Wrongful Termination Attorneys
We are ready to fight for you
Nobody likes to hear that their employment has been terminated. It can be a painful and emotionally difficult experience – one that leaves you without a source of income. There are many lawful reasons for employers to let workers go. If you were wrongfully terminated, however, you may be able to take legal action to protect your rights.
The wrongful termination attorneys at Gibson Law, LLC provide experienced and aggressive legal representation for people who have been mistreated by employers. Our lawyers used to represent employers at one of the nation’s largest law firms. Now, we help employees who have been wrongly terminated fight back.
What is wrongful termination?
Ohio is an at-will employment state. That means that without an employment agreement, both the employee and employer can terminate the relationship for any lawful reason. Wrongful termination is a termination of employment that is in violation of state or federal law.
The main unlawful reasons for termination include:
- Termination due to the employee’s protected characteristic, such as race, sex, religion, age, disability or ethnicity.
- Termination due to the employee engaging in protected conduct, such as complaining about discrimination, harassment, unsafe working conditions or employer’s unlawful conduct.
- Termination because the employee took job-protected leave, like for medical treatment, caring for others or family leave.
- Termination in violation of an employment contract.
Another exception to the at-will employment rule is if the employee’s termination would violate public policy. Ohio courts recognize situations when the public policy exception applies. These include filing a workers’ compensation claim and filing a whistleblower complaint.
Can I sue for wrongful termination?
You have the right to sue an employer if you believe you were wrongfully terminated in Ohio. These cases can be complicated and proving your termination violated the law can be difficult. Employers usually give other explanations for termination, such as poor job performance. That’s why it’s important to contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible.
A lawyer can take action to preserve any evidence before it is lost or destroyed. We review all documentation related to your case and interview witnesses to get the facts. We know where to look for proof that an employee was terminated due to discrimination, as retaliation for engaging in a protected activity, or in violation of public policy.
You may be able to recover compensation for back pay, unpaid commissions, attorney’s fees and other damages, such as pain and suffering and emotional distress. An employer may choose to settle your case rather than go to court.
What should I do if I have been wrongfully terminated?
Being told that your employment has been terminated can be a hard thing to process, whether you were expecting it or not. If you were wrongfully terminated in violation of state or federal law, you may not be sure what to do next. There are some things you can do to protect your rights, and other things that you should not do.
One thing you should not do is discuss the reason for your termination with any representative of the employer, such as your supervisor. You may want to tell your employer exactly what’s on your mind, but any kind of negative exchange could hurt your case. Don’t share news about what happened on social media.
There are steps you can take. Gather all documents related to your employment – such as paystubs, timesheets, emails, manuals and letters. Write down the events that you feel led to your termination, including the people involved. Next, contact an experienced attorney.
Contact us today
Our firm knows the steps that employers take to protect themselves from legal action in wrongful discrimination cases. That’s because we used to represent employers who were being sued. Now, we put our experience and knowledge of state and federal laws to work for you. We’re ready to fight for your rights.
Our firm can review the details of your termination and take steps to gather additional evidence. We know how to build a strong case that your employer must take seriously. Our attorneys also design an effective legal strategy and are determined to help you get the best possible outcome.
If you feel you have been wrongfully terminated, it’s important to get trusted legal advice as soon as possible. Contact us for a consultation with a member of our legal team. We have office locations in Cincinnati and Dayton.
