Whistleblower Claims

Los Angeles Whistleblower Claims

Protecting Employees from Retaliation

The Barkhordarian Law Firm has demonstrated experience in protecting the rights of employees throughout the Greater Los Angeles area, including when they’re wrongfully terminated. Though employers are generally given free reign when it comes to firing employees, it’s unlawful to fire employees in retaliation, or to get back at them. Our Los Angeles team has years of experience in employment law and can help you file a whistleblower claim to get the justice you deserve. Employees who rightfully file complaints or report instances of abuse or discrimination in their workplace don’t deserve to be punished. Our lawyers are California locals who thoroughly understand both our federal and state laws and can help you understand your rights.

What is Whistleblowing?

In the context of the workplace, whistleblowing refers to an employee who speaks out to report illegal or abusive conduct at work. Some examples of conduct that can be reported include fraudulent activity, illegal harassment, unsafe workplace conditions, discrimination, and wage and hour violations.

There are multiple statutes in California that protect whistleblowers from being retaliated against by their employers for reporting unlawful activity. These include:

• The California Whistleblower Protection Act: This state law protects employees who report violations both internally or externally, including to public bodies, and covers both private and public employees. The law also prevents employers from forbidding employees from giving information to the government to investigate the claim.
• The Sarbanes-Oxley Act: Passed in 2002, this law prohibits any publicly traded company or employee from retaliating against employees who report fraud against shareholders. Whistleblowers must have sufficient evidence to prove that the conduct constitutes a violation of federal law.

California also has statutes that specifically protect patients and healthcare workers who complain about safety conditions or quality of care. To learn more about whether there is a specific statute that can protect your rights, call our team.

Statute of Limitations for Filing Whistleblower Claims

It can be difficult to know how much time you have to file a whistleblower claim, as the statute of limitations varies based on the nature of your claim and the type of defense that is used. For example, whistleblower claims involving labor law violations must be filed within three years, while other types of claims and employees have more or less time.

The best way to know how much time you have is by contacting our experienced team

Why Do I Need a Lawyer?

If you were fired for whistleblowing or retaliation, hiring a lawyer can increase your chances of fully recovering your losses, as well as holding your employer responsible for their unlawful activity. Some successful claims even lead to changes in policies and practices, which can make the workplace safer for future employees.

Hiring a lawyer is also important because whistleblowing claims can be legally complicated, especially since the rules for filing these claims vary from state to state. Our lawyers can help you determine whether your case is based on a California statute or is in violation of federal law.

Some of the damages we can recover for whistleblowers include:

• Attorney’s fees and court costs
• Reinstatement or front pay
• Out of pocket losses, such as costs of searching for a new job
• Backpay, also known as the wages and benefits you lost when you were fired

If you suffered emotional distress during this process, you may also be entitled to damages for pain and suffering. Our lawyers are passionate about protecting employees and can make sure you aren’t punished for doing your duty by reporting illegal activity.