Georgia is an at-will employment state, meaning your employer can fire you for any valid reason. However, if your employer fires you for an illegal or unlawful reason, you may have a cause to file a wrongful termination lawsuit.
The wrongful termination attorneys at the Feldman Legal Group encourage all employees to understand the grounds for an Atlanta wrongful termination case. Mitchell Feldman and his team take prompt legal action after you are fired to strengthen your opportunity to recover damages on account of your employer’s wrongful actions.
When Can You Sue an Employer for Wrongful Termination?
Atlanta employees might believe that they only have grounds for a wrongful termination case if they are victims of discriminatory treatment. It is true that discrimination due to gender, race, religious beliefs, age, and analogous reasons will generally form a strong foundation for a wrongful termination lawsuit. However, you can also sue your employer for reasons that include:
- You were working under a valid written contract that guaranteed a term of employment, but your employer fired you before that term expired
- You were let go after you missed work to serve on a jury or to perform some other public duty or obligation
- You were fired in retaliation for publicizing illegal or improper conduct, such as regulatory violations, or because you were exercising your employee rights under statutes such as the Family Leave Act
If you are not sure if you have a good reason to sue, call attorney Mitchell Feldman, an experienced wrongful termination lawyer, for an assessment of your potential case.
What Evidence Do You Need to Prove Wrongful Termination?
An employer’s human resources and legal departments will often attempt to justify a termination with records in employee files showing poor performance, repeated improvement plans, and complaints about work quality. Therefore, the employee needs equal or better evidence proving they were wrongfully fired. That evidence might include:
- Notes and written records of comments suggesting discrimination
- Promises for promotions and other benefits that did not materialize
- Comparisons of how the employer treats other employees in the same or similar job roles
- Copies of positive feedback from co-workers, managers, and clients or customers
- Detailed chronologies with times and dates of events that suggest an employer’s proper motives
- Proof of regular, timely arrival at a jobsite or office, and adherence to schedules for breaks and departures
You should never acquiesce to the termination of your employment if you suspect that your Atlanta employer’s reasons are not valid, even if you do not believe you can prove you have grounds for a wrongful termination case. The attorneys at the Feldman Legal Group routinely conduct in-depth interviews with wrongfully terminated employees, identifying evidence and information that an employee can easily overlook.
What Compensation Can a Wrongfully Terminated Employee Recover?
Atlanta wrongful termination lawsuits based on valid grounds frequently settle for tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. If the facts in your case are strong, your recovery may include:
- Damages for emotional distress
- Reinstatement to your former position
- Back pay from the date of termination of your employment
- A lump sum payment to replace unearned wages and salary, if reinstatement is not possible
In egregious cases, punitive damages are imposed to penalize your former employer’s wrongful conduct. Under Georgia law, however, the state may claim up to 75% of the punitive damages component of a wrongful termination award.
Call an Atlanta Attorney About Grounds for Wrongful Termination Lawsuits
Losing a job can be distressing, especially if you feel your dismissal was wrongful. The employment attorneys at the Feldman Legal Group are prepared to advise you on determining if you have grounds for an Atlanta wrongful termination case. Please call our offices at any time for guidance from an experienced employee advocate.
(877) 946-8293