Many people in Florida know that it is an “at-will” or “right-to-work” state and believe employers ultimately have the right to fire employees at will for any reason they choose. However, this is fundamentally not true. Workers in Florida have rights protected by state and federal laws. Several laws exist to prevent employers from terminating a person’s employment because of discrimination, retaliation, or without just cause.
If you or a loved one was wrongfully terminated from employment in Leesburg, Florida, you may have grounds to sue your former employer for financial compensation to recover lost wages and other damages you experienced. You can hire a Leesburg wrongful termination lawyer from Bogin, Munns & Munns to represent you and build a case on your behalf. We can discuss your options during a consultation.
Florida Law Still Protects Workers from Discrimination and Retaliation
The following laws protect workers from wrongful termination in Florida:
- Florida Statutes § 760.10(1)(a): This law prohibits employers from terminating an employee based on discrimination. This means anyone may challenge an employer’s discharge if they have evidence that their termination was based on their race, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, national origin, pregnancy, or marital status.
- Florida Statutes § 448.102: This law prohibits employers from terminating an employee in retaliation for reporting sexual harassment or discrimination at the workplace. The Florida Whistleblower Act also ensures that employees who provide information about unlawful offenses at the workplace to a government agency remain protected.
- Florida Statutes § 440.105(2)(a): This law prohibits employers from terminating an employee who filed a workers’ compensation claim after suffering an injury at the workplace. Employers cannot fire injured or sick employees to avoid paying out compensation for work-related accidents.
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): This federal law protects eligible employees in the United States who must leave their job position to grieve a loved one (bereavement), take care of a sick loved one, get medical treatment for an illness or injury, or prepare for the birth of their child and/or care for a newborn. FMLA allows employees to take up to 12 work weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave.
Other scenarios that might fall under wrongful termination may occur in commercial law disputes, such as in cases where the employer breached its contract with an employee. This may involve wage disputes, hour disputes, and classification disputes. Our legal team can review your case to determine whether you have grounds to take legal action against your employer, then begin building your case.
To consult with an experienced wrongful termination lawyer serving Leesburg
(855) 780-9986
You Can Pursue Financial Recovery for Wages You Lost and Other Damages
Part of the litigation process will be sending a demand letter that details what kind of damages you suffered since being wrongfully terminated from your place of employment. Our team will discuss your case with you to identify your compensatory damages, then assign a monetary value to them based on financial documents you provide or other court-approved formulas.
For example, many clients have pursued compensation for the following types of damages:
- Current and future loss of income: We can calculate how much wages you should have earned had you not been wrongfully terminated as well as how much wages you will lose in the future because of your discharge.
- Back wages: If your case involves a dispute on wages or work-hour term contracts, we can calculate the wages you should have collected from your employer.
- Reduced earning potential: If being wrongfully terminated affected your ability to find a new job position of equal or greater pay value or find work in your field in general, we can calculate the difference in salary you now earn. Additionally, if you were blacklisted from your work industry, we can estimate how much of an impact this caused you in your career.
- Emotional distress: If you struggled with your mental health because of your wrongful termination, a Leesburg wrongful termination lawyer from our team can advocate for you and petition for financial compensation for the negative emotional consequences you experienced. This may include chronic depression, anxiety, insomnia, or stress.
- Legal fees: Our legal team may also factor in the cost of our services and demand that the defendant pay compensation to you to cover those costs. This includes costs to hire an attorney from our firm and access to legal counsel.
If you suffered a work-related injury or illness and were terminated before you could petition for workers’ compensation, our team can present your case in front of a judge and jury and petition for your right to recover your damages. Other damages not mentioned here can be found in personal injury cases, where plaintiffs often demand compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and overall diminished quality of life.
Wrongful Termination Cases Have a Short Filing Period, So Don’t Delay
If you intend on filing a charge with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), you generally have between 180 to 300 days after the discrimination event to file your case for review. The EEOC will allow an extension on the filing deadline (up to 300 days) if state law specifically prohibits discrimination.
However, in cases where plaintiffs claim wrongful termination because their employers fired them in retaliation for whistleblowing against the company, the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR) shortens the filing window period to 60 days after the prohibited personnel action.
What Our Team Can Do to Help You Build Your Case
Our legal team will take appropriate steps to identify your case’s filing deadline and prepare legal paperwork to submit your case and maintain its validity in court. However, beyond submitting your case, our team will also:
- Investigate your termination and collect evidence that supports your claims
- Handle all communications so that all statements made about your case remain protected from being manipulated in trial
- Appear in out-of-court meetings to negotiate a potential settlement deal for your case
- Prepare your case for trial if you decide to file a lawsuit to pursue compensation
- Provide legal counsel at any point during litigation
Leesburg Wrongful Termination Lawyer Near Me
(855) 780-9986
Call Bogin, Munns & Munns to Hire a Leesburg Wrongful Termination Lawyer
At Bogin, Munns & Munns, we advocate for workers in Florida who have been wrongfully terminated from their jobs. If you or a loved one was fired by an employer and you suspect you may be a victim of discrimination, retaliation, or another workers’ rights violation, our legal team can look into your case and see what legal options are available to you.
When you call our law office, you can receive a consultation with a member of our team. They’ll listen to your case and explain what services our firm can provide when you hire a Leesburg wrongful termination lawyer from our team to represent you. Call now to start building your case in Lake County.
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