Wrongful termination occurs whenever an employee is let go for an illegal reason. Employees have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit to protect their rights, and if they miss the deadline, a judge can and will dismiss their case. Workers will be unable to secure favorable remedies, such as job reinstatement or back pay.
Call the Law Offices of Usmaan Sleemi today to schedule a consultation with a New Jersey employment lawyer. Our team can move quickly to protect your rights by filing a lawsuit or discrimination charge before any deadline. Our firm can also handle the claim from start to finish and demand fair treatment from a former employer.
Deadlines for Wrongful Termination Claims
New Jersey is an at-will employment state, which gives employers latitude to fire for any reason at all—subject only to limited exceptions. Nonetheless, there are some exceptions:
- Anti-discrimination laws. New Jersey workers are protected by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, and other anti-discrimination statutes. Workers are protected from negative employment actions, including termination, which are taken because of a worker’s protected characteristics, including national origin, race, color, sex, religion, disability, and other characteristics. Contact our office if you suspect discrimination.
- Employment contracts. Although New Jersey is an at-will employment state, some employees do have employment contracts. Typically, these contracts include language allowing termination “for cause.” Your employer might have fired you without cause, in which case you have a legal claim for breach of contract.
- Your deadline will depend on the type of wrongful termination claim you raise:
- Illegal discrimination. Employees face an option. You can file a discrimination charge with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights within 180 days of the discriminatory conduct. Alternatively, you can go to court and file a lawsuit based on the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination without first going through the administrative process. If you choose this latter option, you get two years from the date of the illegal conduct.
- Breach of contract. New Jersey’s statute of limitation for breach of contract is 6 years from the day your cause of action accrues. (New Jersey Statutes § 2A:14-1.)
How to Help Your Case
It is critical not to delay. Some workers are unsure about whether they really faced discrimination, or they signed a document waiving their right to sue for discrimination as part of a severance agreement. Many workers feel stuck and don’t know what to do.
You should quickly contact our office to speak with a New Jersey wrongful termination lawyer. You might still be able to file a wrongful termination lawsuit, even if you accepted a severance package. Often, a waiver of rights is illegal, especially if you are waiving a claim based on discrimination.
Schedule a Free Consultation
Our firm has won many wrongful termination cases for clients who were let go for a variety of reasons, including illegal race and sex discrimination. We can provide more tailored advice in a one-on-one consultation, so contact us today.
