Siman Law Firm

BlogsWhat Does an Employment Lawyer Look For When Evaluating a Retaliation Case?

October 20, 20210

Retaliation cases can be complicated and difficult to prove, but a lawyer who has experience with these kinds of cases may have the information you need to build your case. Evaluating a retaliation case requires knowledge about employment law as well as an understanding of how state and federal anti-discrimination laws work. A qualified lawyer will know what kinds of evidence are relevant to the case and what strategies must be used in litigating it.

Expert Evaluations

Both plaintiffs and defence lawyers rely on outside experts to provide them with objective analysis that can help them make difficult decisions about how to proceed with a case. When an employment lawyer evaluates a retaliation claim, he or she may look for evidence of employer behaviour that is appropriate for a retaliation case. 

The attorney will also look at evidence that may weaken the plaintiff’s argument by supporting the defendant’s claim that legitimate reasons for termination exist, or that no discrimination occurred in the first place.

When Evaluating Retaliation Cases

Retaliation cases depend on circumstantial evidence because employers are not likely to admit they have discriminated or retaliated against someone. Evaluating a retaliation case involves looking for signs that the plaintiff was discriminated against, such as deciding to terminate an employee’s employment after learning about a discrimination complaint they filed. 

Evaluating a retaliation case also includes finding evidence of employer behaviour that may show leniency towards employees who have not filed complaints or who have been found guilty of discriminating against others.

Employees who believe they have been wrongfully terminated because they filed a discrimination complaint must know their workplace retaliation rights and should consult with an employment lawyer. The attorney can look through the relevant evidence and make recommendations about whether or not there is enough information to move forward with the case.

What Evidence is Required?

When evaluating whether or not you have a strong retaliation claim, an employment lawyer will look for evidence that supports your claim that you were terminated because you filed a discrimination complaint. Evaluating a retaliation case requires finding evidence of a clear link between a complaint or report of harassment and the termination. The attorney will also look for evidence that supports your claim that you were treated differently from other employees who have not filed complaints.

In addition to information about why you were fired, an evaluation must include evidence that the employer’s stated reason for terminating your employment was false or insufficient to justify the action. Evaluating a retaliation case also requires information about why your employer may have wanted to retaliate against you, such as because you refused to continue engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a coworker.

As for evidence that backs up your claim that you were treated differently than other employees who did not file complaints, an evaluation should include statements made by your employer that you were fired for specific reasons. 

Evaluating a retaliation case may also include testimony from employees who have admitted to engaging in the same behaviours that led to your termination but were not terminated themselves. Evidence of unacceptable behaviour committed by other employees without consequences is evidence that supports your claim of discrimination or retaliation.

Additionally, an evaluation should look at whether or not your employer’s stated reasons for terminating you were legitimate. Evaluating a retaliation case may include an assessment of the quality of any evidence that supports the defendant’s claim that you were fired for a legitimate reason, such as insubordination or misconduct, and for no other reason.

In the world of employment law, retaliation for making a complaint is all too common. Not only can this hurt an employee’s personal life – through loss of family and friends when fired from a job – it can often mean that they struggle in their next position or struggle to find a new one right away. 

When an employer retaliates against an employee for making a complaint, they often come up with an excuse for firing the employee and will use their power and influence to convince others that it was something else.

With this in mind, knowing how to prove that you were fired because of your complaint can be tough. This is why it’s important to gather evidence prior to filing a claim, or else an employer could come up with a reason that has nothing to do with the issue at hand and cover their tracks.

What kind of Evidence would I Need to Prove something like this in Court?

When it comes to evidence in a retaliation case, it’s important to show the court that you believed you were wrong and that this belief was honest. If an employer can prove that an employee is lying about their intentions, the courts will side with them. This means that if you are planning on bringing legal action against someone for retaliation, it’s important to prove that you had probable cause in the first place.

How do I know if my Employer is Planning on Firing me?

The best way to determine if your employer is planning on firing you for filing a complaint is by looking at their behaviour over time. If they are constantly shouting or yelling at you when they previously only spoke to you politely, this could be a sign that they are trying to persuade themselves (and others) not to believe your complaints.

Has Anyone Ever Done Anything like this Before?

If you aren’t sure whether or not this is the first time that someone has been treated unfairly, it’s important to ask around and see what other people know. Other employees may remember something like this happening before and can be used as evidence to show that your employer has a history of doing this sort of thing.

Does my Behaviour have Anything to do with being Fired?

If you are initiating conversations or asking for clarification about what is expected of you at work, it could lead others to believe that you are planning on filing a complaint. This means that it’s important to focus on doing your job and nothing more, which will make it harder for an employer to fire you because of your actions.

What Other Types of Evidence would I Need?

In order to prove a retaliation case, it’s important to show the court as much evidence as possible. This means that you should have a log of any meetings, conversations, and interactions with your employer from the last few weeks or months before being let go.

If you were fired shortly after complaining about something, it’s important to note this in your evidence package. In addition to events that happened leading up to termination, anything unusual that occurred that day should be documented as well. This includes being driven to work by someone different, a change in your schedule, or anything else out of the ordinary.

What Evidence would Help me Win my Case?

In order to have a strong case against an employer for retaliation, it’s important to have solid evidence from the start. If an employer can’t prove that an employee was lying about being wrong, it’s unlikely that they will win the case.

In addition to behaviour from before and during termination, any events or conversations on the day of should also be included in a package of evidence. If your manager offered you a ride to work but then fired you shortly after dropping you off, this would be a strong piece of evidence to include with your case.

Not Sure if you have Enough Evidence to Win? 

If you’re having trouble determining whether or not you stand a chance at winning your retaliation case, it’s important to get in touch with an employment lawyer as soon as possible. If you believe you have been wrongfully terminated, you should consult with an employment lawyer who can review your case and determine if there is enough evidence to support a claim of discrimination or retaliation. The Employment Lawyer expert at Siman Law Firm will evaluate the strength of your claims, and provide guidance on how to proceed if they believe you have a good chance of winning the case.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *