# Sue For Wrongful Termination | Employee Lawyer Los Angeles > Employees can sue for wrongful termination or quiting their job if they refuse to engage in illegal conduct, FMLA Source: https://employeelawca.com/what-is-wrongful-termination/ Firm: Employment Lawyers Group — employee-side employment lawyers since 1993. Serving Los Angeles County, California. Phone: (323) 525-1600 (calling is the fastest way to reach the legal team) Office: 13418 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 Contact form: https://employeelawca.com/contact/ Consultations are free and confidential; cases are taken on contingency. --- [California wrongful termination](https://employeelawca.com/wrongful-termination-california/) involves an [illegal job termination](https://employeelawca.com/lawyer-illegal-termination-employment/). The main reasons why employment terminations are illegal include job terminations done because the employee complained about an illegal employment practice, the employee was fired in order to avoid paying the employee wages, was fired due to a protected characteristic. *Call (323) 525-1600 to speak to an experienced wrongful termination lawyer* ## Wrongful Termination includes employment terminations due to the following: - Employees reporting an alleged violation of public importance - An employee checking on whether conduct is suspicious or illegal - Disclosing the employer's potential illegal conduct to the government - Employees following the law and being fired for doing so - Employee refusing to violate the law when directed by management to do so - Terminating an employee's employment as part of a scheme of fraud - Terminating an employee's employment due to a protected characteristic under FEHA/EEOC/ADA/ADEA laws - Terminations of employment that violate an employment contract may not constitute wrongful termination, but be actionable in court as breach of contract. CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT JOB TERMINATIONS THAT [CONSTITUTE BREACHES OF CONTRACT](https://employeelawca.com/los-angeles-breach-of-contract-lawyer/). - What wrongful termination is not: 1. Wrongful termination does not merely mean the employment termination was unfair, or the employer failed to follow their own policies 2. At-will status is irrelevant for the purposes of wrongful termination 3. Merely because an employment termination is unjust does not mean it is wrongful termination, but it might be ## I NEED A WRONGFUL TERMINATION LAWYER [Wrongfully terminated](https://employeelawca.com/los-angeles-wrongful-termination-lawyer/) employees need a wrongful termination lawyer if they have damages as a result of the employment termination. Major wrongful termination damages include lost wages and [severe emotional distress](https://employeelawca.com/sue-depression-anxiety-termination/) as a result of an unlawful termination of employment. Wrongful termination damages for lost wages are based upon how long it takes the employee to find another job; presuming they are making an adequate effort to find work. Damages include the period of time the employee is not employed, after being fired. The period of time the employee is under-employed such as at a lower wage, or loss hours is also a damage period. Lost benefits for health insurance, life insurance, pensions, 401ks, and bonuses are also typical damages in wrongful termination. [Emotional distress damages](https://employeelawca.com/work-stress-lawyer/) due to wrongful termination are compensable. Often, employees suffer emotional distress due to the trauma of being wrongfully fired from their job. The loss of one's job can lead to depression, and financial anxiety. Feelings about a lack of self-worth often develop. A terminated employee's relationships with others often suffer. When workers lose their jobs they often have to move. The amount of money it costs to move, damages due to an eviction, or loses in home equity due to a move are recoverable damages for wrongful termination. The costs of reemployment are also damages for wrongful termination. Costs associated with job interviews, fees paid to head hunters, and resume preparation fees are damages in wrongful termination. If a wrongful termination case is won, the wrongfully terminated employee no longer has to walk around with the stigma of being fired for something the employer claimed was legitimate. If the wrongful termination lawsuit does not go to trial, but settles, it may be possible to negotiate a neutral employment reference or even a positive job reference from the employer who wrongfully fired the employee. Clearing one's name is a top reason why employees bring wrongful termination lawsuits. ## WRONGFUL TERMINATION LAWYER Karl Gerber is the head wrongful termination lawyer at the Employment Lawyers Group. He has represented more than 2,000 employees in wrongful termination lawsuits since 1993. CLICK HERE TO READ [KARL GERBER'S PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY](https://employeelawca.com/employment-law-lawyers/). All of the associate attorneys at the Employment Lawyers Group exclusively represent employees. They are all long term employees of the firm. Unlike our competitors who use contract attorneys, friends, part-time lawyers, or associate in with lawyers who operate their own firms, all attorneys who work on our employee lawsuits are employees of the firm. Our wrongful termination attorneys work out of our office, along with our paid support staff. Many of our competitors do not have support staff, a normal office, and have their lawyers working out of their homes and apartments. ### Other important facts about our wrongful termination lawyers include: 1. Our wrongful termination attorneys routinely try cases in arbitration or trial unlike the vast majority of our competitors 2. We have numerous published appeals meaning we are competent legal writers capable of fending off incorrect legal decisions by the courts 3. Our firm is established and we have the resources to take on lawsuits against large employers and big firm employment defense lawyers ## LOS ANGELES WRONGFUL TERMINATION LAW We have practiced employment law in Los Angeles for many decades. Our familiarity with the types of industries our clients work at, who might defend the lawsuit, and which judges or arbitrators might be assigned to the case are invaluable. Besides merely practicing employee labor law in Los Angeles we have offices throughout California. [Los Angeles Wrongful Termination cases often settle through mediation](https://employeelawca.com/why-us/). Our employment attorneys know which Los Angeles mediators, and which Los Angeles mediation organizations are best suited for the wrongful termination at issue. Few, if any, firms are as familiar with the landscape of wrongful termination cases in Los Angeles County, [Ventura County](https://venturaemploymentlawyer.com/), [Orange County](https://worklawyeroc.com/), [San Bernardino County](https://employmentattorneysanbernardino.com/), [Riverside](https://riversideemploymentlawyer.com/), and [Kern County](https://bakersfieldlaborattorney.com/). **Call (323) 525-1600 to speak to the right California Wrongful Termination lawyers** ## Our Firm: No Upfront Fees or Costs ### Contingency Fee Representation All employment cases for employees are taken on a **contingency basis**. We are only paid a fee **when and if we win** your case, and we **advance all litigation costs**. Our goal is to make expert legal representation accessible to every hardworking employee. ### Serving Los Angeles County We have proudly served all of Los Angeles County since 1993. Ready to discuss your case? (323) 525-1600 Submit A Contact Form The Employment Lawyers Group has successfully handled 2,000+ Separate California Employment Cases ## Media Engagements ## Sample Case Results breach of commission contract $1,150,000 Unpaid commissions of two plaintiffs unpaid wages $875,000 For 4 oil field service industry workers whose times worked were not recorded on timesheets and were on-call forced to work without pay standby pay case $800,000 Controlled stand by class action settlement Disclaimer: These results are based on the facts of these specific cases and do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future case. ## Practice Areas [Discrimination Age, Disability, FMLA/CFRA, Gender, National Origin, Pregnancy, Race, and Sexual Orientation discrimination claims.](https://employeelawca.com/discrimination-lawyer-in-los-angeles/) [Unpaid Wages & Overtime Recovering earnings for overtime, bonuses, commissions, meal & rest break violations, and prevailing wage claims.](https://employeelawca.com/unpaid-wages/) [Sexual Harassment Compassionate and effective representation for sexual harassment and hostile work environment claims.](https://employeelawca.com/sexual-harassment/) [Wrongful Termination Representing employees terminated in violation of public policy, contracts, or California and federal law.](https://employeelawca.com/wrongful-termination/) [Leaves & Retaliation Protecting employees who face adverse actions after reporting illegal activity or taking protected medical leave.](https://employeelawca.com/absences/) [Whistleblowers Advocating for employees who report fraud, waste, or abuse under California and federal whistleblower protection laws.](https://employeelawca.com/los-angeles-financial-whistleblower/) ## Our California Locations ### Bakersfield [BakersfieldLaborAttorney.com](https://bakersfieldlaborattorney.com) 5401 Business Park S, #214, Bakersfield CA 93309 [(661) 412-9600](tel:6614129600) ### Los Angeles [EmployeeLawCA.com](https://employeelawca.com/) 611 Wilshire Blvd, #1023, Los Angeles CA 90017 [(323) 525-1600](tel:3235251600) ### Orange County [WorkLawyerOC.com](https://worklawyeroc.com) 2522 Chambers Rd, #100, Tustin CA 92780 [(714) 210-8000](tel:7142108000) ### Riverside [RiversideEmploymentLawyer.com](https://riversideemploymentlawyer.com) 9496 Magnolia Ave, #208, Riverside CA 92503 [(951) 367-1000](tel:9513671000) ### Sacramento [SacramentoLaborAttorney.com](https://sacramentolaborattorney.com) 777 Campus Commons Rd, #200, Sacramento CA 95825 [(916) 340-0000](tel:9163400000) ### San Bernardino [EmploymentAttorneySanBernardino.com](https://employmentattorneysanbernardino.com) 337 N. Vineyard Ave, #400, Ontario CA 91764 [(909) 663-2100](tel:9096632100) ### San Diego [SanDiegoEmployeeLawyer.com](https://sandiegoemployeelawyer.com) 330 "A" St, #60, San Diego CA 92101 [(619) 320-3000](tel:6193203000) ### San Francisco / Bay Area [BayAreaEmploymentAttorney.net](https://bayareaemploymentattorney.net) 524 Union St, #400, San Francisco CA 94133 [(877) 525-0700](tel:8775250700) ### San Jose / Silicon Valley [SiValleyLaborLawyer.com](https://sivalleylaborlawyer.com) 111 N. Market St, #300, San Jose CA 95113 [(877) 525-0700](tel:8775250700) ### Sherman Oaks [WorkLawyerCA.com](https://worklawyerca.com) 13418 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks CA 91423 [(818) 783-7300](tel:8187837300) ### Torrance / South Bay [JobTerminationLaw.com](https://jobterminationlaw.com/) 3655 Torrance Blvd, 3rd Floor, Torrance CA 90503 [(310) 842-8600](tel:3108428600) ### Ventura / Oxnard [VenturaEmploymentLawyer.com](https://venturaemploymentlawyer.com) 4030 West Hemlock St, Oxnard CA 93035 [(805) 200-0100](tel:8052000100) ### Additional Sites [BostonLaborLaw.com](https://bostonlaborlaw.com) [DcLaborAttorney.com](https://dclaborattorney.com) [FresnoEmployeeLawyer.com](https://fresnoemployeelawyer.com) [JobLawyer.net](https://joblawyer.net) [MarylandLaborAttorney.com](https://marylandlaborattorney.com/) [ModemStud.com](https://modemstud.com) [VintageLosAngeles.org](https://vintagelosangeles.org) [WorkplaceLawyer.org](https://workplacelawyer.org) ## About Firm Founder, Karl Gerber Firm Founder, **Karl Gerber**, has been an employment and wrongful termination attorney since **1993**. He has represented a wide range of employees throughout California. Mr. Gerber has won **51 of the binding arbitrations and jury trials** he first chaired, and a number of his appeals are published. This deep trial experience is the foundation of the firm's strategic approach to litigation. The employment attorneys employed by the Employment Lawyers Group have worked at the firm well in excess of five years, have also tried many different labor cases, and have all been **extensively trained on employment and wrongful termination law by Karl Gerber**. [Meet Karl Gerber](https://employeelawca.com/karl-gerber/) ## Ready to Discuss Your Case? Your rights as an employee matter. Submit a contact form and we'll get back to you. Submit A Contact Form [Call (323) 525-1600 Now](tel:3235251600)