Tampa Wrongful Termination Lawyer

Tampa Wrongful Termination Attorney

Florida is an at-will employment state, which means that either employers or employees can terminate their employment relationship at any time for any reason that is not illegal, or even for no reason at all. However, there are still protections in place for workers to prevent them from being fired for discriminatory reasons, in retaliation for a complaint, or in breach of contract. You can work with a Tampa wrongful termination lawyer to determine if your case qualifies.

Trust the Law Offices of Gary A. Costales, P.A.

If you’re looking for a wrongful termination lawyer in Tampa, look no further than the Law Offices of Gary A. Costales, P.A. Our team has been practicing employment law for years. We’re deeply familiar with wrongful termination laws and how they apply to different types of cases. Whether you were discriminated against or fired in retaliation for filing a separate claim, we can help you get the compensation you deserve.

Why Hire a Wrongful Termination Lawyer?

In 2024, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received a total of 88,531 complaints alleging discrimination. Of those charges, 42,301 were filed regarding retaliation. Many of these retaliation cases involved wrongful termination. Of the remaining cases, 38.0% involved disability discrimination, 34.2% involved race discrimination, and 30.4% involved sex discrimination. All of these are illegal reasons to fire someone from their job.

Whether you’ve been fired as a result of discrimination or your employer breached their contract, you deserve to be compensated for the wages you’ve lost and the non-economic damages you’ve suffered. When you hire a wrongful termination lawyer, you improve your chances of winning your case. Wrongful termination cases are notoriously difficult to prove in Florida, so you need a lawyer on your side who can leverage their knowledge and experience to help you win.

Wrongful Termination in Breach of Contract

Not all wrongful termination cases involve discrimination or retaliation. If your employer has breached your contract with them by firing you, that’s also a great reason to file a wrongful termination claim through the Hillsborough County Circuit Court. Contracts are supposed to offer the promise of job security, and even in Florida, they provide workers with a strong case that they are not at-will employees.

You’ll only be able to file a claim for wrongful termination if your contract explicitly states that you can only be fired with good cause, or, as is often the case, for reasons stated in the contract. The contract does not have to be an employment agreement. If you have an offer letter or another writing document that promises continued employment, you may be able to file a claim.

In some cases, implied promises of continued employment can also be considered contractually binding. To decide whether an implied employment contract exists, the court will look at factors such as:

• The duration of your employment
• How regularly you’ve been promoted
• Your history of performance reviews
• Any assurances that you will continue to be employed with the company
• Whether your employer violated any usual employment practices when they fired you
• Whether any promises of long-term employment were made at hiring

It’s difficult to prove an implied employment contract because most employers are very careful not to make statements about continued employment.

Discrimination and Retaliation Are Illegal Reasons to Fire You

If you’ve lost your job as a result of discrimination against you as a member of a protected group or in retaliation for whistleblowing or filing a separate complaint, you may be eligible to receive compensation for wrongful termination. Protected categories include:

• Race
• Color
• National origin
• Religion
• Gender
• Age
• Disability
• Pregnancy
• Genetic information

Employers are also forbidden from retaliating against you for participating in protected activities. They can include filing complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, formally complaining to your employer, or blowing the whistle on illegal activities.

FAQs

Your Tampa Wrongful Termination Lawyer

If you’re concerned that you’ve been fired for an unlawful reason, you should hire a Tampa wrongful termination lawyer right away. You can trust the team here at the Law Offices of Gary A. Costales, P.A., to help. We’ve handled countless wrongful termination cases and know what it takes to hold your employer accountable and get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation today.