Losing your job never feels good no matter the reason. However, it feels especially bad if you believe that you were the victim of wrongful termination. That was the case for famous composer Alf Clausen after he was fired as the longtime composer for The Simpsons.
According to The A.V. Club, Fox, which produces The Simpsons, fired Clausen in 2017 because they allegedly wanted a different kind of music for the show. An article in The Hollywood Reporter (THR) revealed that Clausen had composed music for the show for almost 30 years before he was fired. Clausen’s work on The Simpsons earned him two Emmy Awards, as well as more than a dozen Emmy nominations.
For his part, Clausen, who is currently 80 years old, alleged that he was fired for reasons involving age and disability discrimination. Per THR, shortly before his firing, Clausen claims he revealed to Fox that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. He also claims that Fox failed to make any accommodations for his disability prior to firing him.
Alf Clausen filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against Fox in 2019. For nearly three years, he held his ground and fought for what he believed was right, which led to him finally securing a settlement this year.
While nothing can make up for being fired, especially if you were wrongfully fired, fighting back with a wrongful termination lawsuit gives you the opportunity to hold those responsible for your improper dismissal accountable and recover, at least, a portion of your financial losses.
Signs of Wrongful Termination
In the case of Alf Clausen, he felt that he was wrongfully fired because of issues related to disability and age discrimination. However, those reasons are unique to his situation and may not apply to others. Because there are a variety of reasons that someone could be wrongfully fired, it’s important to know what those reasons are, so that you can be ready to recognize them if you lose your job.
Common signs of wrongful termination to keep an eye out for include:
- Discrimination – It is unlawful for employees to be discriminated against or fired because of their age, disabilities, gender, pregnancy status, religion, ethnicity, or nationality.
- Disability – It is against the law to fire employees for requesting reasonable on-the-job accommodations because of their disability status.
- Breach of Contract – If someone is fired for a reason that breaches their employment contract, that could be grounds for a wrongful termination claim.
- Employment Law Violations – If an employee’s firing violates an employment law, it can be considered a wrongful termination. An example of a firing that violates an employment law is firing someone for taking time off to care for a sick relative, even though they’re eligible to take that time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
- Retaliation – If an employee is let go after reporting a violation, or committing some other type of whistleblower act, that may be considered employer retaliation, which can be grounds for a wrongful termination lawsuit.
Can I File a Wrongful Termination Claim in an At-Will Employment State?
California is an at-will employment state. In at-will employment states, employers can fire employees at any time, for any reason, and without notice, cause, or explanation. However, even in an at-will employment state, if someone is fired for an illegal reason, they can pursue justice via a wrongful termination claim.
Schedule a Free Consultation with an Experienced Wrongful Termination Attorney
At Polaris Law Group, we take on lawsuits other law firms won’t. People who have been the victims of workplace harassment, discrimination, and other types of on-the-job mistreatment deserve to have a strong, skilled, and experienced advocate in their corner. Our legal team provides that and more for our clients.
Attorney Bill Marder has more than 25 years of experience helping victims of workplace misconduct fight back against those who wronged them. As our case results and client testimonials show, we have what it takes to bring negligent employers to justice and secure the compensation victims and their families need to move forward.
If you believe you were the victim of a wrongful termination, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re ready to listen and help. Call us at (888) 796-4010 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.