The Truth About Wrongful Termination

When people get fired from work, they rarely agree with their employer’s decision or reasons for letting them go. The unfortunate truth about wrongful termination is that simply feeling as if your employer treated you unfairly – even if they actually did – is not always enough for a wrongful termination claim to succeed.

Schedule Your Free Case Evaluation

✓ Valid number ✕ Invalid number
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Play Video

Conditions where disability accommodation may be required include

When people get fired from work, they rarely agree with their employer’s decision or reasons for letting them go. The unfortunate truth about wrongful termination is that simply feeling as if your employer treated you unfairly – even if they actually did – is not always enough for a wrongful termination claim to succeed.

Feeling as if you suffered mistreatment is not sufficient for a claim. While your employer may have mistreated you, you will need evidence that they terminated you for a prohibited reason.

California is an at-will state, so you can quit your job at any moment. Your employer can also demote or fire you. Exceptions apply when an employment contract or a basis for wrongful termination exists.

If you believe your employer wrongfully terminated your employment, never wait to seek help from the legal team of Haeggquist & Eck.

Am I Eligible to File a Wrongful

Termination Claim?

Were you terminated after reporting illegal conduct or suspect it might be due to discrimination? Your termination may have been illegal. If you were fired for a reason that violates the law, such as the following, talk to an attorney about filing a wrongful termination claim.

What is

Wrongful Termination?

Many wrongful termination lawsuits result from an employee terminating someone in a protected class. The simplest way to define wrongful termination is the termination of a California employee that goes against a current employment contract or laws. When there is a contract in place, it can detail why a person can face termination, making it easier to show that the termination was unlawful and went against the agreed-upon terms by both parties.

Without a contract, you are an at-will employee, and your case will have different legal implications.

There are certain protections that at-will employees in California have, such as:

  • Reasonable accommodations for persons with a disability resulting from pregnancy. The employer must have more than five employees, and the accommodations cannot cause an undue financial burden; they must be reasonable.
  • Protected leaves for specific issues like birth and adoption, a severe health condition, or the need for a worker to care for a loved one with a severe health condition. The employer must have at least 50 employees for these benefits.
  • Protection from termination for a disability and the employer’s inability to provide reasonable accommodations.
  • Protection from termination due to discrimination for a range of protected classes.
  • An employer cannot retaliate against you with termination when you complain to the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing. You also have protection if you participate in an investigation.

These protections are in place for all employees in the state. Independent contractors are exempt because they do not exclusively work for one employer. Independent contractors cannot file wrongful termination claims.

One caveat is proving that the worker is an independent contractor, which entails the individual meeting these requirements:

  • The employer has no control over the employee’s schedule or how they perform their work.
  • The contractor offers a service that is not within the company’s regular business.
  • The independent contractor works with other businesses, trades, or professions separate from the current company.

If individuals do not meet these requirements, their employer may have misclassified them, which can open up other legal concerns.

Contact Haeggquist & Eck, LLP today to schedule a free case evaluation with a wrongful termination lawyer in San Diego who can help you understand your rights and options. Call us today for assistance at

What Type of Compensation Can I Receive if I have been

Wrongfully Terminated?

The damages and compensation an employee may be able to recover for a wrongful discharge lawsuit in the state of California depends on the type of lawsuit, but they usually include one or more of the following:

Retaliation Claims

Workplace retaliation can happen in many circumstances. However, a whistleblower may be particularly vulnerable for bringing attention to an employer’s illegal practices. They may be asked by their employer to:

Wrongful termination attorney in San Diego can help you recover damages from a successful lawsuit.

Victims of retaliatory firings are often those who:

If it can be proven that the basis for a firing rests on grounds, a wrongful termination lawsuit has a greater chance of succeeding.

If you believe you were improperly removed from employment, contact a wrongful termination attorney in San Diego from Haeggquist & Eck, LLP today for help. Call us at (619) 342-8000 when you feel you need legal representation.

Translate »