Wrongful Termination Lawyer in Los Angeles, CA
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Losing your job in Los Angeles can feel like the rug’s been pulled out from under you, especially if you think the firing was unfair or against the law. Maybe you were let go from a Hollywood studio job for reporting sexual harassment, or a tech startup in Silicon Beach pushed you out because of your age or race discrimination. That’s not just wrong, it’s illegal and prohibited in California. At Setareh Law Group, our wrongful termination lawyer Los Angeles is here to help workers like you fight back and get the money you deserve.
If you think you were let go for unlawful reasons, you might qualify for workers’ compensation that can include lost pay, damages for emotional distress, or penalties against your employer. Our knowledgeable wrongful termination attorneys in California have over 75 years of experience and have secured over $1 billion for clients in Los Angeles, Oakland, Riverside, and other areas. We are committed to ensuring that employers are held responsible for their actions. Our services are specific to you, and we work on a No win, No fee basis to ensure that justice is accessible to everyone.
Why You Need a Los Angeles Wrongful Termination Lawyer
Los Angeles is a massive city with approximately 4.8 million workers in Los Angeles County (California Employment Development Department, 2024), from entertainment giants like Warner Bros. to tech hubs in Playa Vista and retail stores in Century City. But big industries come with big problems, like unfair firings, termination on reporting any discriminatory behavior or retaliation for speaking up with legal team. Our lawyers at Setareh Law Group know how to take on employers in Los Angeles, whether it’s a movie studio, hospital, restaurant chain, or any kind of workplace you are working in.
What Is Wrongful Termination?
Wrongful termination is when your boss fires you for reasons that break the law. In Los Angeles, this might look like:
- Getting fired from a Downtown LA office job because of your race or gender.
- Losing your job at a hospital like Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for taking medical leave to care for a sick family member.
- Being let go from a retail store in The Grove after reporting wage theft.
California and federal employment laws protect you from these kinds of firings. Our Wrongful Termination Lawyer Los Angeles can check your situation for free and help you fight for what’s right.
Common Wrongful Termination Issues in Los Angeles:
Los Angeles’s diverse job market, from entertainment to healthcare to tech, sees a lot of unfair firings. Here are the main problems we handle:
- Discrimination: Being fired because of your race, gender, age (over 40), disability, religion, or sexual orientation. For example, a tech worker in Silicon Beach might be let go for being pregnant.
- Retaliation: Getting punished for speaking up about workplace issues, like reporting harassment at a Hollywood studio or unsafe conditions at a construction site in Koreatown.
- Medical Leave Violations: Being fired for taking time off for health or family needs, protected by laws like the Family and Medical Leave Act. This is common in LA hospitals and offices.
- Contract Breaches: Your employer ignoring promises of job security, like those in a contract or company handbook, saying you’re safe if you do good work.
- Forced Quitting: When your boss makes your job so miserable, cutting hours, demoting you, or harassing you, that you feel forced to quit. This is called constructive termination and it’s illegal.
If you recognize yourself in any of these situations, our wrongful termination lawyer Los Angeles is here to assist you in filing cases directly in the labor commissioner’s office and strengthening your termination compensation case.
Los Angeles Labor Statistics and Common Claims
Los Angeles County has a workforce of over 1.8 million, with major industries like entertainment (e.g., Disney, Netflix), healthcare (e.g., UCLA Medical Center), tech (e.g., Google in Playa Vista), and retail (e.g., Westfield Century City). The unemployment rate is 4.8% according to the report of the California Employment Development Department, slightly above the state average, making unfair firings even more hurtful. Common claims we see include:
- Retaliation for reporting harassment or unsafe sets, especially for production assistants or writers
- Firings for taking medical leave or reporting understaffing, common at LA hospitals.
- Age or gender discrimination masked as “cultural fit” issues in startups.
- Wage theft or race discrimination in stores and restaurants, often in high-traffic areas like Downtown LA.
- Discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity means to fire, demote, or refuse to hire someone because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender, and comes under sexual discrimination.
Our wrongful termination lawyer Los Angeles know these pain points of employers regularly do, and help you prove your employer broke the law and will get you the compensation.
Recent Employment Law News in Los Angeles
Los Angeles has seen big cases highlighting wrongful termination issues. The case outcomes described are illustrative examples based on our firm’s experience in similar cases. Actual settlement amounts and case details are confidential and may vary depending on the circumstances of each case. In 2024, a class action lawsuit against a major Hollywood studio settled for $2.5 million after writers were fired for unionizing. Another case saw a Downtown LA restaurant chain pay $1 million for retaliating against workers who reported wage theft. These cases show how common unfair firings are in LA, and our lawyers stay on top of local trends to strengthen your case.
How Our Los Angeles Lawyers Help
Getting fired unfairly can leave you stressed and short on cash. Our wrongful termination lawyer Los Angeles makes it easy to fight back:
- Free First Meeting: We listen to your story, look at any evidence like emails, texts, or job reviews you have, and tell you if you have a case to file or not. This is 100% free.
- Finding Proof: We dig up evidence, like coworker statements or company records, to show your boss broke the law. For example, we might find proof that your firing came right after you reported sexual harassment.
- Filing Your Claim: You have 6 to 10 months to file with the California Civil Rights Department or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. We handle all the paperwork to meet deadlines.
- Getting You Paid: We try to settle with your employer for money to cover lost wages or stress. If they won’t agree, we fight in court at the Los Angeles Superior Court or federal court.
Recent Legal Outcomes in Los Angeles:
A production assistant received $300,000 after being dismissed for raising concerns about unsafe conditions on set. Healthcare case resulted in a $250,000 settlement for a nurse at a Los Angeles hospital. You can also contact our wrongful termination lawyer los angeles to handle all your legal documentation and assist you in court trials and act as an negotiator when dealing directly with your employer to secure you compensation.
Why Choose Setareh Law Group in Los Angeles?
Our lawyers understand Los Angeles’s job scene, from Hollywood studios to Koreatown restaurants. We’re admitted to practice at the Los Angeles Superior Court (111 N Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90012) and federal courts like the U.S. District Court, Central District of California.
We’ve won over $1 billion for California workers, with 75 years of combined experience fighting big companies. Attorney Shaun Setareh leads our team, giving you one-on-one help. You don’t pay unless we win. Our free consultations and Spanish-speaking support make it easy to get started.
Eligibility Checklist for a Wrongful Termination Claim in Los Angeles
Are you unsure if you have a case? Here’s a brief checklist for workers in LA:
- Were you fired after reporting problems like harassment, wage theft, or unsafe conditions at your LA job?
- Did your boss give “performance” reasons for firing you soon after you mentioned a personal trait, like pregnancy, age, or disability?
- Were you denied medical or family leave at a company with 50 or more workers, then let go?
- Did your employer break a promise of job security, like one in a contract or company handbook?
- Did you feel forced to quit because of harassment or unfair treatment, like cut hours at a Downtown LA store?
If any of these fit your situation, save any proof like emails, texts, or reviews, and call us for a free review. We’ll check if your firing breaks laws like California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act or federal rules and will help you to legally win your job back.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is wrongful termination in Los Angeles?
Wrongful termination happens when an employer fires you for reasons that break federal or California law. Things such as your race, gender, age, disability, pregnancy, religion, or because you reported harassment, wage theft, unsafe conditions, or other protected activity may be considered as wrongful termination.
A claim may exist if your firing was linked to a protected characteristic or activity, inconsistent performance reviews, retaliation after reporting problems, or being forced to quit due to intolerable conditions. Gathering emails, messages, and documentation helps evaluate your situation.
Potential compensation can include back pay, front pay, emotional distress damages, and, in some cases, reinstatement or attorney’s fees. It is primarily based on the facts of each case and applicable laws. There is no set number.
Deadlines vary depending on the agency:
With the California Civil Rights Department (state claim), typical filing windows may be up to three years from the act.
With the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (federal claim), filing often must happen within 180–300 days of the act.
Filing deadlines and deadlines to file a lawsuit after a right-to-sue notice vary by claim type and procedure.
What should I do if I think I was wrongfully terminated?
Document all relevant events, keep communications about your firing, review company policies, and consider consulting an employment attorney to understand your rights and next steps.
Do I have to be fired to file a wrongful termination claim?
In most cases yes. But, you may be able to file a claim even while still employed if you face retaliation. Such as reduced hours, demotion, or other adverse actions after reporting unlawful conduct.
Are temporary or part-time employees protected?
Yes. Federal and California employment laws protect most employees regardless of full-time, part-time, or temporary status if the firing violates protected rights.
Where do wrongful termination cases get filed?
Wrongful termination cases can be filed with the California Civil Rights Department, the EEOC, or in state or federal courts depending on the legal claims and facts of the case.
Will it cost me anything to speak with a wrongful termination lawyer?
Many wrongful termination attorneys in Los Angeles work on a contingency fee basis, including Setareh Law Group, meaning you pay nothing unless you recover compensation. The specific terms can vary by firm.
10. How long does a wrongful termination case take?
There is no set time frame. It can take 3 months to sometimes even 5 years, depending on if we settle or go to court. LA courts can be slow, but our wrongful termination lawyer Los Angeles keeps you updated and works to get you the best result fast.
Contact us today:
📞 Phone: 310-888-7771
✉️ Email: help@setarehlaw.com
🌐 Address: 420 N Camden Dr, Beverly Hills CA, 90210
Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Each case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and circumstances. Consult with a qualified California employment attorney to discuss your individual situation.
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