Boucher Law

Employment Discrimination, Harassment, Retaliation — Unpaid Wages and Overtime — Defamation — Contract Litigation

Employment Law  You cannot be denied employment, housing, leaves of absence, or wages because you identify as LGBT, appear as a certain gender, are male or female, are aged over 40, or have a disability or medical condition. (Click title for details.)

Wages and Overtime  You must be paid all wages due to you — including overtime — at the time they were earned. If your employer claims you're "exempt," California law may prove otherwise.

Defamation  If someone injures you by accident or on purpose, you may be entitled to compensation under the law.

Contract Litigation  If someone backs out of an agreement or promise they made with you, you may be able to enforce it as a contract in court.

In all these cases, the law protects you, but can be an impenetrable barrier. You need an experienced attorney on your side to help you make the right decisions and to fight for you.

Defamation

What is defamation? Defamation is libel or slander. Libel is a written publication distributed to others containing false and damaging words about another person. Slander is an false oral statement made to others which damages their reputation.

I think I've been defamed because I'm having trouble finding work. How do I prove such a claim? While job seekers can recover for being "black-listed" by former employers, proving such claims is extremely difficult. It is important to maintain a complete and accurate journal of your job seeking efforts and to follow up with potential employers. Having an attorney on your side early will help you to understand what is required.

I feel harassed because coworkers are bullying me and telling others lies about me. Am I protected? Yes. You may be protected from such poor treatment either directly from the bullies or from your employer. An attorney can help you to address this issue with your employer before it gets out of hand.

What are the first steps? The first thing to do is to speak with an attorney as soon as possible; the statute of limitations on defamation claims is only one year. So, quick action is required. Your attorney will advise you about how to prove your case and how to recover your wages.

What can I do right now? Call me or fill out my client intake survey so that we can begin the conversation regarding your job search or making your workplace safe.

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