JacksonWhite Law is Here To Represent You in a Wrongful Termination Case
Wrongful termination occurs when an employer fires an employee for an unjustified reason. Because Arizona is an at-will state, it can be difficult to prove whether an employer acted unjustly in terminating employment, especially without skilled legal representation.
If you think you are a victim of wrongful termination, you should speak to an experienced employment lawyer as soon as possible. Our team at JacksonWhite Law can support you in wrongful termination cases with a wealth of experience in defending employee rights.
What Is Wrongful Termination?
Wrongful termination in Arizona occurs when an employer fires you because of “immutable” characteristics, like your sex, race, or religion. Most employment in the United States is “at-will”, meaning employers can hire or fire individuals when they choose and for any reason.
However, in some cases, the termination is illegal and violates state laws or national policy on employment. In Arizona, wrongful termination of an employee relationship is covered under A.R.S. 23-1501. An employee has a claim against an employer if they are terminated for any of the following reasons:
- In violation of the state’s civil rights act through discrimination
- As retaliation for an employee exercising their civic rights, like voting rights, jury duty, or the right to organize
- If there is a written employment contract, any violation of the contract could be grounds for a lawsuit.
In these cases, the employee can file suit stating the wrongdoing in detail. However, given that Arizona is an at-will state, it can be a challenge to tackle this alone. It often takes a skilled attorney to gather appropriate evidence for a wrongful termination case and build a case against the employer.
Our employment attorneys at JacksonWhite will work to understand the circumstances around your termination while providing the support and guidance needed to build a case and pursue legal recourse.
How JacksonWhite Can Help with Wrongful Termination in Arizona
The state of Arizona has specific limitations on when and why a lawsuit for wrongful termination can be filed. For example, the suit must be filed within one year of the termination date. In the following situations, you may have grounds for a suit against your employer for wrongful termination and our team at JacksonWhite can help:
- Discrimination – Both state and federal laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of age, sex, race, religion, disability, and national origin. If you believe any of these were a factor in your termination, our team will work to help you prove the employer fired you for factors other than poor performance or poor attendance and seek appropriate damages.
- Medical condition – An employer cannot terminate your employment simply because you developed a medical condition. If you believe you were fired for a medical reason, we’ll assist you in gathering evidence and seeking appropriate restitution.
- Performance of legal rights or public policy issues – Employers cannot terminate you if you choose to form a union or report a safety violation, or if you are required to perform jury duty or other public service. Our attorneys will review the circumstances of your case and help you build a defense if you think you were terminated under wrongful circumstances.
- Contract rights and policy issues – Employers cannot violate requirements of an employment contract nor any policy stated in an employee manual or handbook. We can assist you in reviewing your employee contract to assess whether you have a case against your employer for wrongful termination.
Of course, every case is different. Contact our employment attorneys at JacksonWhite Law today so we can understand the unique details around your case and determine the best path forward to seek the compensation you deserve.
Get Experienced Representation Before Filing a Wrongful Termination Lawsuit
As a plaintiff, you are required to take a number of actions to provide information in order to file a valid suit and compile the appropriate evidence. Contacting an attorney who is experienced in wrongful termination cases in the state of Arizona can make all the difference in helping you navigate the necessary steps.
In filing a case, a skilled employment lawyer can support you in all of the following steps:
- Formally requesting a reason for termination from the company’s human resources department.
- Composing a grievance letter disputing the reasons for the termination.
- Putting together a file of pertinent documents regarding your employment, including employment contracts, union contracts, employee manuals, personnel files with employee evaluations and any other correspondence you have received regarding your employment. Your file should also contain pay stubs and your financial records detailing how the termination affected your finances.
- Making a list of co-workers who can be called as witnesses to the employment circumstances.
- Reviewing all documented emails, letters, phone calls or other correspondence with the company.
- Talking to other employees who have been terminated from the company, if possible.
An employment lawyer can be a valuable resource in the process, helping you compile the evidence you need and build a case that covers all the important details. If you go at it alone, it’s possible to miss key details or leave out pieces of evidence. Our team at JacksonWhite Law will analyze the strength of your case while helping you build a solid case with evidence and witnesses.
How JacksonWhite Handles Wrongful Termination Cases
Just like any case we take on, JacksonWhite Law handles wrongful termination cases by taking on a collaborative approach with our clients. We provide legal counsel and representation to bring about the best possible outcome.
At the start of every case, we work to understand the details of the case and the full context of the situation with an initial case review. We’ll hear from you and use the information we have to determine the best path forward and maintain full transparency throughout the process.
Going forward, we handle the following aspects of wrongful termination cases:
- Navigate negotiations and mediation to assist you in pursuing a settlement with your employer outside of court
- We work with you to gather the appropriate evidence for your case, including witness testimonies, communication records with your employer, and important documents related to your termination
- If the case goes to court, we’ll represent you in litigation to secure the best possible outcome
- Throughout the process, we’ll advocate for your rights throughout the process and fight for the compensation you deserve
What Are the Possible Outcomes if You Hire JacksonWhite To Represent You?
Working with experienced employment lawyers like those at JacksonWhite Law will increase your chances of securing the best possible outcome from your lawsuit. We’ll work tirelessly to bring you a settlement that adequately addresses the distress and difficulty brought about by an employer that committed a wrongful termination.
We can help you secure some of the following potential outcomes:
- Settlement – Many times, an employer would prefer that a case doesn’t go to court, and will offer a settlement package to compensate the employee and resolve the dispute.
- Compensation for lost wages – Compensation for lost wages is the most common outcome for wrongful termination cases. We’ll help you secure compensation for the wages you lost as a result of being wrongfully terminated.
- Compensation for pain and suffering – By proving that losing your job led to emotional distress, we can support you in acquiring compensation for this emotional stress from your employer.
- Punitive damages – Punitive damages may be appropriate if an employer acted egregiously in mistreating you or other employees. If this applies to your case, we’ll support you in pursuing adequate compensation.
Every case is different and may lead to different outcomes depending on the circumstances. Our attorneys will take a look at the unique facts around your case and pursue the appropriate legal recourse.
Get Help From A Qualified Employment Attorney
If you believe you have been wrongly terminated in Arizona, your best chances of fighting back are with the guidance of an experienced employment law attorney. At JacksonWhite Law, attorneys Mike Pruitt and Nate Hill are two of the most respected employment lawyers in the state with combined decades of experience, and they are ready to fight for you.
As a premier law firm, we’ve helped thousands of Arizonans navigate the often daunting process involved in employment-based legal problems.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation. Call our Employment Law team at (480) 464-1111 to discuss your case today and start your path to receiving appropriate restitution.
Meet JacksonWhite Law
We are a full-service law firm focused on serving our clients.
As a premier law firm, we’ve helped thousands of Arizonans navigate the often daunting process involved in employment-based legal problems.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation.
