Wrongful Termination

Wrongful termination happens when an employer fires an employee for a reason that California law forbids. Losing your job is stressful enough, but when your firing was illegal, you deserve more than answers, you deserve results. California is an at-will employment state, yet the law draws firm limits: it is unlawful to terminate an employee because of discrimination, in retaliation for exercising a protected right, in violation of public policy, or in breach of an employment contract under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the Labor Code, and related statutes.

When Is a Termination Actually “Wrongful”?

Because most California employees are hired “at will,” an employer can generally let someone go for almost any reason, or no reason at all. Wrongful termination is the exception: it applies when the real reason for the firing is one the law specifically prohibits. The most common categories we see include:

• Discrimination — firing someone because of a protected characteristic such as race, sex, age, disability, religion, or national origin.
• Retaliation — terminating an employee for reporting harassment, wage violations, or unsafe conditions. Learn more on our workplace retaliation page.
• Whistleblower firings — punishing an employee for reporting suspected illegal activity, protected under Labor Code 1102.5.
• Disability-related terminations — firing a worker instead of providing a reasonable accommodation. See our disability discrimination overview.
• Public policy violations — dismissing someone for taking protected leave, serving on a jury, or refusing to break the law.

Proving a Wrongful Termination Claim

Employers rarely admit the true reason for a firing, so wrongful termination cases usually turn on the surrounding evidence. Timing is often powerful: when a termination follows shortly after a complaint, an accommodation request, or a protected leave, that closeness can suggest an unlawful motive. Emails, performance reviews, text messages, and witness accounts all help establish what really happened. Our attorneys dig into the real reason behind your firing, preserve critical evidence early, and build a clear timeline that connects the dots.

What You Can Recover

A successful wrongful termination claim can restore much of what an unfair firing takes away. Depending on the facts, recovery may include lost wages and benefits, emotional distress damages, reinstatement to your position, and, where the law allows, punitive damages and attorney’s fees. Many claims also overlap with other violations, which can increase the total value of a case.

Deadlines Matter, So Act Early

Wrongful termination claims are subject to strict filing deadlines, and some require first filing an administrative complaint before a lawsuit can proceed. Waiting too long can permanently bar an otherwise strong case. The California Civil Rights Department, which handles many of these complaints, explains the process on its official website.

How Michael Yerzinkyan Law Can Help

At Michael Yerzinkyan Law, wrongful termination is one of the core areas of our practice, and we have built a track record of holding California employers accountable and recovering meaningful compensation for the workers they wronged. We understand what an unjust firing costs you, both financially and personally, and we fight to make you whole. If you believe you were wrongfully terminated, we are ready to review your case, explain your rights under California law, and pursue the full compensation you are owed. Contact our office for a confidential case review.