Wrongful Termination

Richmond Wrongful Termination Lawyers

Fight Back Against Wrongful Dismissal

Virginia is an employment-at-will state. This means that an employer may end a worker’s employment at any time, for any reason – or for no specific reason at all. This does not mean, however, that an employer may terminate an employee as retaliation against reporting harassment or workplace safety violations, or that an employer may discriminate against an employee and terminate their employment.

Additionally, employers may not terminate employment based on medical leaves, under the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA). If you were terminated and believe that you were the victim of retaliation or discrimination, a wrongful termination attorney at LawrenceQueen can help.

We have represented Virginia’s workers since 1994 and have over 85 years of combined legal experience in this field of law. We understand its intricacies and will fight to expose wrongful termination to protect your interests.

Believe you were wrongfully discharged? Call our Richmond office at (804) 409-8689 now for a confidential consultation with one of our knowledgeable attorneys.

Was Your Termination Illegal?

The majority of employees in Virginia are employed at-will. They can leave their jobs for any reason, at any time, and their employers can terminate their employment under the same circumstances. Generally speaking, employees cannot take legal action against their employers for terminating their employment.

There are exceptions to at-will employment, however. Employers cannot termination employees in violation of public policy or federal law.

Signs You Were Wrongfully Terminated

If you believe you were wrongfully terminated, ask yourself the following:

Was the termination based on discrimination? - Terminating an employee based on their gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or disability is always illegal
Were you fired due to retaliation? - Employees cannot be fire for reporting sexual harassment or discrimination
Was your dismissal retaliation for whistleblowing? - It is illegal for employers to retaliate against employees who whistleblow about workplace safety or other legal violations in the workplace
Did you have an existing employment contract? - Certain contracts override at-will employment, laying out specific reasons and methods for firing employees
Did your firing involve an FMLA violation? - Employers are prohibited from firing employees for taking FMLA leave

What To Do if You Are Wrongfully Terminated

It can be difficult to prove a case of true wrongful termination.

If you believe your termination was unlawful, it is important to do the following to build your case:

Gather employment documents - Everything from your history of performance reviews to your pay stubs can support a case for wrongful termination. Your employment contract, for example, may indicate you are not an at-will employee.
Record a timeline - Wrongful firing often starts long before you are actually fired. Recall everything that happened before and during your termination, including communications, who was involved, and how your actual termination occurred.
Talk to co-workers - Your old co-workers can provide relevant information to your firing. You can discuss if any similar situations have occurred, or if co-workers are seeing disparate treatment.
File before the statute of limitations expires - In Virginia, the statue of limitations for a wrongful termination case is two years. You will want to file with the right agency depending on your believed reason for your firing.

Using all of this information, our attorneys can work with you to determine if any laws were broken in your termination. We can also assist you in filing with the right agency and building a strong case for you.

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Hear From Our Happy Clients

At LawrenceQueen, your satisfaction is our priority! See for yourself what our clients have to say about working with us.

"Your guidance has been invaluable in helping me navigate this dark period in my professional life."
I'm profoundly grateful for the exceptional consultation I received from LawrenceQueen.

- Chad B.
"Top notch. I highly recommend Lawrence Queen."
They secured all the pay that was legally owed to me and collected all of the attorney fees so they did an outstanding job on my case.

- Jeff
"Totally recommend!"
Ashley is very knowledgeable. Her forthcoming spirit was appreciated and I will be retaining the LawerenceQueen Law Firm!

- Former Client
"I would highly recommend Mark Passero to anyone needing an employment lawyer."
I can confidently say that he provided exceptional assistance throughout the process. His expertise and knowledge in employment law were evident, and he guided me with professionalism and care.

- Former Client
"Highly Recommend!"
Ashley took time to listen to my concerns and provide excellent advice to remedy my situation.

- Former Client
"Attorney Barbara Queen and her staff have been “just what the doctor ordered” for me."
It gave me great peace and joy to know I no longer had to worry about the Goliath I was facing in my workplace because Attorney Queen leveled the fighting grounds with her giant like experience, her confidence and understanding of employment law in VA.

- Joynita N.
"Barbara was extremely professional."
Barbara helped me understand my rights. If I have other issues like this I will reach out to her again.

- Former Client
"Extremely helpful in first consultation. Available for follow ups and advice and always kind."
Extremely helpful in first consultation. Available for follow ups and advice and always kind.

- Former Client

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What Damages Can You Recover in a Virginia Wrongful Termination Case?

You may be entitled to compensation for wages and other losses or injuries you have experienced as a result of your wrongful discharge.

Damages commonly sought in a wrongful termination case include:

Lost wages - Can include earned unpaid wages & overtime as well as wages you would have earned had you not been fired
Lost benefits - Covers medical insurance, 401k plans, stock options, and other employment benefits lost due to your termination
Emotional distress - Can be awarded if the employer's actions have emotionally harmed the employee, as verified by a mental health professional
Punitive damages - often awarded if the actions of the employer were egregious, with intent to punish the employer

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