Wrongful Termination Attorneys
Wrongful termination occurs when someone loses their job in a way that violates his or her legal rights. If you suspect you were dismissed unlawfully—either because you belong to a protected status or the terms of your contract were breached—you may be able to bring a suit against your employer. However, before you pursue your wrongful termination case, you should speak with a competent employment lawyer. The Jones Firm has extensive experience representing individuals terminated unlawfully and will help you fight for justice in your situation.
At-Will Employment
In the majority of states (including New Mexico), employees may be terminated for any reason, at any time, and employers need not produce a reason for termination. However, there are many exceptions to at-will employment (see the list below) that give employees cause to pursue legal actions against their former employers if they believe they were terminated illegally.
Types of Wrongful Termination
While employees do work under at-will employment, they are protected from being fired in ways that are illegal. The following termination practices are deemed unlawful in New Mexico and may give you cause to sue your employer for wrongful termination:
Employment Discrimination
Federal and state laws protect you from being fired on the basis of your race, age, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, and disability status. If you have been fired because of your protected status, you may have cause to bring legal action against your employer for job discrimination.
Whistleblowing
Federal laws protect you from being fired for reporting illegal or unethical practices conducted by your employer. If you have been dismissed because you brought allegations to your supervisor or law enforcement officials, you may be able to sue your employer for wrongful termination. If you suspect illegal or unethical activity within your organization, you should speak to an employment attorney to make sure your rights are protected.
Breach of Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealings
In New Mexico, employees are protected by an act that requires their employers to always act “in good faith” towards them. As such, employers cannot discharge an employee to avoid promotions or bonuses or invent false accusations to force them to quit. However, since a breach of the Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealings can be very difficult to prove, it is crucial you hire a qualified employment attorney to help you pursue your case.
Only a qualified employment attorney will be able to evaluate your case and determine if you were terminated illegally. Wrongful termination cases are inherently complex because they must rely on legal proof that the employee’s rights were violated. Our employment lawyers have the knowledge and expertise necessary to thoroughly investigate your case to determine if you were dismissed unlawfully.
Contact Our Skillful Employment Attorneys
The Jones Firm is intimately knowledgeable of federal and state employment law and has the experience necessary to aggressively litigate your wrongful dismissal claim. Contact our employment lawyers today! We will help you determine if you have just cause to sue your employer for wrongful dismissal and—if we determine there is proof you were fired for unlawful reasons—we will help you actively pursue justice in your case!