There is more than one way to resolve a wrongful termination complaint filed by an employee. A court can decide the merits of the employee’s case under California or federal employee law. It is illegal for employers to terminate an employee for certain reasons, including discrimination and retaliation.
In other words, an employer cannot fire someone simply because of their race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. Furthermore, an employee cannot get fired for complaining about, or reporting, poor working conditions, harassment or other violations.
While letting a case move through the court system is sometimes the best route, there is another way to seek justice and receive a favorable outcome. With the right help and negotiation, parties can come to an agreement and settle the case outside of court. Settlement can help the parties come to a favorable resolution in a more efficient fashion.
One Los Angles school principal settled with the charter school he worked for after filing a wrongful termination suit. In this case, the principal was accused of telling teachers at his school to cheat on standardized tests. Despite these allegations, the charter school signed a new employment contract with the principal.
Soon after the allegations surfaced, the school district began investigating the charter school. In an effort to not lose their charter, the school fired the principal. The school lost its charter anyway.
The principal sued alleging wrongful termination. He also sued for invasion of privacy, in regard to the disclosure of certain aspects of his contract and alleged behavior. After negotiations, the principal and the charter school settled the case. The terms of the settlement are confidential, but it has been confirmed that the principal will receive $245,000.
Employees, like this principal, that have been wrongly fired do not have to deal with the consequences alone. There are a number of courses of action available. With skillful negotiation, cases can be resolved and employees can receive the fair compensation they deserve.
Source: Los Angeles Times, “Fired charter school executive receives $245,000 in settlement,” Howard Blume, Aug. 11, 2012