San Bernardino Employment Lawyers Representing First Responders
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$2 Billion
in Personal Injury Results
$150 Million
in Employment Law Results
for First Responders
Strong advocacy for emergency responders when discrimination, harassment, or retaliation occurs
First responders provide many types of help to the residents and businesses of San Bernardino. In addition to the police and firefighters, first responders include EMTs, paramedics, and other healthcare providers. Other first responders include people who help when natural disasters or any accident/event that affects public safety occurs. At McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP, we have more than 35 years of experience fighting to ensure that the employers of first responders do not discriminate, provide a work environment free from harassment, and do not punish/retaliate when workers assert their rights. Our San Bernardino employment lawyers have obtained more than $150 million for our first-responder clients. We’re ready to fight for your financial security now.
Our record of success on behalf of employees includes many recoveries for one million dollars and higher. We represent employees in employment claims involving:
- Discrimination based on race, color, national origin, disability, sex, and other factors
- Sexual, racial, and other types of harassment
- Retaliation for filing whistleblower claims, workers’ compensation claims, family medical leave claims, and supporting the claims of other workers
In one illustrative case, we obtained a jury verdict in the amount of $824,000 on behalf of a former Department of Water and Power employee for the City of Pasadena who suffered retaliation for
“Writing a favorable performance evaluation recommending the promotion of a female employee who was suing the City for gender discrimination, and then testifying on her behalf at trial.” The retaliation included altering his chain of command and taking away his office and city vehicle. “City management overtly stopped supporting Thompson [the employee] by allowing his subordinate employees to undermine his authority, criticize and humiliate him, and failing to investigate Thompson’s complaints of these actions or take any corrective measures. Thompson was forced to take a stress-related leave of absence and later resigned.”
Quick Questions
- What are the requirements for filing an employment discrimination claim in San Bernardino?
- What other types of employment claims do you file for first responders in San Bernardino?
- Which first responders do you represent in San Bernardino?
- Do your San Bernardino employment lawyers file claims for independent contractors and volunteers?
- What laws protect first responders from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation?
- How do you fight for first responders when discrimination, harassment, or retaliation happens in San Bernardino?
- What is the value of my employment claim in California?
- Do you have a San Bernardino first responder employment lawyer near me?
What are the requirements for filing an employment discrimination claim in San Bernardino?
At McNicholas & McNicholas LLP, we file employment discrimination claims when a public or private employer adversely/negatively affects your employment – if you are a member of a protected class:
Adverse employment conditions
Adverse employment conditions include the following acts by your employer:
- Firing you;
- Failing to promote you;
- Not hiring you;
- Not giving you the opportunities (such as training and job assignments) you need to advance your career;
- Transferring you to a less desirable location;
- Failing to give disabled or pregnant workers reasonable accommodations to do their jobs;
- Reducing your pay or
- Not treating you in ways that are comparable to other employees with your job skills.
Protected class status
Generally, you belong to a protected class if you meet the definitions set forth in the applicable federal and California discrimination laws. These laws protect workers based on the following identity characteristics:
- Race or color;
- National origin;
- Sex, gender identification, or sexual preference;
- Disability;
- Religion;
- Age (40 or older);
- Pregnancy or childbirth;
- Military/veteran status; or
- Genetic information
What other types of employment claims do you file for first responders in San Bernardino?
Our San Bernardino first responder employment lawyers handle the following types of employment claims for all types of first responders:
- Discrimination;
- Sexual, racial, and other types of workplace harassment;
- Retaliation for filing a discrimination, whistleblower, or worker’s compensation claim; asserting any other legal right; and supporting another worker’s employment claims;
- Wrongful termination;
- Wage and hour complaints and
- Executive compensation disputes, which may include severance pay, non-compete clauses, salary, health and other work benefits, retirement benefits, and stock options.
Which first responders do you represent in San Bernardino?
At McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP, our employment lawyers represent:
- Police officers;
- Sheriff’s deputies;
- Firefighters;
- Paramedics, EMTs, and medevac operators;
- Corrections officers;
- Drug/narcotics Officers;
- SWAT members;
- Security officers;
- Court officers;
- Dispatchers;
- Park rangers;
- School resource officers;
- Certain public works employees and
- Certain telecommunication workers.
Our employers will explain if your job qualifies for “first responder” status.
Do your San Bernardino employment lawyers file claims for independent contractors and volunteers?
Yes. Generally, California’s discrimination laws protect independent contractors. We can explain when federal discrimination laws protect independent contractors.
Many first responders volunteer their time and services to help the San Bernardino community. Volunteers can file a discrimination, harassment, or retaliation claim– if they are a member of a protected class. One difference between employee and volunteer claims is that volunteers, by definition, do not receive a salary or wages.
What laws protect first responders from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation?
Your right to file a discrimination, harassment, or retaliation claim typically depends on various federal and California discrimination laws, employment contracts, and collective bargaining agreements.
Some of the employment laws that affect your employment rights include:
- California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). The FEHA protects employees and contractors who work for governmental and private employers who have five or more employees.
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This federal law provides discrimination, harassment, and retaliation protection for workers when their employer has 15 or more employees.
- The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). The ADEA protects first responders who have disabilities.
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These federal laws protect employees who have a disability.
- The Equal Pay Act. This federal law requires that women and men receive equal pay for equal work.
- The Pregnancy Discrimination Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. These federal laws protect pregnant women.
- The Trauma Treatment Act. This law helps employees who have mental health challenges.
- The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. This federal law ensures that military members have certain employment protections.
- The Federal False Claims Act and the California False Claims Act. These laws encourage employees to disclose employer fraud by authorizing the whistleblowers who qualify to receive a percentage of any recoveries against the employer.
In addition to discrimination protection (we discuss this topic above), two other core areas of protection for first responders in San Bernardino include:
- Harassment (racial, sexual, and other types of harassment) protection. Sexual harassment generally involves quid pro quo harassment (conditioning employment success on sexual favors). Sexual and racial workplace harassment includes hostile workplace harassment (making work unbearable due to offensive sexual or racial conduct and conversations).
- Retaliation. Our San Bernardino first responder employment lawyers file retaliation claims when employers retaliate when a worker asserts their rights.
How do you fight for first responders when discrimination happens in San Bernardino?
We file claims before the appropriate federal and state agencies and in the proper federal and state courts. Our lawyers work with investigators and through the discovery process to show that workers are eligible to file a claim, that their employer violated their rights, and the full value of their claim. We’ve helped many workers like you obtain just and strong recoveries.
What is the value of my employment claim in California?
At McNicholas & McNicholas, we demand compensation, depending on the type of employment claim you have, for the following damages:
- Back pay losses and back benefits;
- Future (front) pay compensation;
- Emotional distress, humiliation, and loss of reputation;
- Legal fees and court costs;
- Statutory damages;
- Wage and hour benefits and
- Executive compensation and benefits.
We may also seek punitive damages.
Our San Bernardino employment lawyers also seek court orders directing employers to rehire terminated workers, hire qualified applications, promote workers, and provide reasonable workplace accommodations.
Do you have a San Bernardino first responder employment lawyer near me?
McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP meets first responders at our San Bernardino office located at 10866 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1400, Los Angeles, 90024. Our lawyers also consult with clients by phone and through online consultations.
We’re here to explain your rights and work to obtain all the compensation you deserve.
Speak with our respected San Bernardino employment lawyers now
At McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP, we understand what it’s like when your ability to pay your bills is in jeopardy and your pride in doing great work for your community is damaged because your employer violates your rights. Our San Bernardino employment lawyers are ready to explain your rights and assert those rights. We anticipate the arguments and efforts employers use to contest your claim. We can fight to restore your career and your finances. To assert your employment rights, please call us or fill out our contact form today to schedule a 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