Sacramento Employment Lawyer

Employment cases we handle for Sacramento employees

Most of our clients come to us after losing their jobs. We handle claims under California law, including the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the California Family Rights Act (CFRA), and Labor Code section 1102.5. The list below is not exhaustive.

• Wrongful termination: being fired for a reason the law prohibits, such as discrimination, retaliation, taking protected leave, or refusing to break the law.
• Retaliation and whistleblower claims: being fired or demoted after reporting harassment, discrimination, safety problems, fraud, or other violations of law.
• Discrimination: being fired, demoted, or otherwise discriminated against in the terms and conditions of employment because of race, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, or another protected characteristic.
• Sexual harassment and hostile work environment: harassment by supervisors, coworkers, clients, or customers, and termination after complaining about it.
• Pregnancy discrimination and pregnancy disability leave: being fired during or after pregnancy, or denied the leave or accommodation the law requires.
• Medical and family leave: being fired during or after CFRA or FMLA leave, or for asking for it.
• Disability discrimination and failure to accommodate: being fired after asking for a reasonable accommodation, or after an employer refused to engage in the interactive process.
• Executive terminations: wrongful termination claims for executives and senior employees, including claims for earned compensation at termination.

If you were wrongfully fired in Sacramento, the deadlines below may already be running.

Sacramento employers and industries

We represent employees across the industries that drive the Sacramento economy. The list below is not exhaustive.

• State government and public agencies, including state departments, the city and county, school districts, universities, utilities and transit agencies.
• Healthcare, including hospital systems, medical groups and clinics.
• Technology and semiconductors, including companies in Folsom, Rancho Cordova and Roseville.
• Construction, real estate and engineering.
• Agriculture and food processing.
• Transportation and logistics.
• Associations, lobbying and nonprofit organizations that work with state government.

State and other public employees

Many Sacramento employees work for the State of California or another public agency. Public employees are protected by the Fair Employment and Housing Act just as private employees are. A state employee does not have to go through the State Personnel Board or a union grievance procedure before filing a discrimination, harassment or retaliation complaint with the California Civil Rights Department.

Some rules are different for public employees. Claims other than FEHA claims generally require a government claim within six months, and public entities are not liable for punitive damages. State employees who report wrongdoing may also have protections under the California Whistleblower Protection Act, which has its own procedures and deadlines. Because these deadlines can be short, it is best to speak with a lawyer quickly.

How we represent Sacramento employees

We represent Sacramento employees from our Beverly Hills office. Most of our client communication happens by phone, and depositions and mediations are often held remotely. When a court requires an in-person appearance, our attorneys appear in person.

Cases filed in state court are heard in Sacramento County Superior Court, or in the superior court of the county where you worked, such as Placer or Yolo County. Some cases are filed in, or moved to, the federal court for the Eastern District of California, which sits in Sacramento. Many employment cases also go to private arbitration if the employee signed an arbitration agreement.

To get started, contact us to request a free, confidential consultation. If we take your case, we explain the claims you may have, the deadlines that apply, and the steps ahead.

Deadlines (statutes of limitations)

Employment claims have strict deadlines, and some are short. Some key deadlines are below. For a full discussion of deadlines after a termination, see our guide to wrongful termination deadlines in California.

Other deadlines may apply depending on your situation.

Frequently asked questions