Author:
Kimberly J. Benjamin, Founder & Managing Attorney
May 31. 2021.
Illegally Fired? Here’s What to Know About Working With a Kansas City Wrongful Termination Lawyer
All employees in Kansas City, Missouri, are entitled to numerous rights and privileges that protect them from various misconducts, including wrongful termination by employers. Of course, it can be difficult to approach your employer and demand recompense when they fire you.
All the disappointment, fear, and confusion can make things worse, and that’s why it’s always important to work with a professional.
If you feel like you’ve been wrongly terminated by your employer, there are certain things you need to know and do to achieve the best outcome possible.
Among the first issues you’re likely to face when you’re the target of wrongful termination are stress, unease, and anger. Such emotions can get you into trouble and reduce your chances of winning your case if you decide to make a claim. While it’s okay to experience negative emotions, it always helps to calm down before taking any step.
The next thing you need to do is call an experienced termination lawyer to help you understand your legal options and the best way to approach your case.
While you do that, save every piece of communication between you and your employer, such as a dismissal email or letter. For instance, you may have a letter containing your employer’s reason for the termination. Such material can help you prove you were wrongfully terminated if necessary.
Lastly, create a consistent account of what transpired from your perspective. It should contain as many details as possible concerning the events that led to the termination, such as quotes, dates, and people’s names. The earlier you create this account the better as memory tends to fade over time.
A qualified Kansas City, MO, employment law attorney can help you understand all the steps you need to take just after your discharge. Therefore, be sure to contact one who understands state and federal termination laws as soon as possible.
Why You Need a Wrongful Termination Lawyer Kansas City
As you can expect, wrongful termination cases can get complicated, especially if your employer is meticulous and properly represented. In some cases, we’ve seen employers using poor performance, intolerable behavior, irregular attendance, and other similar issues as their reasons for terminating their employees.
Some of these arguments are often believable, especially when they’re accompanied by evidence, and that’s why these cases aren’t always easy to win.
Luckily, an attorney who knows how to find loopholes and cut through subtle evasion tactics employed by the defense can increase your chances of emerging successful in the case. Often, it just takes a bit of digging for our law firm to discover that these tactics were used to cover up a retaliation or discrimination-based termination.
Grounds For Wrongful Termination
Knowing whether you have a claim is not always easy. That’s why the first step you should take after experiencing a wrongful termination is to get a Kansas City, Missouri, employment law attorney on your side. A good attorney should explain to you a number of the common grounds for a wrongful termination claim, which include (but are not limited to) the following:
Breach of contract
Most employers use certain guides that describe the rules that employers should stick to as well as the process they should follow before firing an employee. If you’ve recently faced a termination, there is a chance your employer did not follow these guidelines, which would mean that the termination may be wrongful. This is especially true if you signed a formal employment contract which was later breached by your employer while terminating you.
Civil rights violations
In Kansas City, MO, most employees are legally classified as “at-will” employees. This is because Missouri is considered an “at-will” employment state. At-will employees enter an employment relationship with their employers voluntarily for an undetermined duration. Such employees may be fired by their employers at any time, as long as the reason for doing so is legal.
Some of the common termination reasons that would be deemed illegal are those that revolve around race, religion, age, disability, sex, and national origin, among other protected classes. This is mandated by several state and federal laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Missouri Human Rights Act.
It’s always prudent to talk with a termination lawyer to help you go through these and other issues that may have led to your termination. At the Missouri Employee Rights and Employment Discrimination Center, we know how to work with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to help wrongfully terminated workers obtain the compensation and closure they need and deserve.
How Much Compensation Can You Recover With an Attorney For Wrongful Termination?
Do you know how much compensation you should expect from a wrongful termination? Simply put, as a wrongful termination victim, you could receive anything below $5,000 or as high as $80,000 even if you pursue an out-of-court settlement.
Most people who receive meager or low compensation always have one thing in common: they go about the process without a lawyer. Having a termination lawyer on your side can easily double your chances of receiving a desirable outcome — this is because attorneys who focus on wrongful termination have a comprehensive understanding of employment laws and know what it takes to convince a court and win a claim.
When to Reach Out to Lawyers That Deal With Wrongful Termination
It’s very possible you’re not sure whether you were legally or illegally terminated. Even if you think you were legally terminated, it’s always a good idea to seek the opinion of an attorney at our Kansas City, MO, employment law firm to be sure.
Many people who are terminated on the grounds of poor work performance, for instance, often realize when it’s too late that the right process was not followed, and that they were entitled to compensation. Since you wouldn’t want to make such a painful realization later on in life, it’s best to seek legal advice from someone well-versed in federal and state laws immediately after your termination.
What to Look for in an Unfair Termination Lawyer
If this is your first time facing a legal problem, you may wonder what you need to look for in an attorney to be sure that you have the right person. Some of the top traits you need to be on the lookout for include the following:
Experience. Look for someone with a proven record of success in wrongful termination cases.
Good communication skills. The law is often confusing to most people. That’s why you need someone who can break down things for you and present critical details about your case in a language you can understand.
Honesty. You should aim to get someone who can be honest with you about everything, from your odds of success to the costs and risks.
Besides these traits, your attorney should also be supportive, results-oriented, and available to assist you within a reasonable timeframe. When you turn to the Missouri Employee Rights and Employment Discrimination Center, you will find all of these values and more. The wrongful termination lawyers at our Kansas City, MO, employment law firm have precisely what it takes to protect your rights, hold your former employer accountable for their actions, and help you begin moving forward. Please call our employment lawyers today for a free consultation.
