Atlanta Wrongful Termination Attorneys
Holding Georgia employers accountable for violating your rights
Jobs provide more than just a paycheck to support yourself and your family. Jobs provide a sense of dignity that you’re making a contribution to your community. Being fired from your job just because of who you look like, because you asserted your rights, or because your employer wanted to replace you with someone younger is demeaning and unacceptable. When employers violate the laws or your employment contract, you need experienced, respected Atlanta employment attorneys on your side.
At Buckley Bala Wilson Mew LLP, we believe that employers must be held accountable when they knowingly violate worker rights. Our firm will explain the federal and Georgia laws that protect your interests and rights. Our Atlanta wrongful termination attorneys have nearly a century of collective experience fighting for employees. We have recovered millions of dollars for our clients in past cases. We’ll fight for your job, all the compensation you lost, and additional statutory damages.
This was my first time having to seek legal counsel on an employment issue so I was a bit nervous about the process. I was referred to Ed Buckley by a friend I respect and trust, and one that has over 20 years of experience in law. Mr. Buckley made the process much less intimidating for me. Many thanks to Mr. Buckley and team for helping me. I'd definitely hire them again. – Google review
Case Evaluation
How can we help?
- What does it mean to “wrongfully terminate” an employee?
- Common examples of wrongful termination in Georgia
- How can your Atlanta attorneys help me prove wrongful termination?
- What remedies and benefits can I claim if I’m wrongfully fired in Georgia?
- Do you have a wrongful termination attorney near me?
What does it mean to “wrongfully terminate” an employee?
Georgia is an “at-will” employment state, which means an employee can be let go or fired for virtually any reason – or for no reason at all. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t laws in place designed to protect you.
The U.S. government defines wrongful termination as being fired for an illegal reason, such as:
- Due to discrimination
- In violation of a federal or state labor law
- Because you reported and refused to participate in harassment based on a protected characteristic
- Because you reported or refused to refused to participate in illegal or fraudulent conduct by your employer
Common examples of wrongful termination in Georgia
Wrongful termination comes in many forms. There are many situations where you can file a wrongful termination claim based on federal laws, state laws, and your employment contract. Our Atlanta employment lawyers will explain which of the federal or state laws that prohibit wrongful termination apply to your situation.
Discrimination
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (1984) established “protected classes” including race, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), color, national origin, and religion. Employers are prohibited from taking negative actions including terminating an employee against an employee based on these classes.
Some of the other laws that protect employees from being fired due to discrimination include:
- The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) protects employees who are 40 years of age or older.
- Title I and Title V of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended (ADA) prohibits employment discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities. The ADA applies to the private sector and state and local governments.
- Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) prohibits employment discrimination based on genetic information about a job applicant or an employee.
Other laws depending on the type of discrimination involved may protect you too.
We’ll explain if you qualify based on the type of discrimination involved, the reason for the firing, the size and location of the employer, and any other factors that apply.
Harassment
Title VII of the US Civil Rights Act of 1964 also protects employees who are subjected to workplace harassment based on their protected class, such as sex or race.
For example, Title VII prohibits acts of sexual harassment when such harassment:
- Becomes a “term or condition of your employment
- When rejection of the harassment affects your employment status. This type of harassment is called quid pro harassment.
- When such conduct becomes so “severe or pervasive” that it creates an “hostile work environment.” Sexual comments, drawings, Internet postings, and many other types of inappropriate sexual can combine to create a hostile work environment.
Retaliation
It is against the law for employees to be punished for engaging in legal actions such as filing a complaint about discrimination, harassment or whistleblowing. While retaliation can include wrongful termination, it can also include acts such as demotion, sudden transfers, and denial of a raise or a promotion.
It is illegal to release a worker for engaging in acts protected by state or federal policies. For example, a worker cannot be let go for taking time off to serve on a jury, to vote, or for filing a workers’ compensation claim. The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) protects service members who wrongfully discharge if they are called up to serve in the military or may be called.
How can your Atlanta attorneys help me prove wrongful termination?
The most important aspect of a wrongful termination case is evidence. It's best to start gathering evidence as soon as you suspect you may be wrongfully discharged. Our Atlanta wrongful termination attorneys will work with you to obtain the following types of evidence which may be relevant to your case:
- Witness statements
- A copy of your employment contract or handbook
- Copies of positive performance reviews
- Termination notices, if in writing
- Emails and other communications
- The names of those involved in firing you
- A timeline of events, such as the time you took FMLA leave, if applicable
If you have an employment contract, we will review the terms of the contract to determine which provision(s) your employer may have violated.
If you have received a Right to Sue letter from the EEOC after you filed a Charge of Discrimination, it is vital to get in touch with an Atlanta wrongful termination attorney as soon as possible to have your case evaluated. Buckley Bala Wilson Mew LLP can provide you with the aggressive and thorough representation your case needs.
What remedies and benefits can I claim if I’m wrongfully fired in Georgia?
Our Atlanta employment lawyers seek the following categories of damages, where applicable, for the following:
- Back pay. This includes the wages you lost because you were terminated from your job. It also includes lost economic benefits of employment such as health insurance, retirement benefits, stock options, vacation pay, and sick pay.
- Front pay. This is compensation for future earnings and economic benefits of employment in lieu of reinstatement to your job.
You may also be entitled to statutory damages (additional penalties) including compensatory, liquidated or punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, and court costs. Depending on the type of wrong and the applicable laws, we may seek compensation for your emotional suffering and any damage to your reputation.
Do you have a wrongful termination attorney near me?
Buckley Bala Wilson Mew LLP is based in Atlanta; our office is located at 600 Peachtree St. NE, Suite 3900. Our wrongful termination attorneys speak with clients by phone and video consultations by appointment. We proudly serve clients throughout Georgia, including those in Athens, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, and Savannah.
We understand how upset you are. You need your job, and being forced to find a new job quickly can be difficult and cause you and your family significant emotional and financial hardship. We will explain your rights and pursue those rights in court. We’re skilled at holding employers accountable for wrongful firings.
Speak with our Atlanta wrongful termination attorneys for experienced help now
When an employer fires you because of the way you look, you asserted your legal rights, or helped another worker assert his/her rights; you need a strong, experienced, and respected employee rights lawyer on your side. The respected Atlanta retaliation attorneys of Buckley Bala Wilson Mew LLP have the experience, resources, and tenacity to obtain the strongest results possible. We’re ready to fight for you today. Our Atlanta employment attorneys represent employees throughout Georgia. To assert your employment rights, please call or contact us today.