Torrance Employment Lawyers Representing First Responders
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$2 Billion
in Personal Injury Results
$150 Million
in Employment Law Results
for First Responders
Fighting for the employment rights of first responders for 35 years
First responders help the residents, businesses, and visitors of Torrance in many ways. They protect communities from crime, extinguish fires, and provide many types of emergency assistance. At McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP, we protect first responders when their employers discriminate or harass workers. Our Torrance employment lawyers also file retaliation claims, wrongful termination lawsuits, and complaints for wage and hour pay and executive compensation.
We have obtained more than $150 million in recoveries for first responders across California. Call us now to discuss your employee rights.
Quick Questions
- What types of employment claims do you handle for first responders in Torrance?
- What are the requirements for filing a discrimination claim in Torrance?
- What are the requirements for filing a harassment claim in Torrance?
- What are the requirements for filing a retaliation claim in Torrance?
- Which first responders do you represent?
- What laws protect the employment rights of first responders in Torrance?
- How do you help first responders enforce their employment rights?
- What damages can first responders receive for employment violations in Torrance?
- Do you have a Torrance first responder employment lawyer near me?
What types of employment claims do you handle for first responders in Torrance?
Our seasoned employment attorneys represent first responders in the following types of employment claims:
- Discrimination and harassment claims. We file claims for workers who belong to a “protected class” if their employer adversely affects their employment or makes their workplace intolerable. We discuss these types of claims in more detail below.
- Retaliation claims. Our Torrance employment lawyers file lawsuits against police departments, fire departments, and other employers of first responders who retaliate when employees assert their legal rights.
- Executive compensation claims. At McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP, we file lawsuits to ensure employers of police chiefs and other first responder executives who have written employment contracts recover their salary, severance pay, and other forms of income – as well as their health insurance, retirement benefits, and other workplace benefits.
- Wage and hour claims. We hold employers of first responders to their duty to pay the compensation they owe you in accordance with your contracts and any relevant federal, state, or local employment laws.
- Wrongful termination lawsuits. Our seasoned employment lawyers file wrongful termination claims if your employer fires you in violation of any relevant laws and your employment contracts.
- Whistleblower/qui tam claims. Our attorneys help employees obtain recovery for their disclosure of governmental fraud and file retaliation claims when employers retaliate because workers disclose employer fraud.
What are the requirements for filing a discrimination claim in Torrance?
You can file a discrimination claim if you are a member of a protected class and your employer adversely affects your job because you belong to a protected class. Generally, employers, independent contractors, and volunteers can file discrimination claims.
Protected class status
Title VII of the US Civil Rights Act of 1964, other federal discrimination laws, and the California Fair Housing and Employment Act protect workers who are identified by the following characteristics:
- Race or color
- National origin or ancestry
- Sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, and pregnancy
- Disability
- Religion or creed
- Age (40 or older)
- Marital status
- A medical condition or genetic information
- Military or veteran status
Adverse employment conditions
Torrance employers adversely affect your employment if they:
- Terminate your employment or suspend you
- Deny you a promotion or a raise that you deserve
- Refuse to evaluate your job application
- Fail to train or educate you
- Give workers who do not belong to a protected class more desirable job duties and assignments
- Fail to provide disabled and pregnant workers with the reasonable workplace accommodations they need
- Negatively affect your job in another way
What are the requirements for filing a harassment claim in Torrance?
Employers of first responders cannot harass workers who belong to a protected class or fail to take steps to stop harassment they should reasonably know about. At McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP, we understand how essential it is that first responders are free to do their work without having to cope with offensive conduct.
The California Fair Housing and Employment Act (CFEHA) and federal harassment laws prohibit the harassment of workers who belong to a protected class from these two types of harassment:
- Hostile workplace environment harassment. This type of harassment involves working in an abusive, intimidating, or offensive environment. Examples of a hostile work environment include offensive verbal conduct (such as derogatory jokes, messages, and images) and offensive physical conduct, such as impeding your movements. Sexual conduct that can create a hostile workplace environment includes offensive sexual discussions, photos, videos, messages, leering, and sexual advances.
- Quid pro quo harassment. This type of harassment occurs when an employer or supervisor conditions your employment on sexual favors or sexual advances.
What are the requirements for filing a retaliation claim in Torrance?
At McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP, we file retaliation complaints for first responders when their employer disciplines, punishes or intimidates a worker who asserts their legal rights (or the rights of another worker). These rights include:
- Filing a discrimination, harassment, or retaliation claim.
- Seeking worker’s compensation benefits for a workplace illness or injury such as a bullet wound or smoke inhalation.
- Filing a qui tam/ whistleblower lawsuit.
- Requesting eligible family medical leave.
- Requesting compliance with your employment contract.
- Requesting reasonable accommodations if you have a disability or are pregnant.
- Asserting any other legal rights.
Which first responders do you represent?
Our Torrance employment lawyers represent all types of first responders, including the following:
- Law enforcement officers, such as police officers, sheriff’s deputies, SWAT officers, and bomb squad members
- Firefighters
- Correction officers
- Drug officials
- Court officers
- Paramedics, EMTs, and medevac operators
- Park rangers and public works employees
- School officers
- Emergency telecommunications workers
What laws protect the employment rights of first responders in Torrance?
Some of the many laws that create employment rights include the following:
California laws
- California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA)
- California Family Rights Act
- The California False Claims Act
Federal laws
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
- The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
- The Equal Pay Act of 1963, which requires that women and men receive equal pay for equal work
- Family Medical Leave Act
- The Pregnancy Discrimination Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
- The Federal False Claims Act
- The Trauma Treatment Act
- The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
How do you help first responders enforce their employment rights?
At McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP, we represent first responders before the following agencies and courts:
Agencies:
- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
- The California Civil Rights Department (CCRD)
Courts:
We understand the unique challenges involved with filing claims against governmental organizations like the City of Torrance Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the City of Torrance Fire Department.
We can review in detail what happened, explain your rights and remedies, and assess your damages. Our lawyers anticipate the defenses employers of first responders are likely to assert. We work with experts in your type of first responder service, as well as financial experts, vocational experts, and discrimination experts when necessary. Our team formally questions everyone who is knowledgeable about your work and your claim. We review your contracts, performance records, and all other relevant records.
At McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP, we work with the agencies that handle discrimination and harassment claims and try to resolve your complaints. Our lawyers are always ready to argue your case before a Los Angeles County judge and jury. We’ve tried hundreds of cases to jury verdicts.
What damages can first responders receive for employment violations in Torrance?
Our Torrance employment lawyers for first responders work to place you in the same position as if your employer had not violated your rights. We’re ready to work to help you obtain the following damages (back damages and future damages), depending on your type of employment claim:
- Financial damages. We demand payment of your lost wages, overtime, salary, healthcare coverage, seniority, accrued vacation, and other benefits. We also demand payment of executive compensation benefits.
- Personal damages. These include your emotional trauma and any damage to your professional reputation.
- Additional damages. Our lawyers seek payment of your lawyer fees, statutory damages, and punitive damages.
- Injunctive relief. We seek court orders that direct employers of first responders to reinstate their workers, review applications and promotion requests, and provide reasonable workplace accommodations and other remedies.
Do you have a Torrance first responder employment lawyer near me?
McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP meets with first responders at our office located at 10866 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1400, Los Angeles, 90024. We also speak with first responders remotely by phone and through online conversations.
First responders protect Torrance. Our Torrance employment lawyers work to protect you.
Get help from our Torrance first responder lawyers now
At McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP, we have the experience, working relationships, and tenacity to aggressively fight for first responders when their employers violate their employment rights. We are ready to fight for the respect, compensation, and justice you deserve now. Call us or complete our contact form today to schedule a free consultation.
List of Agencies We are Suing or Have Sued
- Berkeley Fire/CoB (Non LEO)
- Berkeley PD
- Chula Vista PD
- City of Richmond (Non-LEO/Employment)
- Contra Costa Sheriff (Non-LEO/Employment)
- Culver City PD (Non-LEO)
- El Monte PD
- El Segundo PD
- Fremont PD
- Huntington Beach PD
- LA Co Sheriff
- LAFD
- LAPD
- LAWA
- Palo Alto PD
- Pomona PD
- Redondo Beach PD
- Riverside PD
- San Diego PD
- San Joaquin County Sheriff
- Santa Barbara County Sheriff
- Shasta County Sheriff
- Ukiah PD
- Walnut Creek PD
- Willits PD