Suing public university for wrongful termination, retaliation for whistleblower complaint, discrimination, etc?
Note:
1. I filed internal complaints about years of hazing including my supervisor lying about university policy when establishing my hiring salary, improperly conducted performance appraisals, repeatedly excluding me from information needed for my job, isolating me in a makeshift office (formerly a storage room) unlike other employees, supervisor's racist comments, racial/sexual discrimination, etc. (Despite a university investigator agreeing on several issues in my complaint, it was dismissed. The university's framework for reporting workplace abuse is hostile and complaints are routinely dismissed.)
2. I was expected to secretly complete recommendation forms for student in their applications to graduate school and falsely sign for faculty, all without notifying the applicant or graduate program.
3. I talked to faculty about adverse working conditions. I was then ordered in writing to not talk.
Thank you.
2 attorney answers
That sounds like a horrible experience; I'm sorry.
I would be curious about the timing of your internal reports and your termination. I'd also be curious about your involuntary leave of absence-- was it related to your internal reports of potential illegal activity by the University? Other questions are whether everyone in your position or similar positions were required to complete the remote work agreement or not, and whether anyone who was not required to do so ever submitted internal reports about potential illegal activity, among other things.
These are items you or any counsel you retain should consider when proceeding against the University.
Best wishes in your matter.
Please note this information is educational, and it does not constitute legal advice or an attorney-client relationship.
You have not asked a question. If you believe that this site will allow you to solicit attorneys to contact you to work on your case, unfortunately this site is not for that purpose. Instead it is to get general guidance on legal issues only. If you want to hire an attorney to assist you - which would be a very good idea - you are going to have to locate and make direct contact with one or more attorney to tell them about your case and see if they are willing to work on it.
I would suggest you look either on this site in the Find a Lawyer section, or go to www.cela.org, the home page for the California Employment Lawyers Association, an organization whose members are dedicated to the representation of employees against their employers.
Most employment attorneys who practice this area of law offer a free or low cost consultation in the beginning and then, if the matter has merit and value, will usually agree to work on a contingency basis, meaning you can hire an attorney without paying any money until the matter results in a positive outcome for you. Many advance all the costs of the litigation as well. Do not let fear of fees and costs keep you from finding a good attorney.
Good luck to you.
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