San Diego wrongful termination
San Diego Wrongful Termination Lawyer
Biotech layoff, clearance suspension, or retaliation firing. We know the local playbook. Employees only, no fee unless we win.
This page covers wrongful termination for San Diego employees. For the statewide rules see California wrongful termination, and for other San Diego claims see the San Diego hub.
Your Deadline Is Already Running
Two years for a Tameny public policy claim. Three years to file with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD, formerly the DFEH), the state agency that handles discrimination complaints.
See the full deadline table.
California Is at Will, and Your Firing Can Still Be Illegal
Under Labor Code 2922 a firing can be for any reason or none, but not for an illegal one. The exceptions that matter: a protected trait, retaliation for protected activity, and a public policy violation, the Tameny claim. Unfair treatment alone is not a case.
How Do San Diego Employers Dress up Illegal Firings?
Biotech. Funding crunch layoffs that skip the older scientists, performance terminations weeks after a pregnancy announcement, and reductions in force with no Cal-WARN notice. You can pull the EDD WARN list as evidence.
Defense contractors. A clearance suspension or loss of contract used as cover after an employee reports fraud or safety issues, with whistleblower hooks under Labor Code 1102.5 and federal defense contractor overlays.
Healthcare. Nurses fired after patient safety complaints, where the Health and Safety Code 1278.5 presumption applies.
Tourism. Firings for reporting tip theft or guest harassment.
What Is Your San Diego Case Worth?
Value turns on tenure, wage, evidence, and employer size. Ranges are illustrative. See average settlement data and the claim strength calculator.
Deadlines and Where Your Case Gets Filed
Venue is San Diego Superior Court, Hall of Justice at 330 W Broadway, with the Southern District of California for federal claims.
Theories under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the state’s main workplace discrimination law, need a CRD right to sue letter first. Labor Code 1102.5 and Tameny claims do not require exhaustion.
What Should You Do in the First 72 Hours?
Save the termination letter, forward key emails to a personal account lawfully, decline to sign anything with a release, and write a timeline. See the evidence checklist.
Got a severance offer with your termination? See severance review.
Find Out Where You Stand
Three questions and a phone number. An attorney reads every one, and you hear back within one business day.
San Diego Wrongful Termination FAQ
Is It Legal to Be Fired Without Warning?
At will requires no warning, but skipping the employer own discipline process is pretext evidence.
I was laid off while on leave. Is that legal?
A genuine layoff can reach someone on leave, but timing that targets leave takers is unlawful.
My clearance was suspended and then I was fired. Is that a case?
It can be, if the suspension was a pretext for retaliation.
Do I Sue in San Diego If I Worked From Home for an LA Company?
Often yes. Venue can follow where you performed the work, and we will confirm.
Employment Law Resources
- Labor Code section 1102.5, whistleblower retaliation: leginfo
- Health and Safety Code section 1278.5, healthcare whistleblower: leginfo
- California EDD, WARN notices for San Diego County layoffs: edd.ca.gov
- San Diego County Superior Court, civil venue: sdcourt.ca.gov
Tell Us What Happened
One business day for a response. You pay nothing unless we win.