It takes courage to report your employer’s fraud. Unfortunately, employees who step up and do the right thing often face subsequent punishment including losing their jobs. If you have been fired for reporting your employer’s fraud, a Los Angeles wrongful termination lawyer can help you hold your employer accountable.

You Have Rights

The first thing to understand is that you may have a legal claim against your former employer if you have been terminated for reporting fraud. While California is an at-will state (meaning that your employer can terminate you at any time, with or without cause), reporting fraud is one of the most widely recognized exceptions. In other words, your employer cannot rely upon your at-will status if they are terminating you in response to reporting fraud.

Furthermore, there are no restrictions on how or when you can report fraud that justifies your termination. Whether you reported the fraud to someone in your company, to the police, or to some other authority, you are generally protected from being fired because of it. If your employer has committed fraud and you were terminated for reporting it, you should contact a knowledgeable wrongful termination attorney as soon as possible.

You Don’t Have to Wait to Be Terminated to Seek Legal Counsel

Many people are reluctant to report fraud because they are afraid to lose their jobs. For many workers, the reality is that they cannot afford to be unemployed for any length of time, regardless of whether they may be able to pursue a legal claim.

Fraud claims are complex and can be difficult to prove. If the fraud allegations cannot be proven, your job and your reputation may be at risk. As a result, a Los Angeles wrongful termination lawyer can provide guidance about what evidence you should have when you report and other steps you can take to protect yourself. In the event that you are terminated, your lawyer will be ready to take action to protect your rights and you will be prepared to seek new employment.

You May Be Entitled to Damages

Workers who are wrongfully terminated for reporting fraud often want to hold their former employers accountable. They want them to be held responsible for their actions, both for their own sake and for other workers who are in similar positions. Financial compensation is not the primary motivation for many workers pursuing wrongful termination claims.

That said, both California and federal law allow for wrongfully terminated employees to seek damages. If you have been wrongfully terminated for fraud, you may be entitled to the following damages:

Compensation for your lost wages and benefits
Compensation for emotional distress and damage to your reputation
Punitive damages for malicious termination
Your attorney’s fees and costs

Attorney’s fees and costs are not available in all wrongful termination cases. However, you may be able to recover your legal fees and costs if you have been terminated for fraud under the whistleblower provisions of the federal Sarbanes-Oxley Act or under the California False Claims Act. A skilled wrongful termination attorney will be able to determine which damages you may be entitled to and whether you can recover your attorney’s fees and costs.

Talk to a Los Angeles Wrongful Termination Lawyer at Attorneys for Employees Today

If you have been terminated for reporting fraud, we can help you find a way forward. Contact us today to schedule an appointment to discuss your case and how we can help.