Although California is technically an at-will employment state, where an employer can fire you at any time, that doesn’t necessarily mean an employer can terminate your employment for any reason. Illegal reasons to fire an employee in California include (but aren’t limited to) retaliation, age discrimination, gender identity discrimination, change in marital status, pregnancy, and more.
If you’ve recently lost your job in Los Angeles and suspect your employer fired you for illegal reasons, you could file a wrongful termination claim or lawsuit. The purpose of doing so is to pursue any compensation for which you may be eligible. In some circumstances, taking legal action can also allow a victim of wrongful termination to seek reinstatement to their job.
You must simply understand that these cases are very complex. To boost your odds of success, it’s smart to hire a Los Angeles wrongful termination attorney.
The strategies a wrongful termination lawyer in Los Angeles may employ to help you win your case can vary depending on a number of factors. That said, common strategies an employment lawyer may use in these circumstances include:
Determining the True Reason Your Employer Fired You
Employers will often lie about their reasons for firing employees when their true reasons for doing so are illegal. For example, perhaps your employer has fired you because you filed a sexual harassment complaint.
It’s unlikely your employer will have admitted this was their reason for terminating your employment. Instead, they may claim you lost your job because your performance no longer met their expectations.
A Los Angeles wrongful termination lawyer will often strive to determine whether an employer’s actual motivation for firing you was illegal. Evidence they may use to strengthen your case includes:
- Past performance reviews
- Emails
- Chat logs
- Text messages
- Voicemails
- Employment contracts
- Any other relevant documentation
Interviewing Witnesses
Witnesses can potentially play a critical role in your case. Thus, a wrongful termination attorney in Los Angeles may interview certain valuable witnesses to build a stronger case against your employer.
For example, perhaps your attorney believes it’s necessary to disprove your employer’s claim that you were fired because of poor on-the-job performance. To this end, they might interview coworkers, clients, past supervisors, and others who may have insight into your strengths as an employee. Or, if you believe you were fired for discriminatory reasons, your attorney may interview witnesses who may confirm discrimination has occurred in your workplace.
Investigating Past Wrongdoing
It’s not uncommon for employers who engage in wrongful termination to have a history of such misconduct. It’s possible you’re not the first employee who has lost their job with a particular company for illegal reasons. If there’s evidence your employer has illegally fired others before you, your Los Angeles wrongful termination attorney may investigate their history to gather potentially useful evidence.
That said, these are merely a few ways a lawyer may approach your case. At Azadian Law Group, PC, an experienced Los Angeles wrongful termination lawyer will develop a strategy that’s tailored to the specifics of your firing. Learn more about what we can do for you by contacting us online or calling us at 213-229-9031 today.
