Talk to a Lawyer About Your Wrongful Termination Claims
At Schaefer Halleen, LLC, you can benefit from our experience with complex employee rights claims on issues ranging from sexual harassment to unpaid overtime. To learn about your rights in potential cases of wrongful termination, contact one of our employment law attorneys in Minneapolis.
Schaefer Halleen, LLC, has long enjoyed an outstanding reputation as employees’ wrongful termination advocates in class action litigation, sex or race discrimination claims, and employer misconduct such as the sexual harassment case that provided the story for the Hollywood film “North Country.” To discuss the circumstances of your termination with an experienced wrongful termination attorney in Minneapolis, contact Schaefer Halleen, LLC.
The Client: Former C-Level Executive
Problem: Terminated from employment
Approach: Drafted confidential settlement letter raising potential legal claims and negotiated settlement.
Solution: Doubled company offered severance package.
Wrongful Termination
Just what does “employment at will” mean, anyway?
Savvy human resources officers make sure that all employees understand that they work as employees at will — in other words, either party to the contract is free to terminate it for any reason or no reason. Bear in mind, however, that both Minnesota and federal law provide important exceptions to the employment-at-will doctrine.
While you can apparently be fired for no particular reason, just as you can quit any time you want, you can’t be fired for an unlawful reason. You just might have a claim for wrongful termination, despite any “official” reasons for your departure, if the investigation of the facts reveals that any of the following circumstances played a role in the decision to let you go:
- Discrimination on the basis of age, sex, race, national origin or any other protected classification
- Retaliation for invoking protected employee rights, such as the right to take medical leave or file a sexual harassment complaint
- Problems with supervisors or managers related to whistleblower activity or supporting the legitimate complaint of a co-worker through cooperation with internal or government investigations
Circumstances suggesting wrongful termination can even exist in cases that appear to be budget- or market-motivated downsizing or layoff situations. Just as employers have become more sophisticated in disguising unlawful treatment of their employees, our lawyers take a highly sophisticated approach to the investigation, presentation, negotiation, and proof of wrongful termination claims.
Call Us For Free Legal Advice On Wrongful Termination Laws
Our wrongful termination attorney in Minneapolis also advises and represent employees whose termination might involve breach of a contract of employment, severance issues, or partnership dissolution problems, as when an ousted professional or manager also owns an equity stake in the enterprise.
FAQs About Wrongful Termination in Minnesota
Not with the right evidence and the right attorney. If your termination was against the law, your skilled wrongful termination attorney can present the evidence to create your employment timeline and highlight the illegal action taken against you. You must have evidence of your wrongful termination, though, which means you should keep a record of relevant events.
If you were unfairly fired in Minneapolis, you should keep any documentation you received from your employer. You should also keep a record of dates and times of important actions taken against you as well as recording the who, what, when, and where of each action. Then, contact a wrongful termination lawyer in Minneapolis and have them review the evidence. They will advise you on the next steps if you do have a case.
You are not required to sign a termination letter. In most cases where an employee has been wrongfully terminated, it is wise for him or her not to sign a termination letter. The letter may make it more difficult to prove wrongful termination in the future if you acknowledged the details of the letter, agreed to the facts purported by the letter, or agreed to legal terms which often have you waive legal claims under state and federal law. If you are given a termination letter to sign along with a severance offer, then contact a severance attorney before you agree to either.
Attorneys who handle wrongful termination cases usually have experience in all areas of employment law. They are very knowledgeable about employees’ rights and local, state, and federal employment laws that protect workers. A wrongful termination lawyer acts as an advocate and seeks the best possible outcome for their wrongfully terminated clients, employees.
Even if your employer does not provide an “official” reason for your termination, you might have a claim for a wrongful termination if after an investigation of the facts and circumstances surrounding your firing reveal that you were discriminated against on the basis of your age, sex, race, national origin, sexual orientation, or any other protected classification. Other wrongful termination circumstances could include retaliation for invoking protected employee rights , problems with supervisors or managers related to whistleblower activity, or supporting a co-worker’s legitimate complaint.
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