Los Angeles Wrongful Termination Lawyer
Was Your Firing Illegal?
California lets employers fire you for almost any reason, but not an illegal one. Here’s how to tell the difference, and what to do if yours crossed the line. You pay nothing unless we win.
Being fired hurts. Being fired for an illegal reason is something a Los Angeles wrongful termination lawyer can make your employer pay for. The hard part is telling which one happened to you, because employers rarely write the real reason down. This page walks you through it. Bluestone Law represents employees, never employers. We’ll get back to you within 24 hours, and the consultation is free. Se habla español.
Rotem Tamir, Esq. · Super Lawyers Rising Star 2025 · California Employment Lawyers Association member · Loyola Law School J.D., cum laude · CA State Bar #328968
What does a Los Angeles wrongful termination lawyer do?
A wrongful termination lawyer proves that the real reason you were fired was illegal, then recovers your lost pay and damages from the employer. We build every case as if it will go to trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court, because that’s what makes an employer take it seriously.
We handle every step: gathering the evidence, filing with the Civil Rights Department, negotiating, and going to trial when it’s needed. You work with one firm that represents employees only.
California is an at-will state. Can I still sue for wrongful termination?
Yes. California law lets employers end employment “at the will of either party”, but at-will never covers firing someone for an illegal reason.
So the question isn’t whether your employer needed a reason. It’s whether the real reason was one the law forbids. That’s what the next two sections help you figure out, and our California wrongful termination page covers the full statewide picture.
What makes a firing illegal in California?
A firing is illegal when the real reason is one the law forbids, whatever reason the employer wrote down. The most common forbidden reasons are discrimination, retaliation, whistleblowing, and taking protected leave.
Legal firing or illegal firing? A quick guide to California law
| Why you were fired | Legal or illegal? | California law |
|---|---|---|
| No reason given, or a real, documented performance problem | Legal on its own | Labor Code § 2922 (at-will) |
| Your race, sex, age, disability, pregnancy, religion, national origin, or another protected characteristic | Illegal | Gov. Code § 12940(a) |
| You complained about discrimination or harassment, or filed a complaint | Illegal | Gov. Code § 12940(h) |
| You reported a violation of law to an agency or to someone at work who could fix it | Illegal | Labor Code § 1102.5(b) |
| You requested or took protected family or medical leave | Illegal | Gov. Code § 12945.2(k) · our FMLA & CFRA page |
| You asked for a disability accommodation | Illegal | Gov. Code § 12940(m)(2) |
Want to see how these play out in real situations? Read our California wrongful termination examples.
How can I tell if my firing was a cover story?
Look at the timing, the paperwork, and how everyone else was treated. Employers rarely admit an illegal reason, so the real reason usually shows up in the gaps between what they said and what they did.
- The timing: you were fired days or weeks after a complaint, a leave request, a pregnancy announcement, or a disability disclosure.
- The paper trail started late: years of good reviews, then sudden write-ups only after you spoke up.
- A “layoff” of one: the restructuring somehow only reached you, or your job was refilled soon after.
- Others got a pass: co-workers who did the same thing weren’t disciplined.
- The story keeps changing: the reason you were given doesn’t match what HR, your manager, or the paperwork says.
If two or more of these sound familiar, talk to a lawyer before you sign anything. Our guide to how to prove wrongful termination in California goes deeper.
What happens when a wrongful termination case goes to trial?
A jury hears the evidence and decides, and employers know that risk. On August 12, 2026, a Los Angeles County jury at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse returned a $355,941.75 verdict for our client, a resident manager fired because of her disability.
The jury found for her on disability discrimination, failure to accommodate, failure to engage in the interactive process, wrongful discharge in violation of public policy, and her unpaid overtime and minimum-wage claims. It awarded punitive damages against all four defendants, and both owners were held personally liable for the wage violations under Labor Code § 558.1. Rotem Tamir tried the case with co-counsel Antoine D. Williams and Bart A. Seemen of Williams & Seemen, APLC.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case depends on its individual facts. Client identity withheld at the client’s request.
What is my wrongful termination case worth?
It depends on your lost pay, the strength of the evidence, and the harm you suffered, but also on factors most people never hear about. Whether the employer has insurance, the policy limit, who is defending the case, and whether your lawyer actually tries cases all move the number.
In Rotem’s words: “What moves the settlement number? Whether there’s insurance, and what the policy limit is. Who the firm is. Who the attorney is, and their trial experience.”
No honest lawyer can give you a figure before reviewing your facts. For a starting point, see our breakdown of average wrongful termination settlements in California or try the case value calculator.
How long do I have to file a wrongful termination claim in California?
For a discrimination or retaliation claim under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act, you have three years to file with the Civil Rights Department (Gov. Code § 12960(e)(5)). Other wrongful termination claims carry different, sometimes shorter deadlines, so don’t wait to find out which one applies to you.
Evidence also disappears quickly after a firing. Call while your texts, schedules, and emails are still where you left them.
How much does a wrongful termination lawyer cost in Los Angeles?
Nothing upfront. We take wrongful termination cases on contingency: no retainer, no hourly fees, and you pay nothing unless we win.
The first consultation is free and confidential. Tell us what happened, and we’ll tell you if you have a case and what it could be worth. No cost, no obligation, no pressure.
What should I do right now if I think I was fired illegally?
Don’t sign a severance agreement yet, and start saving evidence today. Write down the dates (when you complained, asked for leave, or disclosed a condition, and when things changed), and keep every email, text, and schedule you can lawfully access. Our just-fired checklist walks you through it step by step.
Then call us. Rotem Tamir personally reviews every potential case, and virtual meetings are available if you can’t come in.
Serving Clients Throughout Los Angeles and Los Angeles County
Bluestone Law is based in Canoga Park and represents employees throughout Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, and Los Angeles County. Consultations are available by phone, video, and in person.
Main Office: 7008 Owensmouth Ave, Canoga Park, CA 91303 | (310) 363-0975
Frequently Asked Questions: Wrongful Termination in Los Angeles
Is it legal to fire an at-will employee?
California is an at-will state, but at-will does not mean unlimited. Employers cannot fire you for a discriminatory, retaliatory, or otherwise illegal reason, even if you are at-will.
What is the difference between wrongful termination and a layoff?
A legitimate layoff eliminates positions for business reasons using neutral criteria. It becomes wrongful termination when the “layoff” is a pretext, for example when it singles out the employee who complained, took leave, or is in a protected group.
Can I sue if I was fired without any reason given?
Possibly. Not giving a reason is legal on its own, but it doesn’t protect an employer whose real reason was discriminatory or retaliatory. The timing and circumstances usually tell the story.
Talk to a Los Angeles Wrongful Termination Lawyer Today
Your employer broke the law. We make them pay. If you were fired in the Los Angeles area for an illegal reason, act now. Deadlines are strict, and evidence can disappear quickly.
Bluestone Law offers free, confidential consultations, and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.