Emotionally, job losses can be devastating. Feelings like regret, hopelessness, and uselessness are difficult to overcome. These losses are even worse if the termination was illegal. There are two important things to remember in these situations. First, the adverse action was not your fault. Second, there is something that an Orland Park wrongful termination lawyer can do about it.
Attorney Mitchell Kline cannot turn back the clock and reverse the events of the past, but he can do the next best thing. Our professional team helps obtain compensation and justice for wrongful termination victims. The financial compensation restores plaintiffs to the place they were before the wrongful termination occurred. And, justice helps ensure that no one will have to go through the same thing that you endured.
In most cases, the EEOC is the first point of contact for wrongful termination victims. This federal agency enforces most job discrimination laws. This agency rarely intervenes in wrongful termination cases, especially constructive termination actions. These claims are quite complex. Furthermore, they usually involve only one or two individuals as opposed to an entire class of people.
So, rather than take a complex case which is not headline-grabbing, investigators often give terminated workers right to sue letters. Such action does not mean your claim is weak or meritless. Instead, that letter is your invitation to partner with an Orland Park wrongful termination lawyer who will fight for you no matter what.
Almost all civil claims settle out of court. Frequently, attorneys are able to settle wrongful termination claims with just a demand letter. Once employers know that former employees have a committed Orland Park wrongful termination lawyer, they are often ready to talk.
In other situations, court filings are necessary. That is especially true if, as is often the case, the statute of limitations will expire shortly. These filings pressure employers to put their best offers on the table. No employer wants a protracted court battle.
Generally, employers file procedural motions seeking to dismiss the plaintiff’s claim. As long as there is any evidence to support the claim, these motions almost always fail.
The discovery phase usually comes next. During this part of the case, the plaintiff and defendant exchange information about their claims and defenses. Discovery helps an Orland Park wrongful termination attorney better prepare the case in chief and also respond to likely employer defenses.
Once discovery is done or mostly done, your Cook County judge might refer your claim to mediation. A mediator is a neutral third party who will work to facilitate a settlement agreement. The success of your mediation will depend on both sides negotiating in good faith.
As mentioned, wrongful termination settlements usually include financial compensation and consent decrees. Compensation for things like back pay and front pay ease the financial and emotional pain. Consent decrees usually require employers to provide additional supervisor training and other things designed to limit the possibility of future wrongful termination claims.
Most civil cases settle out of court and on victim-friendly terms. For a free consultation with an experienced Orland Park wrongful termination lawyer, contact the Law Office of Mitchell A. Kline. We routinely handle matters in Cook County and nearby jurisdictions.
