how to find a free lawyer for suing an employer

by Hudson Balistreri 10 min read

There’s several ways to collect referrals to employment lawyers in your area: Contact your local legal aid office Browse the Avvo directory

Full Answer

Do I need a lawyer to sue my employer?

An employee may be able to sue their employer. Claims against an employer include: Sexual harassment: There are two types of workplace sexual harassment. The first is known as hostile work environment sexual harassment. This kind of sexual harassment occurs when a person engages in unwanted and offensive conduct that affects the terms and ...

Should I let my employer know I'm suing them?

May 24, 2017 · In many cases, your employer will want to resolve the problem without public attention or high legal fees. Schedule a meeting with your boss or supervisor to discuss your issue and see if they’re willing to come to an agreement. While you’re speaking with attorneys or your employer, begin documenting evidence related to your situation.

How much does it cost to sue your employer?

May 01, 2017 · Call our office at 949-679-9909 to schedule a free case analysis. Corbett H. Williams https://www.chwilliamslaw.com Corbett H. Williams is an experienced lawyer who represents California employees in a wide range of matters, including wrongful termination, sexual harassment, retaliation, whistleblower, class action, and wage & hour cases.

How do I know if I have a case against my employer?

Aug 20, 2018 · They are all great lawyers and great people too. My Top 10. (In alphabetical order by law firm.) Bell & Bell LLP: The website describes Bell & Bell as “Experienced. Aggressive. Effective.” Yeah, they are. Jennifer Bell and Jim Bell are Morgan Lewis and Dechert alums that saw the light went to the dark side now represent employees ...

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What is employment law?

Employment law applies to disputes between an employer and an employee. If you have a workplace dispute or issue that cannot be resolved by your employer, you might be able to file a lawsuit against the employer.

What is breach of contract?

Breach of Employment Contract: If an employee has a contract of employment with the employer, and the employer breaches the contract, the employee may file a lawsuit. Examples of breaches of conduct include an employer’s failure to pay the employee the amount agreed to in the contract, or withholding some other benefit provided in the contract.

How long does FMLA last?

Discrimination Violating the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): The FMLA is a federal law that provides certain employees with up to 12 weeks of leave for certain medical reasons. Under the FMLA, employers must continue the employee’s health care benefits. The FMLA also provides for job protection.

What is the second type of harassment?

The second kind of harassment, known as quid pro quo sexual harassment , occurs when a higher-ranking employee requires or demands that a lower-ranking employee perform sexual favors or submit to sexual demands, as a condition of keeping their job or job benefits. Discrimination Violating Title VII of the Civil Right Act of 1964 ...

Is it illegal to interfere with FMLA?

It is also illegal to interfere with an employee’s FMLA right to leave. Discrimination Violating the Equal Pay Act: The Equal Pay Act protects against gender discrimination. This federal law requires employers to pay employees equal pay for equal work, regardless of their gender.

What is the meaning of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

Discrimination Violating Title VII of the Civil Right Act of 1964 (Title VII): An employer violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a federal law, when the employer discriminates against an employee on the basis of the employee’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Does each state have its own workers compensation laws?

Each state administers its own workers’ compensation laws. Employers must provide workers’ compensation benefits without regard to who caused the injury (whether employer or employee). An employee whose employer refuses to pay the benefits may file a claim with the State Workers Compensation Board seeking payment.

What happens if you file a lawsuit?

If you’re filing a lawsuit, your goals are most likely to stop the behavior from happening and to get policies changed. You don’t want to continue to suffer or potentially watch another employee suffer. The sad truth is, that even if you get your compensation and win, there is a good chance that nothing will change.

Why do lawsuits fail?

One of the biggest reasons why these lawsuits fail is that the employee didn’t gather the proper amount of documentation to support their claim. If you’re being harassed in any way, you’ll want to record anything that is said or done to you. Create an accurate timeline of the events leading up to your lawsuit.

How to avoid going to court?

If you want to avoid your case going to court then the best way to do that is to talk to your supervisor or go to HR. If either of these parties refuses to offer a solution then you can start thinking about a lawsuit.

What is sexual harassment?

For example, if a co-worker or supervisor is discriminating against you based on the color of your skin or sexual orientation that’s discrimination. If someone is speaking to you or touching you in an inappropriate way, that’s sexual harassment.

What happens if you are wrongfully terminated?

Wrongful termination happens when an employer lets an employee go for a reason unrelated to their performance or the state of the company. Wrongful termination may happen if the manager is looking to retaliate against the employer or as an act of discrimination. While wrongful termination can be difficult ...

Who is Sarah Landrum?

About Sarah Landrum. Sarah Landrum is a freelance writer and Digital Marketing Specialist. She is also the founder of Punched Clocks, a site dedicated to sharing advice on navigating the work world.

Is it illegal to discriminate against an employee?

Under the Civil Rights Act and the American Disabilities Act, it is illegal for an employer to discriminate against an employee or applicant based on race, gender, sex, ethnicity, religion or disability. If an employer discriminates against you, this could be a situation where suing your employer is warranted.

Can you sue someone for a workplace injury?

In most cases, workers’ compensation covers workplace injuries. However, there are situations where an employee could sue an employer over a workplace injury not covered under workers’ compensation.

Can an employer fire you for being mistreated?

An employer can’t legally fire you for seeking help against unethical or illegal practices.

Can I sue my employer for harassment?

If you ’ve experienced harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination or a workplace injury, your only recourse may be legal action or suing your employer. But filing a lawsuit against your employer can be complicated. Before you begin filing anything, consider the commitment and expectations that come with suing someone.

How Much Does it Cost to Sue Your Employer?

The cost of suing your employer varies depending on where you live, what attorneys you hire, your goals in bringing the case, and how eager the defendant is to settle.

How Long Does it Take to Resolve an Employment Case?

It depends. Some cases settle within weeks or even days of you hiring a lawyer. Others are fiercely litigated for multiple years before trial. The average employment case in California is pending in the courts for between 1 and 2 years. However, this depends on the size of your case and the strength of liability.

What Can I Expect as a Settlement in My Employment Case?

It depends. Although there is some data suggesting that the average employment case resolves for around $45,000, about 10% of cases resolve for more than $1 million.

What happens if you sue your employer?

If you sue your employer, it won't be enough for you to prove that your employer made the wrong decision, or even that your employer was a no-goodnik. If you don't have a valid legal claim against your employer, then you will ultimately lose your case. One big reason to think twice before you sue. 2.

Who fired Rebekah Jones?

The administration of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) recently fired Rebekah Jones, who was either the genius behind, or the data-input clerk for, the state's coronavirus dashboard. News reports say that Ms. Jones is still employed by the state and has until next week to accept or reject a separation agreement. Ms.

What is the Bermuda Triangle?

Ten years ago or so, every employment lawyer and his sister was calling the interaction between workers' compensation, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act "the Bermuda Triangle." The idea was that trying to keep all of these laws in mind while dealing with injured employees caused employers to become disoriented, without a compass, and lost. I've never been crazy about that metaphor, although I've been guilty of using it. I never heard of an employer who ...

Is a lawsuit stressful?

It is true that your lawsuit will be stressful and disruptive for your company. But it will be a lot more stressful and disruptive for you, who are not used to the court system or dealing with lawyers, and you don't even know whether it's a trap when the employer's lawyer says hello to you and offers to shake hands.

Is the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission still issuing right to sue letters?

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced this week that it had resumed issuing "right-to-sue" letters. Issuance of the letters, which give charging parties 90 days to file lawsuits under the federal anti-discrimination laws, had been on hold since March 21 as a result of the coronavirus shutdowns. The suspension meant that people filing charges of discrimination couldn't sue their employers (that's good), but it also meant they have now had quite a bit of extra time to find lawyers and file ...

Why do employees sue?

Businesses might complain that nothing is off limits, but the fact of the matter is that employees can sue because their employee rights have been violated.

How to win an employment discrimination case?

To win an employment discrimination case, you must be able to prove four things. First, you must be part of the legally protected classes, and second, you must be able to perform your job well.

What is defamation in employment?

Defamation only occurs when an untrue statement is made about an employee that results in the employee losing employment opportunities and potentially pay as well. Rude or mean remarks that do not affect the employee’s career in any way are not enough for a defamation lawsuit. 13. Violating the Law.

When do you need a lawyer?

When you are certain that you have a reason to sue your employer , you need a lawyer who is readily available to you and knows the law backward and forward. Every employment issue has its own factors despite being similar to broader categories, and a lawyer spots the similarities and differences within your case.

What is the Fair Labor Standards Act?

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) outlines the rules of which employees receive overtime pay and which employees do not. Determining which employees are eligible is difficult, and companies routinely get it wrong. This can be an expensive mistake.

Should all applicants be treated equally?

All applicants should be treated equally within the interview process. Women often report that they are subjected to interview questions that aim to find out if they have children or plan to have children. Individuals with obvious disabili ties might receive questions that focus on their disability rather than their ability to perform the job.

Why is medical leave a black hole?

The rules surrounding medical leave can seem like a black hole for managers and employers because it’s so easy to misstep and gain legal attention. The FMLA, ADA, and workers’ compensation protect employee rights to medical leave and reasonable accommodation.

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