When employment disputes cannot be resolved internally or by way of mediation or administrative channels, they often end up in court. Either the employee or the employer may initiate a lawsuit, claiming violations of state or federal laws and seeking substantial damages. Whether a lawsuit has been filed against you or it’s time for you to file one, you will need dedicated legal counsel to ensure your rights and interests are protected.
At Stanfield Bechtel Law, we leverage our experience with the relevant statutes and court rules to the benefit of our clients. But we also seek creative solutions to ending lawsuits early in mutually agreeable ways. Learn why so many of our clients have trusted us to advocate for them inside and outside of the courtroom.
Types of Employment Litigation We Handle
Our firm represents both employees and employers in a variety of employment lawsuits, including those that involve:
- Employment discrimination: Employees are protected under both state and federal laws against discrimination, with state laws typically offering stronger safeguards. Although discrimination can happen at any stage of employment, it can also occur in the application process by unfair treatment of applicants based on race, sex, or other characteristics.
- Sexual harassment: Sexual harassment may include making unwanted advances, asking for sexual favors or conditioning employment opportunities on them, making crude jokes or comments of a sexual nature, and more. Employers are required to take harassment claims seriously by working to stop the behavior and protect the victim.
- Sexual assault: Although sexual harassment is an ongoing workplace problem, sexual assault on the job is a potentially life-threatening version of it. Molestation, rape, and threats to obtain sexual favors are all examples of sexual assault on the job.
- Whistleblower claims: Employees often learn of illegal or unethical workplace behavior due to their positions in the company. They have the right to put an end to this practice and potentially claim a reward by becoming a whistleblower.
- Wrongful termination: Wrongful termination can happen in different ways, but is often associated with illegally firing someone for a discriminatory reason. Other forms include firing someone as a breach of an employment contract or in violation of the company’s internal policies and procedures.
- Wage and hour claims: The federal Fair Labor Standards Act covers minimum wage, overtime, paying employees for all the work they do, and other matters. Connecticut has its own wage and hour laws (for example, a minimum wage that is higher than the federal rate) and there are also exemptions from the laws that employers may be able to claim.
- FMLA violations: The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows eligible employees to take unpaid, job-protected leave for family and medical reasons. Connecticut has its own version of the law, the Connecticut Family and Medical Leave Act (CTFMLA).
- Hostile work environment: Some of the above behaviors like workplace discrimination and harassment can foster an environment in which productivity becomes difficult or impossible to maintain. This is known as creating a hostile work environment and essentially describes an abusive working relationship.
- Retaliation: When employees report unlawful behavior such as workplace discrimination, they are protected against retaliation. The same is true for whistleblowers. Retaliation comes in many forms such as job termination, denying a promotion, withholding pay, and other punitive measures.
- Pregnancy discrimination: This specific form of discrimination has come under increased scrutiny in recent years and has led to the passage of such laws as the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Laws such as this exist to make sure pregnant women are given equal job opportunities and reasonable accommodations.
Will My Lawsuit Go To Trial?
Many employment lawsuits are able to settle outside of court, thereby avoiding the time, expense, and headaches of a trial. This is often accomplished through alternative dispute resolution (ADR) procedures such as mediation and arbitration. A negotiated settlement allows both parties to walk away with a mutually agreeable resolution, which is likely to be more advantageous than what a judge might order. We work, where possible, to settle employment lawsuits for our clients by advising them of the benefits of settlement versus the risks of trial.
How Our Attorneys Can Serve You
If you are the party to an employment lawsuit, you will need seasoned legal counsel to advocate for you. Our firm represents litigants by:
- Applying our extensive understanding of state and federal laws and regulations concerning the above and related employment law matters
- Navigating the various rules that govern employment lawsuits, such as the rules of evidence and civil procedure
- Conducting discovery and responding to discovery requests to help gather the most useful and relevant evidence and information in your case
- Providing employers with general legal counsel through presentations and seminars aimed at preventing lawsuits from arising
- Training owners and executives to better understand and apply employment laws
- Engaging businesses in risk compliance and monitoring to identify and remedy legal threats
- Developing personalized workplace policies and procedures which can improve employer-employee relations and minimize the risk of lawsuits
- Drafting and executing employment contracts, severance contracts, and other agreements which protect the rights and interests of both employers and employees
- Assisting employers with internal dispute resolution methods and employee discipline
- Representing employers and employees in ADR proceedings
- Appearing on behalf of clients in administrative hearings such as those held by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Contact Our Connecticut Employment Litigation Attorney
The laws surrounding employment litigation are complex and constantly changing. But having the right legal representation will make a difference in your case. To learn more about Stanfield Bechtel Law’s employment litigation services, give us a call today.