Wrongful Termination Lawyers

When employers fire their employees for reasons not related to their performance at work, employees might have a wrongful termination lawsuit. Unfortunately, not every unfair reason for firing is a wrongful termination. In most states, including California, employees without an employment contract may be fired for any reason that doesn't violate public policy. Employees with a contract are governed by that contract, but they still can't be fired for a reason that violates public policy -- that is, any reason that breaks a law. Common reasons for a firing that violates public policy include:

Employee refused to break a law
Discrimination on the basis of age, race, gender, disability, religion, pregnancy or other protected classes
Genetic discrimination (Note: only if Bush signs the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act, which he's expected to do soon.)
In some states, including California, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation
Retaliation for reporting or complaining about any kind of discrimination, including sexual harassment
Retaliation for "whistle-blowing" on violations of the law, including violations of workplace safety or wage-and-hour violations
Retaliation for taking leave to care for a sick family member or serve in the armed forces
Employee tried to start a union or use union protections

Because wrongful termination frequently arises out of other, related violations of the law, especially civil rights law, employers don't always acknowledge the true reason for a firing. Experienced wrongful termination lawyers often use circumstances and verbal statements by managers and co-workers to make their wrongful termination cases.

Panish, Shea & Boyle is acknowledged as a national leader in litigation that protects the rights of ordinary people against large corporations. We have won several record-setting verdicts and settlements, including the largest jury verdict in American legal history, as well as several other record verdicts for people who were wrongfully killed or very severely injured by product defects or aviation disasters.

Panish, Shea & Boyle partners frequently speak to other lawyers about good trial practices and legal specialties, and have taken leadership roles in complex national litigation and in professional legal organizations. We have a proven track record of taking on difficult, complicated medical and legal topics and returning large verdicts and settlements, including more than 150 worth $1 million or more.

Wrongful Termination Verdicts & Settlements

Marx v. Storage Tek$11,980,000
Ebrahimi v. American Express$6,000,000
Dahn v. Rockwell$2,393,000
Gulati v. I.B.M.$1,500,000
Lesbines v. Universal City Nissan$1,500,000

Latest Firm News

Michael Nelsen v. Hillyard, Inc., et al. - Record $21 million verdict for Iraq war veteran. 27 year-old Iraqi War veteran Michael Nelsen injured when Hillyard, Inc. truck rear-ended Mr. Nelsen's vehicle on the I-15 freeway.

Tilton v. Sempra - $15 million verdict for brain injury to minor resulting from a power company truck hitting a family vehicle.

Dominguez v. San Francisco - $21 million settlement while case was on appeal. Wrongful death of 4 year-old girl. Largest settlement ever paid by San Francisco.

Contreras v. State of California - $9 million settlement for amputation caused by a damaged freeway guardrail.

Don Gino Dominguez v. South Central Los Angeles Regional Care Center - $2 million verdict for wrongful death of a mentally and physically disabled 39 year-old man. Health care center left man unsupervised and he choked to death.

Doe v. Driver - $5.5 million settlement for death of pedestrian in an auto accident.

Doe v. Oil Refinery - $6.2 Million settlement for wrongful death and personal injury caused by the collapse of tank floating roof.

Avila v. Dresick Farms - $5.64 million dollar jury verdict for girl injured in truck v. van collision. Believed to be the largest verdict in the history of Imperial County, California.

Konrad, et al. v. Hewlett-Packard - Lawsuit filed against Hewlett-Packard for pretexting journalists and their families

Chief Warrant Officers v. Boeing, et al. - $13.55 million settlement for Army maintenance officers severely injured in the crash of Apache Longbow helicopter on a maintenance test flight during Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq.

Does v. Doe Auto Manufacturer: confidential multimillion dollar settlement on behalf of a family involved in on-road rollover of sport utility vehicle.

Does v. Van Manufacturer and Rental Company - Confidential multi-million dollar settlement on behalf of the survivors and family members of 14 church group members involved in a fifteen passenger van rollover.

Hill v. Titan Tire - Confidential multi-million dollar settlement for a 42 year old man who sustained brain injuries following a tire failure on his vehicle.

Dominguez v. San Francisco - $27.4 Million Verdict - Mother and 6 others witnessed a city truck driver run over her daughter on a sidewalk. City completely denied responsibility. Largest verdict ever against the City of San Francisco.

Sherman v. Courrege - $25.5 Million Verdict - Wrongful death of mother, father, and son hit by a drunk driver.

Sorenson v. Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway - $2.8 Million Verdict - Plaintiffs were parents of a 48 year-old man killed when a freight train crashed into a commuter train.

Doe v. Auto Manufacturer - Major Confidential Settlement Fuel fed fire caused by defectively designed 15 passenger van rollover. Many occupants killed or severely burned.

Flores v. Continental Tire - Major Confidential Settlement - Woman sustained paraplegia when the right rear tire on the family's Ford Windstar van experienced a tread belt separation, causing the vehicle to roll over.

Panish, Shea & Boyle on TV - The trial attorneys at Panish, Shea & Boyle have been on numerous televisions shows because of their involvement in many high profile cases.

11111 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 700 Los Angeles CA 90025 • P:310-477-1700 • F: 310-477-1699 • Toll Free: 1-877-800-1700

California Wrongful Termination Lawyer Disclaimer: The wrongful termination or other legal information presented at this site should not be considered formal legal advice, nor the formation of a lawyer or attorney client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. Please note that you are not considered a client until you have signed a retainer agreement and your case has been accepted by us.

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