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We understand that losing your job can be a stressful and emotional experience, especially if you believe you were unlawfully terminated. Our attorneys are highly experienced in wrongful termination claims, and we pride ourselves in holding your employer accountable.
It’s important to know that some wrongful termination claims don’t necessarily involve a technical firing. While harder to prove, our firm has had success winning wrongful termination claims under a “constructive discharge” or “constructive termination” theory.
Sometimes employers falsely believe they can create an environment so negative and intolerable for you—for example, by suddenly disciplining you for trivial violations, or modifying your work schedule until it becomes impossible to perform—such that your resigning will alleviate them from a wrongful termination lawsuit. They are mistaken. If your employer intentionally created conditions that became so unbearable whereby you had no choice but to quit or resign, you may have a wrongful termination claim.
Give our employment attorneys a call for a free consultation, or fill out our no-obligation consultation form so our attorneys can help walk you through your legal options.
Remember, everyone’s circumstance is different, so after reading below, give our experienced employment attorneys a call for a free consultation, or fill out our no-obligation consultation form so our attorneys can help walk you through your legal options.
What is Wrongful Termination in California?
California is an “at-will” employment state. This means that, generally, the employer has the right to end an employment relationship at any time for any reason, or no reason at all. This principle, however, doesn’t come without exceptions.
California recognizes certain exceptions to at-will employment wherein employees deserve protection from bad-acting employers who terminate their employees for reasons that run afoul to public policy – these are known as “protected classes” or “protected activities.” If you were terminated for one of these reasons, our attorneys will prosecute your employer and recover the compensation you deserve.
Examples of Wrongful Termination:
If You Were Terminated for Being Part of a Protected Category:
The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) protects you from being terminated because of your protected trait.
For example, you were fired because of your:
- Race, color, national origin, or religion
- Sex, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity
- Pregnancy, childbirth, lactation needs, or pregnancy-related disability
- Age (if over 40)
- Disability
- Medical condition
- Political activity or affiliation
If You Were Terminated as Retaliation for Resisting or Reporting Employer Violations (“Whistleblowing”):
You have legal protections that prohibit employers from terminating you because you opposed their illegal practices. This applies to employees who make complaints, but importantly, also apply in certain situations where an employer merely believed or feared you will report their violations, and preemptively terminated you.
In California, employers may not terminate you for opposing, reporting, or fearing you may report:
- Wage & hour violations (such as unpaid overtime, unfair pay, or meal/rest break violations)
- Discrimination against a protected trait in violation of the FEHA (such as race, sex, age or disability)
- Sexual harassment
- An unsafe or hazardous work environment
- Other violations such as fraud, tax evasion and other matters against public policy
If you were terminated during (or because you attempted to take) job-protected leave:
Simply put, employers may not terminate your employment for exercising your legal right to job-protected leave. This protection extends to employees who successfully exercised their right and were terminated during protected leave, but also to qualified employees who attempted to take protected leave but were unable—either because their employer terminated him/her for simply requesting protected leave or wrongfully denied the employee’s request.
Common types of protected leave include those available under the:
- California Fair Employment and Housing (FEHA)
- Family Medical Rights Act (FMLA)
- California Family Rights Act (CFRA)
- Americans with Disability Act (ADA)
- Pregnancy Disability Act (PDA)
- Pregnancy Disability Leave Law (PDL)
If you were terminated for filing a workers’ compensation claim:
California employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance which provides coverage to employees who are injured during work-related activities. You may not be terminated because you exercised your right to report your work-related injuries, no matter how much of a burden it may impose on your employer. If you were terminated because you filed a claim, this could be grounds for retaliation and wrongful termination claims.
If you were part of a “mass-layoff” but weren’t provided proper legal notice:
California requires that employers who conduct mass layoffs (of 50 or more employees) or close/relocate a facility follow specific guidelines under the California Worker Retraining and Notification (WARN) Act. Included in the WARN Act is a requirement that your employer provide you with at least 60 days’ notice of your upcoming layoff. If you weren’t provided with such notice, or your employer failed to satisfy certain other requirements under the WARN Act, you may have a wrongful termination claim. Our attorneys aggressively review WARN Act notices and advise clients on the legal remedies available as a result of the employers’ non-compliance.
What Should You Do if You Believe You Were Wrongfully Terminated?
Our attorneys are trained to hear all the details surrounding your potential claims and advise whether or not you may have a viable case. Often times, our attorneys uncover additional employer violations our clients weren’t aware of before they decided to give us a call or complete our free consultation form.
In many cases, employers also fail to provide a reason for a termination, or intentionally misstate the true reason for terminating you. It can take a skilled employment attorney to ask the right questions to uncover the truth and prove to a court that you were wrongfully terminated. As your advocates, we take pride in fighting against employers’ ulterior motives and recovering the damages you deserve.
Give our employment attorneys a call for a free consultation, or fill out our no-obligation consultation form so our attorneys can help walk you through your legal options.
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our clients' success stories
“This testimonial is for Sam Rezvani at Venture Law. If you are reading this, do not hesitate to have a consultation with Mr. Rezvani. I was employed by my former employer for a touch short of 30 years when new management acquired our company and laid me off one month later. They didn’t even have the gal to provide a 2-week notice. Needless to say, I was shocked and devastated. From the outset, Sam asked all the right questions, remembered every detail when we connected (including those I assumed were unimportant), and kept me apprised of case status as he worked it along. You must maintain a certain level of trust here, as the legal world is one in which most of us have little to no experience. I’ve disliked my share of attorneys throughout my career, but Sam is quite clearly not a “typical” attorney. He does a wonderful job walking you along and pointing out where he sees speedbumps, forks in the road, and the ultimate destination when the dust settles. He was spot on all the way through. I’m retired now, and the settlement he recouped for me immensely improved my quality of life. Should you need employment law services, you’ll want Mr. Rezvani in your corner.”
Richard H.
“I have utilized the assistance of Sam Rezvani and Venture Law for a variety of issues in recent months and with each instance I have come away more impressed. The care and attention is unmatched; it comes across in each interaction just how much Sam truly knows, understands and cares. He is thoughtful and thorough, measured and enthusiastic about his craft and his handling of each specific need. The information and guidance provided were top notch and Sam has entrenched himself as a true ally in all legal aspects. Venture Law and Sam in particular offer a boutique feel with big firm knowledge; I cannot recommend them enough.”
Chris N.
“Attorney Sam Rezvani at Venture Law was my lawyer. Not sure about the other attorneys there because Sam was the only one I dealt with but can say he’s probably the smartest guy I’ve ever met. He knew exactly how the company was going to lie its way out of what happened and he cut them off from the start. I ended up getting paid IMMEDIATELY and didn’t even have to file a lawsuit.”
Jose R.
“I’ll keep it short and sweet. Professional, responsive, knowledgeable, and overall fantastic guys on your side. If that’s what you want in your lawyers, call them.”
Viken N.
“I can honestly say I don’t know where I’d be without Mr. Rezvani. Was in a really dark place in my life when I reached out to him. He gave me legal advice but what I really liked was that he gave me practical advice too. He gave me the courage to polish up my resume and find another job, and let me know he would take care of my case as my lawyer. I vividly remember him saying “that’s my job.” And it’s the best decision I ever made. Got back on my feet and ended up getting compensated for my ex-boss’s discrimination. Can’t disclose how much I got because I signed a confidentiality agreement but all I can say is that it was worth the wait!”
Victoria N.
“From the start I knew Mr. Rezvani was the attorney I was looking for. This was the first time I needed an attorney. He took the time to answer all my questions and was super clear about how he thought things would go. Didn’t really require much on my end, which was a plus. He kept me updated with how things were going and let me know when I should take the settlement the company was offering. At first, I felt it was too low but he told me the risks of not taking it and guess what? The company shut down 1 month after I got paid!! Still can’t believe how close that was. Trust in Mr. Rezvani and thank me later!”
Edward F.
“Cannot recommend Venture Law highly enough. Was in a tight spot being fired from my job but I knew I had a legit case cuz everyone knows you can’t trust your bosses haha. Am I right?? So I reached out to Venture and spoke with Mr. Rezvani at my free consultation and he laid out my options. Mr. Rezvani was realistic about what he could do which was key. I asked him if he could get me a million dollars and he laughed haha. Didn’t feel like he was BSing me cuz I hate that feeling. I signed up with him and even though it took hella long to settle up Mr. Rezvani already told me to expect that and I’m glad I stuck it out with them. He got me way more $ than I expected and best part was I already found a new job so the settlement was a like a big bonus. Thank you again Mr. Rezvani!”
Nate O.
“Trust me, have your free consultation with Venture Law. What do you have to lose? It’s free, you get to speak with an attorney one on one, and it doesn’t cost you anything unless they settle for you. They only get a percentage of what their able to settle. Again, what do you have to lose? At least that’s how I saw it. He told me it might take a while to see any money but all I had to do was sit tight, answer some questions and sign some documents every now and then and I got paid. I can say Sam is an honest attorney and I never felt sold with him. Hope I don’t need him again but now I know I have an attorney I can personally call if I ever need legal advice at work. Worth the wait.”
Andres A.
“Mr. Rezvani is the man! I don’t usually leave reviews but my attorney came through for me and I had to let everyone know. If you want to sue your employer, reach out to Mr. Rezvani and don’t hesitate to sign up with him. Hope I never need a lawyer again (Sorry Mr. Rezvani!) but if I do I know where I’m calling.”
Saleem B.
“My husband encouraged me to call attorney Sam Rezvani at Venture Law after I got fired on my maternity leave. I didn’t think I had a case because I’d read you can be fired during maternity leave if the company has a good business reason (do yourself a favor and don’t search the internet for legal advice). I’m also so busy with my baby that I was ready to just forget about it all and move on. On my consultation, Sam explained the company was just using that as an excuse to keep me from suing. He ended up settling my case and I’ve already sent my friend to Sam after she was discriminated by her HR too. I hear she’s going to win and I know she’s happy with Venture Law too. Hopefully she can give a review too, you guys deserve it!”
Doris P.
“I needed an attorney for a complex employment case and was fortunate to find Sam at Venture Law. From the initial consultation to the final settlement, he and his team were professional, attentive, and highly knowledgeable. They took the time to understand every detail of my situation, and I felt informed and supported throughout the entire process. Their approach and hard work resulted in an outstanding settlement. It was worth the wait. I couldn’t have asked for better representation, and I’m incredibly grateful for the exceptional service and results provided by Sam and his firm!”
Christine S.
“Working with Sam Rezvani at Venture Law was a better, easier experience than I had expected. This was the second time in my life that I needed to call on the help of an Attorney, the first was a divorce which was miserable and then this event which was highly unexpected. From the first call, Sam was attentive and understanding of my situation. He explained the law and my options clearly and I never felt pushed one way or another. Throughout my case, Sam kept me informed of each step and the outcome. He stayed in contact with the other party as necessary to ensure deadlines or commitments were kept. Communication was easy and I always felt comfortable discussing my case or asking questions. It was my personal choice from the beginning to resolve my case in mediation if possible. Sam had the experience, resources, and skills to negotiate on my behalf and to secure the best possible mediator for a positive outcome. I would not hesitate to recommend Sam Rezvani at Venture Law to anyone in need of a knowledgeable, honest, and reliable Attorney.”
Nancy O.