Wrongful Termination

The default employment relationship in Ohio is “at-will employment.” This means that an employer can fire you for any reason, whether good or bad, so long as the reason is not prohibited by law. The last part, about the reason not being prohibited by law, is key. There are many reasons for firing an employee that are prohibited by law. An employer cannot fire you because of your race, color of your skin, religion, sex, military status, national origin, disability, or age. An employer cannot fire you because you sought workers’ compensation benefits. An employer cannot fire you because you complained about sexual harassment. There are many more reasons that are prohibited by law; too many to list here.

There is no actual claim for “wrongful termination.” Rather, that term is just shorthand for the many prohibited reasons for firing an employee which are the exceptions to “at-will employment.” If you have been fired by your employer, then our job at Willis Spangler Starling is to assess the facts of your case and determine whether your employer’s reason for firing you might be one of those prohibited reasons. Sometimes employers admit, inadvertently or otherwise, to a prohibited reason. More often, however, employers disguise or lie about their reasons, and so we assess what evidence may be able to convince a judge or jury that the true reason for your termination is one that is prohibited by law. That, in a sentence or two, is a wrongful termination case.

At Willis Spangler Starling, if we believe you have a wrongful termination case, then we will aggressively pursue it. We will not only ask for some amount of money to compensate you, but also demand your former employer correct your work record by removing the termination and demand your former employer not give negative references when you apply for new jobs. Call 614-586-7900 to set up a free consultation today.