Did you recently lose your with job with UCLA and suspect that the termination was unlawful? Were you subjected to discriminatory treatment or retaliation during your time with UCLA? If you are a victim of wrongful termination, you can seek compensation from your employer and hold them accountable for breaking the law. As a former UCLA employee, you have rights that we can discuss with you during a free case review. Please contact our office in Los Angeles at your earliest convenience.
The employment rights attorneys at our law firm are committed to upholding the rights of workers in all industries and professions. Misconduct by employers can take many different forms, and sadly, wrongful termination is all too common, even at respected institutions like the University of California, Los Angeles. By reaching out to us, you can take advantage of a consultation, completely free of charge, with a UCLA discrimination attorney is Los Angeles.
When are Terminations Legal?
There are cases where it’s perfectly legal to fire someone, even if their work performance meets the required standards. California operates under the system of at-will employment, so workplaces can generally fire you at any time, and you can also quit whenever you wish, with or without notice.
However, even at-will employment states have to comply with laws that prohibit discrimination and retaliation. These laws exist at the federal and state level, and the laws in California are some of the most progressive in the nation. Essentially, there are certain characteristics that cannot be used as a basis for negative employment decisions, including a refusal to hire someone or taking away their job. To learn what these characteristics are, please keep reading.
What is Wrongful Termination?
There is no denying that the rights of employers versus the rights of the people who work for them are complicated issues, especially in at-will employment states like California. That’s why many people reach out to our attorneys to verify their eligibility for a wrongful termination lawsuit.
For a termination to be wrongful, there must be a violation of one or more employment laws. Alternatively, your employer violated the terms of an employment contract when they fired you. Most incidents of wrongful termination have to do with discrimination and retaliation when the worker tries to assert their legal rights.
To give you a sense of what we mean by protected categories, here are the traits that cannot be used as a basis for termination under federal and/or California laws:
- Race / color
- Ethnicity or national origin
- Religion
- Physical or mental disability
- Age (40 or older)
- Sex and gender (or gender identity / expression)
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Sexual orientation
- Genetic information
- Marital status
- Military or veteran status
Do you have reason to believe that your termination from UCLA was based on any of these categories? Were you fired after reporting discrimination and other abusive conduct to your employer? Or, maybe you were fired for complaining about your wages and hours. In some cases, the issue may not be about you, but another coworker that filed a claim for illegal or unethical practices at your workplace. You did your part by speaking with a representative from the state labor agency, and shortly after, you were dismissed from your position at UCLA. As you can see, there are numerous circumstances that can serve as grounds for a wrongful termination lawsuit.
Pursuing a Labor Law Violation Complaint
Those who were wrongfully fired by their employer have the right to file a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (federal entity) or the California Civil Rights Department (state agency). You can also file a complaint with either agency for discrimination and retaliation, like sexual harassment and demotion after going to HR with a racial discrimination complaint.
Which agency should you file a claim with: the CRD or the EEOC? This will depend on the specific violation that occurred and whether your employer broke a state or federal law. Of course, it’s possible that your employer is in violation of both federal and state laws against wrongful termination. It’s also worth noting that California has more comprehensive protections for employees compared to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. For example, California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act apply in job settings with 5 or more employees. Title VII, on the other hand, only protects workers when the employer has 15 or more employees.
You also have a wider list of protected characteristics under FEHA compared to Title VII. So, even if federal laws do not recognize sexual orientation as a protected trait, you have this protection under the laws in California. That means you can file a claim for wrongful termination due to discrimination against your sexual orientation.
No matter the circumstance, victims need to have a thorough understanding of the process for a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the Civil Rights Department. They should also work with a wrongful termination lawyer to gather evidence and build a case that proves you were fired for an illegal reason. You can be certain that our attorneys have the necessary skills and experience to handle your wrongful termination claim against the University of California, Los Angeles.
Filing a Civil Lawsuit against UCLA
Have you thought about the possibility of filing a lawsuit for wrongful termination against UCLA? It’s essential to contact a lawyer immediately to learn about the legal process for a wrongful termination claim. With employment claims, you cannot petition the civil court without permission from a federal or state agency.
As mentioned previously, wrongful termination cases begin as a formal complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the California Civil Rights Department (formerly the Department of Fair Employment and Housing). Then, you must wait for a decision from either agency, which may result in a Right to Sue notice.
Once you have received a Right to Sue letter from the EEOC or CRD, you have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit: 90 days for notices from the EEOC and 1 year if permission is granted by the CRD. If you have not done so already, make sure to obtain representation from a lawyer that’s experienced in wrongful termination and other acts of discrimination. This is crucial to ensuring that your lawsuit is filed on time with all the required documents and ample evidence to show how the university violated your employment rights. If you fail to initiate a lawsuit within the statute of limitations, any right to monetary compensation will be invalidated.
Our UCLA wrongful termination lawyers are ready to handle your case from start to finish. Whether you were recently fired or have an existing employment claim, feel free to contact us for advice and guidance.
Can You Receive Compensation for a Wrongful Termination?
If you were wrongfully terminated by UCLA, are you eligible for monetary compensation. So yes, you can seek payment for being fired illegally by the university, but what payments are you entitled to? How much can you receive if a wrongful termination lawsuit is settled in your favor? These and other questions can be answered by a discrimination and retaliation attorney at our office. For now, here are the damages that you may have a right to claim:
- Back pay and front pay, i.e., lost wages due to a termination without legal justification
- Compensation for lost work benefits like healthcare, life insurance premiums, and PTO.
- Payment for emotional distress and mental anguish caused by wrongful termination and abusive conduct by your employer / at your workplace
- In cases of gross negligence or misconduct that are tried in court, the jury may award additional compensation in the form of punitive damages.
- Legal fees – cost of hiring an attorney, court filing fees, etc.
In some cases, the victim may want to be reinstated to their former position. This is a big decision that’s not right for everyone, so make sure to talk about the pros and cons of reinstatement with a lawyer for wrongful termination. With a skilled attorney by your side, you can receive maximum compensation for your financial losses and emotional suffering. In addition, you may affect positive and lasting changes at your workplace and prevent such abuses from happening to other employees.
For more information on suing a Los Angeles employer for illegal termination, don’t hesitate to call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Los Angeles Lawyer Specializing in Wrongful Terminations
Were you wrongfully terminated from your job at UCLA? You may benefit from a discussion with one of our attorneys. Our law firm can connect with you a lawyer specializing in wrongful terminations and other illegal acts by educational institutions in California. Whether you lost your job due to pregnancy or because of your age, you will find immediate help and guidance here at California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group.
Pursuing a legal case for wrongful termination is a complicated process, and there are many opportunities for mistakes that cost you the right to seek monetary damages. Legal help from a California employment law firm is critical to your success, and that’s why we urge you to contact us right away.
Zero Fee Guarantee
What is the Zero Fee Guarantee? It’s a policy that guarantees you can receive representation on a wrongful termination case for $0 upfront. No one who is fired illegally should have to pay for legal representation. With that in mind, we take your case on a contingency basis and wait till the recovery of your settlement to deduct lawyer’s fees. That means we receive absolutely nothing if you don’t get paid from a labor law violation claim against UCLA. To take advantage of this offer, all you have to do is contact us 24/7 and ask to speak with a UCLA wrongful termination attorney.
Free Second Opinion on Existing Cases
Have you filed an employment claim or lawsuit against UCLA? Are you happy with how your attorney is handling your case, or do you have concerns you would like to discuss with another legal expert? Maybe you have doubts about the settlement offer from UCLA or the advice given to you by your attorney. Like going to another doctor, you can seek a second opinion on your claim from a wrongful termination attorney.
Your consultation is completely free of charge, so there is no loss to you whatsoever by meeting with us. After a chance to discuss the issues you are having, you can decide on the best course of action, which may include changing lawyers and continuing your case with us. Rest assured that the entire transfer process if taken care of by our attorneys, and you are covered by the Zero Fee Guarantee from day one. So, you pay us nothing out of pocket to take over your case and secure the results you need and deserve.
Use our contact form or call us directly to schedule a free second opinion on your wrongful termination lawsuit.
