You Lost Your Job. You Shouldn’t Lose Your Rights.

Getting fired is devastating. It threatens your income, your family’s security, and your sense of self-worth. But when you’re fired for illegal reasons—because of who you are, what you reported, or what you refused to do—that’s more than devastating. That’s a violation of your rights.

And violations have consequences.

The California wrongful termination lawyers at Christopher Ellison Law have dedicated our careers to making employers pay for illegal terminations. We’re trial attorneys who aren’t afraid to stand up in court and expose exactly what your employer did to you—and why it was wrong.

We represent wrongful termination victims throughout California, including Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and San Diego County.

Call 310-882-6239 for a free consultation. We’re ready to fight for you.

What Is Wrongful Termination in California?

California is an “at-will” employment state. Your employer probably told you that means they can fire you anytime, for any reason.

They lied.

At-will employment has limits. Your employer cannot fire you for illegal reasons—and there are more illegal reasons than most people realize.

Wrongful termination occurs when you’re fired because of:

• Your age (40 and older)
• Your disability
• Your pregnancy
• Your race or ethnicity
• Your religion
• Your national origin
• Your sex or gender
• Your sexual orientation or gender identity

You’re also protected if you were fired for:

• Filing a workers’ compensation claim
• Taking FMLA or CFRA leave
• Reporting discrimination or harassment
• Refusing to do something illegal
• Reporting safety violations
• Whistleblowing on fraud or misconduct
• Participating in union activities
• Serving on jury duty or voting

If any of these apply to you, your termination wasn’t just unfair—it was illegal. And we’re going to prove it.

Types of Wrongful Termination Cases We Fight

Discriminatory Termination

Your employer fired you because of who you are—your race, gender, age, disability, religion, or another protected characteristic. They may have given you a different excuse, but the real reason was discrimination.

We see through pretextual explanations. We uncover the evidence that proves what really happened. And we make discriminatory employers pay.

Retaliatory Termination

You did the right thing. You reported harassment. You filed a safety complaint. You refused to participate in fraud. And your employer punished you for it by taking your job.

That’s illegal retaliation—and it’s exactly the kind of case we love to fight.

Breach of Contract Termination

You had an employment contract. It spelled out the terms of your employment and the conditions under which you could be terminated. Your employer ignored those terms and fired you anyway.

Contracts exist for a reason. We enforce them.

Constructive Discharge

Your employer didn’t technically fire you. They just made your working conditions so unbearable that you had no choice but to quit.

That’s called constructive discharge, and under the law, it’s treated the same as being fired. If you were forced out by intolerable conditions, you have a wrongful termination claim.

Violation of Public Policy

California law protects employees who exercise their legal rights. Your employer cannot fire you for voting, serving on a jury, taking military leave, or filing a workers’ comp claim. If they did, they violated public policy—and they’re going to pay.

Laid Off vs. Fired: Don’t Be Fooled

Your employer called it a “layoff” or a “restructuring.” They said it was just business.

Don’t believe everything they tell you.

Employers use layoffs as cover for illegal terminations all the time. If you were “laid off” but:

• You were the only one in your department let go
• Younger or different employees kept their jobs
• The “restructuring” conveniently eliminated employees over 40
• You were laid off right after reporting a problem

…then your “layoff” might actually be wrongful termination. We’ll investigate and expose the truth.

What If You Quit? Understanding Constructive Discharge

Maybe you weren’t technically fired. Maybe you quit because you couldn’t take it anymore—the harassment, the hostility, the impossible working conditions.

Here’s what your employer doesn’t want you to know: if they made your job so intolerable that any reasonable person would have quit, that’s legally the same as being fired.

This is called constructive discharge, and you may have a strong wrongful termination case even though you technically resigned.

Before you quit—or if you’ve already quit—call us at 310-882-6239. We’ll evaluate whether you have a constructive discharge claim and fight to get you compensated.

California Wrongful Termination Deadlines

Your employer is hoping you’ll wait too long to take action. Don’t give them that gift.

Critical Deadlines:

• Discrimination-Based Claims: One (1) year to file with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD)
• After Right to Sue Notice: One (1) year to file your lawsuit
• Retaliation/Public Policy Claims: Two (2) years
• Oral Contract Breach: Two (2) years
• Written Contract Breach: Four (4) years

Miss these deadlines and you lose your right to sue. Call 310-882-6239 today.

What to Do After Being Wrongfully Terminated

The steps you take right now can make or break your case. Here’s what we tell every client:

Step 1: Document Everything

Write down exactly what happened—dates, times, what was said, who was there. Your memory is freshest right now.

Step 2: Preserve Evidence

Save every email, text message, performance review, and document related to your employment and termination. Don’t delete anything.

Step 3: Don’t Sign Anything Yet

Your employer may offer severance in exchange for signing away your rights. Before you sign anything, talk to a lawyer. That “generous” offer might be a fraction of what you’re entitled to.

Step 4: Call Us Immediately

The sooner we’re involved, the more evidence we can preserve and the stronger your case will be.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m an at-will employee. Can I still sue for wrongful termination?

Absolutely. At-will employment doesn’t give your employer a license to break the law. They still can’t fire you for discriminatory reasons, retaliation, or violations of public policy. If they did, you have a case.

My employer says they fired me for poor performance. What can I do?

Employers almost always have an excuse ready. “Poor performance” is one of the most common. But if your performance reviews were fine until you reported harassment, or if the “performance issues” only appeared after you took medical leave, that excuse falls apart. We know how to prove pretext.

Can I sue if I was fired while on FMLA leave?

Yes. If your employer fired you for taking protected leave—or timed your termination to avoid your return—that’s illegal. Contact us immediately.

What can I recover in a wrongful termination case?

You may be entitled to back pay, front pay (future lost wages), lost benefits, emotional distress damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees. In some cases, you can even get your job back.

How long do I have to file a wrongful termination claim?

It depends on the type of claim, but deadlines range from one to four years. Some require administrative filings first. The safest move is to contact us immediately so we can protect your rights.

Take Back What’s Yours

Your employer took your job. They don’t get to take your dignity, your rights, or your future.

Christopher Ellison Law stands with wrongfully terminated employees throughout California. We fight with everything we have to expose illegal terminations and get our clients the compensation they deserve.

What You Get With Us:

• Trial-Ready Attorneys – We don’t bluff. We fight.
• No Upfront Costs – You pay nothing unless we win.
• Statewide Representation – Serving all of California.
• 24/7 Availability – Because your crisis doesn’t wait for business hours.
• Aggressive Advocacy – We make employers regret what they did to you.

Christopher Ellison Law California Wrongful Termination Lawyer Serving All of California

You Were Wronged. We’ll Make It Right.