowed to keep, such as your performance reviews, pay stubs, and termination letter, but don't take confidential company files. Don't sign a severance agreement or release before getting advice, because signing usually waives your claims. Apply for unemployment benefits through the EDD.

Discrimination and retaliation claims under California's Fair Employment and Housing Act generally require filing with the California Civil Rights Department within three years. Other wrongful termination claims can have a two-year deadline. Talk to a lawyer early.