Wrongful termination occurs when your employer terminates or fires you from your position for an unlawful reason. Some common reasons for wrongful termination include discrimination, retaliation, and a breach of an employment agreement.
Wrongful termination from your workplace can be a stressful event. And as someone who is dealing with wrongful termination, you undoubtedly have a number of different questions.
An important question for many individuals is how much compensation for wrongful termination can you expect to receive following a claim against your employer.
Below, we take a look at the kinds of compensation for wrongful termination you can pursue and how compensation may be calculated.
What Kind of Damages Can You Get in a Wrongful Termination?
First, we must be clear that as an employee who believes they have been wrongfully terminated, you are generally not entitled to anything unless and until you prove that you have been fired for an unlawful reason. This blog discusses the possible types of compensation you could receive if you were successful in proving that you were wrongfully terminated for an unlawful reason.
Through a wrongful termination claim in Ohio, there are quite a few different forms of compensation that you might pursue. Financial compensation for wrongful termination is the most common form of damages.
Financial compensation can include:
- Back and front pay
- Compensation for any loss of benefits like health insurance, a 401k, stock options, etc…
- Compensation for emotional distress
The cost of your attorney’s fees and other legal costs will also typically be recovered from your damages. Be sure to check with the Columbus wrongful termination lawyer you choose to work with about how their fees are handled.
Some lawyers, such as those here at Coffman Legal, LLC, work on a contingency fee – meaning you will not pay anything unless your case is won.
Alongside financial compensation, you might also pursue reinstatement back to your previous position. Though keep in mind, that is certainly not guaranteed!
Punitive damages may also be included in certain cases of wrongful termination. Punitive damages are considered as a type of punishment and are awarded based on a court’s discretion. They are typically rare and will usually only be awarded when a defendant’s (in this case, your employer’s) actions are especially harmful.
How to Calculate Compensation for Wrongful Termination
Now that you know the kinds of damages you may receive a result of a successful wrongful termination claim for an unlawful reason, we can discuss a little more about how compensation is calculated.
Unfortunately, there is no simple calculation that you can plug a few numbers into that will give you an estimation of the amount of compensation for wrongful termination you might receive if you are successful with your claim.
But once a wrongful termination claim is at the point where settlement discussions are happening, there are a number of factors that are taken into consideration such as:
- Lost income
- Lost benefits
- The reason for your wrongful termination
- Job search costs
- Emotional distress
- Other damages might also be available based on the law you claim your termination violated
The above factors will vary from case to case, but they will be important in determining the amount of compensation that may result from a wrongful termination claim.
With that in mind, it can be especially important to have a Columbus wrongful termination lawyer on your side for legal representation throughout the entire process. We can help answer any questions you have and we can make sure you understand the often complex employment laws that help protect your rights.
Consult With a Columbus Wrongful Termination Lawyer Today
If you believe you have been wrongfully terminated by your employer, you may have grounds to seek compensation. And having the right lawyer on your side who is a strong advocate can make all the difference. Here at Coffman Legal, LLC, our team of experienced wrongful termination attorneys has successfully represented a wide variety of clients in numerous industries following wrongful terminations – and we can do the same for you.
We can look over your case details and help determine if you have grounds for a wrongful termination case.
Reach out to our Columbus wrongful termination lawyer today for a free, confidential consultation today. You can connect with us over the phone at 614-949-1181 or through our online contact form.
