Santa Monica employment lawyer

Freiman Legal represents employees in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage cases from its Santa Monica office at 100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 700, Santa Monica, CA 90401. Lawrence Freiman has been licensed in California since 2013 and has represented employees since 2007. Consultations are by phone, by video, or at the office by appointment. Call (310) 917-1004 or email jennifer@freimanlegal.com for a free consultation.

What we handle

California employment law, in brief

Who is covered. The Fair Employment and Housing Act applies to employers with five or more employees, and its harassment provisions reach every employer. The whistleblower statute and most wage laws apply regardless of size.

Reporting illegal conduct. California's whistleblower statute protects an employee who discloses, to a government agency, a supervisor, or a person with authority to investigate, information the employee reasonably believes shows a violation of law. It also protects an employee who refuses to participate in illegal activity.

Overtime and breaks. Overtime is owed at one and one-half times the regular rate for work over eight hours in a day or over 40 hours in a week. A 30-minute meal period is required before the end of the fifth hour, and a paid rest break is required for every four hours or major fraction.

Final pay. California requires final wages at the time of termination, and within 72 hours for an employee who quits without notice. When an employer willfully fails to pay final wages, the wages continue as a penalty for up to 30 days.

What you can recover. In a discrimination case: back pay and lost benefits, front pay where reinstatement is not realistic, emotional distress damages, punitive damages in cases of malice or reckless disregard, and attorney's fees. California does not cap these damages.

How a case works with Freiman Legal

  1. Free consultation by phone, video, or at the Santa Monica office by appointment.
  2. Documents. If we take the case, we get your personnel file and payroll records, which California employers must produce on request.
  3. Demand, mediation, or suit. Many cases resolve before filing. Those that do not may be filed in court and prepared for trial.

Strict filing deadlines apply. Your deadline depends on your facts, so call as soon as you can.

Mediation in Santa Monica

Lawrence Freiman mediates employment disputes in person in Santa Monica or by video. Counsel can schedule through the mediation page.

Questions Santa Monica employees ask

General answers only. Your facts may change the answer.

Do I have to come to the office? No. Consultations and most of the case can be handled by phone and video. We meet at the office by appointment.

I work elsewhere in Los Angeles County. We represent employees throughout California, including the Westside and the rest of Los Angeles County.

Can I afford a lawyer? The first consultation is free. We will talk about how representation would work before you sign anything.

Related

All employee claims | Employers | Mediation | Nevada employment lawyer | Seattle employment lawyer

Free consultation

Call (310) 917-1004, email jennifer@freimanlegal.com, or send us a short message. We aim to reply within one business day.

Contacting us does not make you our client. We represent you only after we both sign a written representation agreement, so please do not send confidential information before then.

Attorney advertising. This page is general information, not legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Lawrence W. Freiman is licensed in California, Nevada, and Washington.