Wrongful Termination Damages
Wrongful termination can cause incredible financial hardship and other significant challenges. Attorney Chris Olsen can explain what kinds of damages can be collected in a wrongful termination lawsuit in order to help you through this difficult period. With years of experience and a passion for aiding employees mistreated by employers, he can determine if you have a case, and provide thorough, experienced representation. To learn more about wrongful termination damages, contact our San Diego, CA, office today. There is a statute of limitations on these cases, so it is important to get in touch with an attorney as soon as possible.
Here at Olsen Law offices, we understand that wrongful termination can be a very difficult experience. Attorney Chris Olsen can protect your best interests during this trying time.
An Overview of Damages
Damages are money awarded by a jury. If an employee successfully proves that they have suffered losses as a result of their employer’s actions, the jury can elect to compensate the employee for those losses. While laws govern the quantity of certain damages, other sums are completely dependent upon the jury’s decision. An experienced attorney is essential in order to demonstrate the full extent of your losses.
Factors Influencing Total Damages Awarded
The jury will consider certain factors when deciding how much, if any, to award the plaintiff. The most common of these are:
- Lost pay: This refers to the pay an employee would have received if they had not been terminated, and may include any earned but unpaid wages, overtime, bonuses, or other forms of compensation. The amount you earn after termination can affect the total, depending on whether you earn more, the same, or less than before.
- Lost benefits: The cost of lost benefits can be hard to quantify, but medical or dental insurance, pension or 401K plans, stock options, and profit sharing are the primary considerations.
- Emotional distress: These damages are only awarded if the employer's actions or other work-related circumstances caused an employee to suffer in a way that a mental health professional can verify. The amount is completely up to the jury.
- Compensatory damages: The employer may be required to cover any out-of-pocket expenses that the employee paid as a result of their wrongful termination. These may include medical bills or costs associated with job searches.
- Punitive damages: If the jury decides that the employer acted in a particularly egregious way, they may require that he or she pay additional damages as punishment. Like emotional distress damages, the amount is completely up to the jury’s discretion, though some federal and state laws can limit that amount.
- Attorney fees: In California, some types of wrongful termination lawsuits require that the employer cover a certain amount of the employee’s attorney fees.
- Tarnished credit rating: In California, the amount of credit rating an employee loses because of financial hardship can also affect the damages awarded.
Contact Us Today
Here at Olsen Law offices, we understand that wrongful termination can be a very difficult experience. Attorney Chris Olsen can protect your best interests during this trying time. Contact us today to learn more.
