Wrongful Termination – Disability Discrimination

Our client in Los Angeles, California, spent 30 years with the same employer – building a career, earning trust, and showing up every day. When she became seriously ill and needed time away from work to address her health, her employer responded by terminating her employment. She was not offered an accommodation. She was not offered leave. She was fired.

Under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), employers are prohibited from discriminating against employees based on a physical disability or medical condition and are required to engage in a good-faith interactive process before taking any adverse action. The California Family Rights Act (CFRA) separately protects employees who need time off to address serious health conditions – prohibiting retaliation and termination in connection with that leave. Firing a 30-year employee because she got sick is not a lawful business decision. It is a violation of California law.

The defense argued the case was not worth much because our client earned minimum wage. That argument reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of how employment damages work in California. The value of a wrongful termination case is not capped by what a worker earned per hour. Damages are measured by the full scope of what was taken – lost wages, lost benefits, lost earning capacity, and the emotional and professional harm of being discarded after three decades of service. A worker who earns minimum wage and loses 30 years of loyalty, tenure, and career is entitled to full compensation under the law.

We took the case to trial. After the Court ruled on key motions in limine – decisions that dismantled the defense’s strategy for limiting the value of the case – the matter resolved for $3,500,000. The result validated what we have always believed: value is not determined by wages. It is determined by what was taken.

If you were terminated because of a medical condition, illness, or need for protected leave in California, contact Feher Law today for a free consultation.