Cleveland Wrongful Termination Lawyer
Understanding Wrongful Termination in Ohio
Although Ohio is an at-will employment state, meaning an employer can fire or let an employee go virtually any time and for any reason, there are certain instances in which doing so becomes illegal. Even in at-will states, employers are not allowed to terminate a worker’s employment based on the employee’s membership in a protected class or in retaliation for them exercising their legal rights. They also cannot fire an employee in violation of the terms of their employment contract.
If you believe you were wrongfully fired or let go from your job, you could have grounds for legal action. We encourage you to reach out to our Cleveland wrongful termination lawyer right away to learn more about your options. At Mastandrea Law, LLC, we help workers from all industries and all walks of life, providing personalized attention and dedicated representation every step of the way.
Contact us online or call (216) 306-5105 to request a free consultation. We are available 24/7 to take your call.
What Is Wrongful Termination?
In the simplest terms, wrongful termination occurs when an employee is fired or let go illegally. But what constitutes “illegal” firing?
Essentially, if an employer fires an employee or lets them go because of their membership in a protected class or in retaliation for the employee exercising their rights, this is considered illegal. Additionally, if an employer violated the terms of the worker’s employment contract by firing them, this would also be considered illegal. When this occurs, the employee has been wrongfully terminated and may take legal action against their former employer.
Some examples of wrongful termination in Ohio include:
- Firing an employee because of their age, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, national origin, etc.
- Firing an employee because they participated in a political demonstration or rally outside of working hours
- Letting an employee go after they notified the company that they were pregnant because of their pregnancy status
- Firing an employee for reporting workplace harassment, including sexual harassment and discrimination
- Firing an employee for filing a qui tam, or whistleblower, claim after discovering evidence of illegal company conduct
- Firing an employee for being injured on the job and/or filing a workers’ compensation claim
- Ending an employee’s contract early and in violation of the terms of the contract
These are just some examples of actions that may constitute wrongful termination in Ohio; if you believe you were illegally fired or let go from your job, reach out to Mastandrea Law, LLC right away to learn more about filing a wrongful termination lawsuit.
How Do You Prove Wrongful Termination?
To have a successful claim against a former employer, you must prove that you were, in fact, wrongfully fired or let go from your job. This can be difficult, as you must have evidence that your employer violated the law and/or your rights when ending your employment.
Possible evidence of wrongful termination includes:
- Your supervisor mentioning your age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, etc. when firing you
- Being fired or let go from your job after notifying your supervisor or another person at the company that you were pregnant
- Being let go from your job after taking extra time off during pregnancy to attend doctor’s appointments, etc.
- Being fired soon after reporting sexual harassment, discrimination, or other forms of workplace harassment to your supervisor or HR
- Being made to feel that your sexual orientation or gender identity/expression was an issue in the workplace shortly before being let go
- Losing your job after filing a whistleblower (qui tam) claim or otherwise reporting suspected illegal employer conduct
- Suffering an injury on the job and, shortly after filing a workers’ compensation claim, being fired or let go
- Your supervisor or someone else at your work making you feel singled out in regards to your race, religion, age, disability, etc. before you were fired
- Being let go after filing a claim or lawsuit seeking unpaid wages, overtime, or commissions from your employer
If you have any reason to believe that you were illegally fired or let go, turn to the team at Mastandrea Law, LLC. Our Cleveland wrongful termination attorney has extensive experience in all aspects of employment law. She can help you understand your rights and develop a powerful case on your behalf.
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