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What Compensation is Available in a Minnesota Wrongful Termination Lawsuit?

April 18, 2023 By Peter Christian

What Compensation is Available in a MN Wrongful Termination Lawsuit? | Schaefer Halleen, LLC

If you are an employee in Minnesota who has been wrongfully terminated, you may be wondering what your next steps should be. First, it is important to understand the statute of limitations for filing a wrongful termination claim.  The limitations period for such claims depends on the type of wrongdoing and the type of law under which the claim would arise. For example, under Minnesota law, an employee has one year from the date of a discriminatory or retaliatory act to file a claim with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights or to file a lawsuit. Other claims, such as discrimination claims under federal law and whistleblower claims, have different limitations periods.

If you want to pursue a wrongful termination claim, it is crucial to find an experienced employment attorney who specializes in this area of law. You may want to search for “lawyers that deal with wrongful termination near me” to find an attorney in your area who can help you navigate the legal process. A knowledgeable attorney can help you assess your legal options and develop a strategy to pursue your claim. They can also make you aware of wrongful termination Minnesota statute of limitations and other limitations periods so you don’t miss your opportunity to file a suit. If you are successful in your wrongful termination claim, you may be entitled to compensation for the damages you suffered as a result of the termination.

Understanding Compensation in Minnesota Wrongful Termination Lawsuits

Employees who were wrongfully terminated for discriminatory or retaliatory reasons often ask us some variation of the same question: what might I be entitled to if I file a lawsuit against my employer and win?  The answer depends on the type of legal claim and which Minnesota or federal law was violated. The amount of compensation for wrongful termination you may receive will depend on a variety of factors, including the nature of the termination, the length of time you were out of work, and the emotional distress you suffered as a result of the termination. In general, however, there are several common categories of potential compensation for victims of employment discrimination and retaliation.

Back Pay

Back pay is the lost compensation the wrongfully terminated employee could have reasonably expected to receive from the time of termination to trial.  This includes base salary, bonuses, commissions, and benefits. 

When a court awards back pay to an employee, they typically calculate the amount of the award based on the employee’s rate of pay at the time of their termination, as well as any raises, promotions, or bonuses that the employee would have received if they had remained employed.

The court will also consider the length of time that the employee was unemployed after their termination and the amount of effort that the employee made to mitigate their damages by seeking alternative employment. While an employee is entitled to their back pay under most discrimination and retaliation laws, any earnings of the employee after his/her termination are subtracted from the back pay award.

Front Pay

Front pay or “future pay” is a terminated employee’s anticipated lost compensation after trial.  Courts consider multiple factors in determining the amount of front pay. The length of time the employee could have reasonably expected to have been employed if they had not been wrongfully terminated is the primary consideration.

The main difference between back pay and front pay is that back pay is meant to compensate the employee for losses that have already occurred, while front pay is meant to compensate the employee for losses that are likely to occur in the future.

In some cases, a court may award both back pay and front pay to an employee in a wrongful termination case, depending on the circumstances of the case and the extent of the employee’s losses. A company may also agree to pay back pay and/or front pay in a wrongful termination settlement that has not gone to court.

Emotional Distress

Under most Minnesota and federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination and retaliation, a wrongfully terminated employee is entitled to compensation for the emotional “pain and suffering” resulting from their termination. The amount of such compensation is a highly subjective determination to be made by the judge or jury.

Punitive Damages and Civil Penalties

Punitive damages or statutorily pre-specified civil penalties may be awarded to a wrongfully terminated employee in order to punish the employer for particularly outrageous discriminatory or retaliatory conduct and deter similar conduct in the workplace.  The amount awarded is unrelated to the economic loss of the wrongfully terminated employee or the extent of their emotional distress, but the employee receives the amount anyway.

Attorneys’ Fees and Costs

If a wrongfully terminated employee prevails in court, they may be entitled to compensation for the attorneys’ fees and costs they incurred throughout the case. The judge will determine whether this is appropriate based on the specific details of each case. 

How Do You Proceed With Wrongful Termination In Minnesota?

In summary, wrongful termination is a serious issue that can have a significant impact on an employee’s life and livelihood. Fortunately, Minnesota law provides several avenues for employees to seek justice and compensation for their losses. If you believe that you have been wrongfully terminated, it is essential to seek the guidance of a knowledgeable and experienced employment attorney who can help you understand your rights and options. With the right legal representation, you may be able to recover the compensation you deserve and move forward with your life. We here at Schaefer Halleen would be happy to speak with you.

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Filed Under: All Blog Posts, Peter G. Christian, Wrongful Termination

About Peter Christian

Peter G. Christian is an employment litigator at Schaefer Halleen, LLC committed to protecting the rights of individuals in the workplace. As an advocate who takes pride in representing a wide range of employees – from top level executives to blue collar laborers – Peter has secured significant victories for an array of clients in many areas of employment related litigation, and against some of the biggest corporations in the world. Read more >

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Schaefer Halleen, LLC

Schaefer Halleen, LLC is located at:
412 S 4th St, Suite 1050, Minneapolis, MN 55415
Phone: 612-294-2600
Fax: 612-294-2640
Email: info@schaeferhalleen.com
www.schaeferhalleen.com

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Based on 56 reviews
Schaefer Halleen, LLC
Schaefer Halleen, LLC
4.6
Dave Carlson
Dave Carlson
16:46 28 Sep 23
Awesome counseling and legal services.Larry and his team are very service oriented!
Leon Griggs
Leon Griggs
15:49 12 Sep 23
I had no idea if or what legal rights I had involving employment law. After receiving consultation from Schaefer Halleen, a surprising and fair resolution was found to the expressed appreciation of all parties involved.Schaefer Halleen, Thank you for your help on this very important matter.
Don Mink
Don Mink
16:15 22 Aug 23
Lawrence was extremely professional and thorough in his research and communication with me and other parties. I highly recommend him and this firm and would personally utilize their services in the future.
Rembrandt Brown
Rembrandt Brown
19:16 10 Jul 23
Fantastic firm!
Al Krysan
Al Krysan
13:47 16 May 23
I engaged Peter Christian at Schaefer Halleen and his advice, guidance, and speed to resolution was just what I needed to move on in a better spot. I highly recommend this team!
Randy Reyes
Randy Reyes
16:13 28 Apr 23
Lauren D'Cruz did a wonderful job representing me on a complicated case. Her expertise, intelligence, and understanding of the circumstances and my personal story led to a very successful outcome and efficient process. I am extremely grateful for her expert work.
James Hannan
James Hannan
20:04 21 Apr 23
Excellent knowledge and easy to work with!
Mary Kallock
Mary Kallock
04:22 19 Apr 23
I highly recommend working with Schaefer Halleen. Each team member that I interacted with - Larry, Darren, and Jenelle - were extremely professional, respectful of my time and concerns, and were quick to address my needs. I worked closely with Darren Sharp for my case. Darren lives up to his surname - he is thorough, efficient, and no nonsense when it came to representing my needs. All the same, he is compassionate, engaged, and a pleasure to work with. Again, I highly recommend this firm and thank them for their support in my case!
Leann Barrick
Leann Barrick
05:00 25 Jan 23
I highly recommend this law firm. Peter took his time to explain how the legal practice would work so I knew what to expect and Jenelle showed compassion when listening to my needs. Peter resolved the settlement fast and I think you find out you'll be happy with this firm as well.
Smook Music
Smook Music
16:34 27 Dec 22
Jeff Hilligoss
Jeff Hilligoss
15:03 05 Dec 22
Larry Schaefer and the professionals at Schaefer Halleen are the team you want in your court for employment law matters. Consummate professionals, their expert, clear-eyed advice and counsel has been invaluable to me over the course of my career. And they are a delight to work with!
Tom Emison
Tom Emison
14:53 22 Nov 22
Tim Christensen is simply amazing; evenings, weekends, whatever it took to serve me. thank you Tim!
Mark Copeland
Mark Copeland
22:46 17 Nov 22
Tim was fantastic and really paid attention to detail. I recommend him and the firm to anyone who has employment legal issues.Mark Copeland
C Verdick
C Verdick
13:47 15 Nov 22
Peter and Makenzie were great to work with. Highly recommend.
Keely Hooper
Keely Hooper
17:48 02 May 22
Caroline Allen
Caroline Allen
10:56 03 Feb 22
I worked with Larry on a severance negotiation and was incredibly pleased with the work he did. He gave great advice and helped me end the negotiation in a very favorable spot.
Kit White
Kit White
18:22 07 Jun 21
I would highly recommend working with this firm if you're dealing with a legal case. They are so responsive, kind and compassionate. Darren made me feel heard and fought for me throughout the entirety of my case. It was not an easy experience, as legal cases tend to bring up a lot of emotions and trauma, but this firm will fight for you and make you feel heard. Highly, highly recommend.
Marcia
Marcia
14:18 02 Jun 21
I highly recommend Peter Christian and Shaefer Halleen. Clear communication and planning were key to our success. The team I worked with was empathetic and sensitive to my situation, and always helped me understand the overall legal process and what to expect during our case.
Amy A Houchins-Post
Amy A Houchins-Post
14:00 10 Mar 21
Lia
Lia
22:13 26 Feb 21
Peter and Lauren are patient and understanding. They considered my case from every angle possible. They also took the time to educate me a bit on how the law works. Very impressed!
Julie Koritz
Julie Koritz
01:27 25 Feb 21
Peter and Jacob did a great job getting me a settlement. I am very fortunate to have worked with them.
DeAijha Oliver
DeAijha Oliver
05:22 30 Dec 20
Henry V
Henry V
15:56 25 Sep 20
I worked with Larry Schaefer and Lauren D'Cruz. They enthusiastically took up my case. They showed creativity, good judgment and deep knowledge of the law in formulating the theory of the case. They also struck a fine balance between zealous advocacy and risk management. They were very responsive and provided timely status updates throughout our engagement. They took genuine interest in me as a person. I would recommend Schaefer Halleen to my family and friends without reservation.
Constance Lewis
Constance Lewis
15:46 10 Aug 20
I had the opportunity to work with Peter Christian. He was amazing to work with. He believed in my case from the moment we spoke and was diligent in working for me. He kept me in the loop on every aspect of my case, he allowed me to have input before decisions were made and fought for me from the very beginning to the end. He was prompt and followed through on everything he said he would. Peter was very professional, and timely. I truly appreciate the time and dedication to my case. Thank you Peter for taking the chance with my case and fighting for me. With Peter's expertise, my case was settled with a positive and favorable outcome. You were a pleasure to work with and I would highly recommend your services. Thank you again!
B Bowlby
B Bowlby
15:46 24 Apr 20
I cannot recommend Schaefer Halleen highly enough. I had a particularly hard employment issue and I found the people at S.H. to be excellent to work with. They are all very professional, very intelligent, handled me and my situation with care and always kept me up to date on where my case was at. In the rare instance when I contacted them by either phone or email I received a near immediate response.I was always made to feel that I was important and I always felt I was being given advice I could trust. At the end of the day my case was settled in a very timely manor and I am very pleased with how it turned out.Finally, the lawyers and staff at S.H. are some of the most experienced people in their industry and I was very impressed with their past accomplishments. I knew I could trust S.H. to handle my case after the very first meeting. If you need employment law help, Schaefer Halleen, LLC is the one and only firm I would recommend.
Roland Awasome
Roland Awasome
13:32 02 Apr 20
I am a professional and worked with many attorneys in the past. Peter is hands down the best out there. I can’t recommend him enough .
Laura H
Laura H
14:10 21 Feb 20
I am so thankful I found the Schaefer Hallen team to help me through one of the most difficult times in my life. Lauren always took the time to listen and was respectful and professional. Her attention to detail is impeccable, and she helped organize all my random thoughts and emails to help strengthen my case. Larry and Lauren kept me informed throughout the whole process and always made me feel like I was in control. With their expertise, my case was settled efficiently and with a positive outcome.
Mevhibe Atay
Mevhibe Atay
20:03 19 Feb 20
I had a great experience with the firm. My attorney Darren Sharp was very efficient, knowledgeable and kept me informed at every step. Very trustworthy and professional.
Ioannis Karampelas
Ioannis Karampelas
15:45 12 Sep 19
Extremely professional and humane treatment towards me as a person in severe trouble, perplexed by conditions generated totally out of my control. This law firm is outstanding.
Katy Eagle
Katy Eagle
16:54 16 May 19
Overall, the firm is great! Lauren D'Cruz is organized, thoughtful, and very pleasant to work with. I have enjoyed my interactions with everyone at Schaefer Halleen over the years. I highly recommend the firm and Ms. D'Cruz.
M. Malik
M. Malik
20:11 05 Apr 19
It is with great pleasure that I write this for Mr Schaefer and his capable people comprised of talent and empathy. I had a fear of Attorneys (due to my own weakness, no disrespect to the legal profession), but I felt pleasantly surprised after my visit to his firm located in the heart of Minneapolis - my home city that I am passionate about. Larry's office emblomized everything that I look for. The attorneys, the administrative staff, the decor, it all felt "happy" and "inter-connected". I had thought my case was too too hard to understand by others, however due to Larry's brilliance and savvy, it became evident to me that he understood it very well. He had a clear line of action and a resolve to seek justice with ethics. That was all that I desired. I hope Larry's office continues to serve the disability community, that it prospers, grows, and makes Minneapolis the best city in the world.
Sameh Said
Sameh Said
16:21 04 Apr 19
I am very thankful to Larry for helping me through a very difficult time of my life. My former employer discriminated against me and treated me very badly and I was forced to resign to end my struggle with this employer. I did not know what to do or who I can find to help me getting through this and restore my reputation and my employment. I met with several layers prior to my meeting with Larry and I can tell the difference immediately when I engaged with him. Larry told me what will happen in the first meeting and despite my process took several months, he was able to predict the successful outcome just through listening to me in that very first meeting. He has complete understanding of all employment related issues, he is focused and dedicated to help his clients getting back on track. His strategic thinking and the steps he made were the key to success. He also has a wonderful team that are just the right team to help. Quick response and timely feedback about what is going on with the case so you are always in the loop with the next step. Now I moved on to a new and a better employer and I feel I am beginning a new and a good chapter in my life, and I feel I can't thank Larry or his wonderful team enough for what they did to me and how they supported me to get through probably the worst chapter in my life.Thank you Larry
Rebecca Thavis
Rebecca Thavis
17:14 02 Apr 19
Larry truly went above and beyond. In each step of the case, he made sure I was aware of what was happening and the next steps. He called frequently, and followed my choices, making sure that I felt in control. I never felt like a victim, or less- he helped inspire me to fight for what I needed and deserved. If I had to go through it again, no questions asked, I would want Larry by my side every step of the way. His team is well organized, efficient, kind and discrete. I am forever grateful that Schaefer Halleen represented me, and I highly suggest them for any and all people who need empowering representation.
Joanne Simons
Joanne Simons
21:30 26 Mar 19
Excellent experience, outstanding staff, expedient, caring, respectful.
Jessie Lecy
Jessie Lecy
00:22 18 Mar 19
The humanness and genuine care for their clients separates this firm from others and makes it best in class.
John Styliaras
John Styliaras
23:55 17 Mar 19
Larry and his team at Schaefer Halleen helped bring to resolution issues at the workplace in an amicable manner. When I first approached Larry, I was not even sure what steps to take, what to do, did not even know if I needed a lawyer, or why I needed a lawyer. All I knew was that friends and colleagues told me to reach out to a lawyer. And when I asked around, his name and his firm's name kept on being mentioned by many. And the reputation was well deserved.Larry patiently and deliberately listened to my story, and then explained to me exactly why I needed a lawyer, and how he could help me. Immediately he laid out the plan about how to proceed. Instantly I was put at ease. Throughout a very long process, he provided me advice and guidance and was always willing to talk to me on the phone, whenever there were either updates, or I had questions and concerns.I am absolutely certain that I would had not been able to reach the resolution without Larry's and his team's steadfast guidance, advice, and impressive work. I recommend Larry and his firm unconditionally - the very best in the field.John C. Styliaras MD,MS
Ricardo Vidal Gonzalez
Ricardo Vidal Gonzalez
18:49 12 Dec 18
I highly recommend the Schaefer Halleen law firm. Larry Schaefer was always available to answer any questions and his team was very professional. They work hard to get results and take the time to listen to the client’s goals.
annette miller
annette miller
00:40 07 Nov 18
I found the team to be professional, respectful and very well versed in employment law. I would recommend them to anyone looking for advice or expertise in this area.
Lynn Hassan Jones
Lynn Hassan Jones
14:18 31 Oct 18
I am a physician who recently hired Schaefer and Halleen to represent me in an employment discrimination case, my Atty was Jean Boler ESQ.They provided top-tier legal services to me for my case 2017 through my settlement in 1st qtr of 2018.This was excellent legal representation, specifically - very responsive, very prompt, extremely detailed and never off-putting.Absolutely would recommend without reservation!
Doc MoSho
Doc MoSho
19:40 02 Jul 18
They were attentive and responsive and dod a great job of diffusing the tension in a situation that could have been quite adversarial. They also did an excellent job of level setting before the process proceeded to far in an unrealistic direction. Great work.
the Dodger
the Dodger
14:28 04 Jun 18
Joyce Jenkins
Joyce Jenkins
19:03 02 Jun 18
Larry has been a great resource for several years. His response time, quality of response and follow up are excellent. He has been flexible enough to answer an impromptu calI and get a response back within an hour. I recall talking to Larry early one morning when there was 8" of snow and most businesses were closed. He was the only one in the office to keep my appointment.I have recommended Larry to more than a dozen of my friends and colleagues and I feel very comfortable recommending him to anyone.Derek Jenkins
John
John
23:57 01 Jun 18
An honest lawyer? YES! Larry was fantastic and I can’t thank him enough for his unbiased advice and support.
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Recent Blog Posts

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