California Wrongful Termination Legal News Articles & Interviews

Los Angeles, CA: The Supreme Court’s decision in March to reject the California Trucking Association’s appeal regarding workers illegally misclassified by companies as independent contractors is a victory for the California Labor Commissioner, truckers and teamsters. While the decision doesn’t set a standard for determining whether an independent driver is an employee, workers may be considered employees under the California prevailing wage law.

Santa Cruz, CA: In October 2015, two Spanish-speaking employees of Goodwill Central Coast were fired for reporting to their manager that another manager harassed them and threatened to kill one of them. Finally their case has been settled: a National Labor Relations Board judge ordered they be reinstated, with back pay. Also in federal court, Walmart is accused of wrongful termination and retaliation, both California labor law violations.

Santa Clara, CA: Yet another California labor lawsuit has been filed against Google Inc. by a former software engineer who excelled at her work but, in the end felt victimized by an alleged workplace culture that objectified women. The search engine juggernaut already faces numerous lawsuits alleging discrimination and wrongful termination.

Los Angeles, CA: A California labor lawsuit alleging wrongful dismissal and defamation was quietly settled earlier this week at the 11th hour after a jury had awarded damages to the plaintiff, but had yet to settle on punitive damages. While having awarded punitive damages in the case on Tuesday February 13, 2018, the jury recessed for the day with plans to deliberate the amount of punitive damages once reconvened. Late in the night on February 13, the two parties reached a confidential settlement, ending the dispute.

Oakland, CA When Eva O’Brien told her boss she was pregnant, he went nuts. He yelled, threw papers, made rude comments about her big belly and breast feeding. Then got in really close to ask if she wanted to quit. She didn’t and things got worse. Lower-paid hourly employees are among the most vulnerable and the least likely to file lawsuits, even in response to outrageous conduct. California wrongful termination law can protect workers like Eva under the “wrongful termination in violation of public policy” provision. But these lawsuits take endurance.

Rialto, CA Juan believes he was wrongfully terminated: he didn’t show up for work one day because he was in jail - a situation obviously out of his control. His employer fired Juan because he was “unreliable” but he had never even been late for work. Is that fair?

San Bernardino, CA A former sheriff’s deputy who claims he was unjustly fired by San Bernardino County for taking too much time off work to care for his ailing mother appears to be headed for a California wrongful termination settlement. Travis Bauer alleges he was unjustly targeted by his superiors and subsequently fired, whereas his former employer maintains Bauer was given to poor job performance and simply was given to a habit of calling in sick.

Los Angeles, CA A new wage and hour labor law, AB 442, has been passed by the Senate Judiciary recently, which allows liquidated damages for wage and hour violations to be recovered without a court action.

Fresno, CA A California wrongful termination case is poised to further test laws against discrimination, after the plaintiff in the case alleges she was fired from her job of 22 years over an alleged discrimination issue.

San Jose, CA San Jose State track and cross-country coach Ron Davis filed a $2.25 million California wrongful termination lawsuit in Santa Clara County Superior Court against San Jose State last month. Davis claims he was racially discriminated against, which is in violation of the California wrongful termination law.