Los Angeles Employment Litigation Lawyers for Victims of Workplace Discrimination, Wrongful Termination and Sexual Harassment
Holding employers and their staff accountable for failing to respect employee rights
Employers across Southern California are required to treat potential and current employees with fundamental decency. Their duties are regulated by federal and state laws. The experienced Los Angeles employment litigation attorneys at Taylor & Ring understand which laws apply and which forums are best for trying discrimination, wrongful termination and sexual harassment cases. Preparing and trying an employer litigation case requires a great deal of experience. Most cases are won based on speaking to all appropriate witnesses, reviewing all relevant employment records and conducting a thorough discovery of everyone involved.
Workplace discrimination in Southern California
The California Fair Employment and Housing Act provides many remedies and rights for individuals subject to discrimination by employers or potential employers. Our lawyers assert violations of the CFEHA and other state and federal laws such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In 2013, 6,892 individuals in California filed a complaint for workplace discrimination with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Their complaints pertained to one or more of the many protected categories that cannot be used as a basis for workplace discrimination. The various laws prohibiting employers from discrimination in hiring or promotion are based on numerous factors, including:
- Race
- Gender
- Age (over 40)
- Religion
- Ethnicity or national origin
- Disability
- Pregnancy
- Sexual orientation
Other categories may also apply. Our lawyers can tell you if discrimination laws can help your case.
Termination due to workplace discrimination
Employers have wide latitude in hiring and firing workers. However, California and federal laws forbid terminating an employee because of age, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability or pregnancy. Another unlawful type of termination is dismissal based on retaliation: firing an employee for whistleblowing on fraud or illegal activity, reporting sexual harassment, claiming workplace discrimination, or filing a workers’ compensation claim.
Despite these legal protections, researchers found that complaints filed with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing alleging wrongful employment termination have increased over the years.
Some employers will fabricate some pretext for firing the worker. For instance, the employee may suddenly get a bad performance review or be written up for violating company policy. The Los Angeles employment attorneys at Taylor & Ring are skilled at seeing through employers’ smokescreens and revealing the true motives for discharging employees.
Sexual harassment by employers, coworkers and company staff
Data from the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission show that 11,364 sexual harassment complaints were filed in 2011. Typically, workplace sexual harassment takes one of two forms. With quid pro quo harassment, where a boss or supervisor pressures a subordinate to engage in sexual behavior in exchange for a raise, promotion or desired position in the firm. The subordinate is often pressured into submitting to the sexual advances out of fear of losing his or her job.
The other form of sexual harassment is "hostile work environment" harassment. In a hostile work environment, unwanted sexual pranks, jokes, comments and crude practices make it next to impossible for an employee to work. Both forms of sexual harassment are illegal and actionable in court.
The Los Angeles employment ligation attorneys at Taylor & Ring represent employees who have been sexually harassed against a wide range of companies and industries, including:
- Entertainment industry
- Law firms
- Accounting firms
- Health care industry
- Investment and brokerage firms
- Real estate companies
- Industrial companies
We take on the Fortune 500 companies as well as small businesses.
Remedies for workplace discrimination, wrongful termination and sexual harassment
Our attorneys help individuals who fail to be promoted or advanced, or who are fired due to workplace discrimination — as well as those fired or forced to quit for not putting up with sexual harassment. We pursue lawsuits to recover damages, including:
- Lost wages from the past
- Future lost wages
- Lost benefits
- Emotional distress damages
- Punitive damages (to punish the company)
- Attorneys' fees
We also seek job reinstatement for our clients.
Professional representation when employers abuse their position
Taylor & Ring handles employment litigation throughout the Los Angeles area and Southern California. If you believe you were discriminated or retaliated against, wrongfully terminated or sexually harassed, schedule a free initial consultation with one of our Los Angeles employment litigation attorneys by calling us at 310-776-6390 or filling out our contact form. We take the time to explain your rights and will vigorously pursue justice for the indignity and economic harm you have suffered.
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