Discrimination

Employment Discrimination Attorney With Over 20 Years of Experience

The Employment Law Firm LLC, Employment Law Litigator, represents victims of employment discrimination.

What is employment discrimination?

Employment discrimination occurs when an employer treats you differently than similarly situated employees outside of your protected class.

That short definition requires a great deal of explanation. The law considers anything done by employees of your employer to have been done by the employer. Discrimination often happens one-on-one, but your employer can still be held liable.

Different treatment that can lead to a claim for discrimination may involve employment matters such as:

  • Failure to hire
  • Firing
  • Raises and bonuses
  • Advancement
  • Working conditions
  • Harassment
  • Hostile work environment

The phrase "similarly situated employee" is a legal term that is not easy to define. It basically means that people who are doing the same kind of work should be held to similar standards and given similar opportunities.

A judge 's gavel sitting on top of papers.

The federal government and the state of Maryland have enacted laws that protect certain groups or categories of persons who have traditionally been the targets of discrimination from unfair employment practices. These categories include people discriminated by:

  • Race
  • Gender
  • Pregnancy
  • Age
  • Disability
  • Religion

In short, the law prohibits your employer from cutting your pay or work privileges for an illegal reason.

Let an experienced discrimination lawyer guide you through the process.

Pursuing a job discrimination claim is not easy. In many cases, especially for employees of the federal government, you must first go through an administrative process. There are rules and procedures to follow and deadlines to meet. If you don't know what you're doing, your claim may be dismissed.

You deserve an experienced lawyer to guide you through this legal morass.

The Employment Law Firm LLC, Employment Law Litigator, can handle all aspects of your claim. I practice before all administrative bodies, including:

  • EEOC
  • Prince George's County Human Relations Commission
  • Maryland Commission on Human Relations
  • District of Columbia Office of Human Rights

I have experience with these, as well as other administrative agencies. I also practice before the Maryland and federal courts at both trial and appellate levels. I am efficient and aggressive, and I know what I'm doing.

This is an area of the law where experience counts. I have over 20 years of experience handling employment discrimination claims.

Wage and Hour Laws

Unpaid Wages, Unpaid Overtime, and Unpaid Commissions
You have the right to receive wages, overtime pay, commissions, and any other form of compensation that is owed to you. These are commonly known as "wage and hour rights." The laws of the state of Maryland recognize and fortify these wage and hour rights. The Employment Law Firm LLC, Employment Law Litigator, can help you pursue your wage and hour claim. I have over 20 years of experience as an employment law litigator. I have helped many people to recover unpaid wages. Let me help you.

Your Wage and Hour Rights in Maryland
Maryland's Wage and Hour Law states that you have the right to receive your minimum wage pay. It also requires your employer (with some exceptions) to pay you time-and-a-half for work in excess of 40 hours per week.

Depending on your employment situation, you may have the right to recover:

  • Accrued leave, including vacation and compensatory leave
  • All pay accrued as of the date you are fired or quit
  • Bonuses
  • Commissions
  • Ownership interests
  • Raises
  • Severance
  • Time-and-a-half for work in excess of 40 hours per week (in most cases)

Basically, you are entitled under the law to recover any form of compensation that you and your employer have agreed to, so long as you have lived up to your part of the bargain.

The Maryland Wage Payment and Collection Law has put teeth into employee rights. In addition to unpaid compensation, if you prevail, you may recover your attorneys' fees plus triple damages.

If you did your work and your employer hasn't paid you, it's time to let an aggressive attorney come to your aid. I know how to deal with stubborn employers.

Contact The Employment Law Firm LLC, Employment Law Litigator, today to make an appointment for a consultation concerning your wage and hour claim.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual Harassment Attorney With Over 20 Years Of Experience

Sexual harassment is against the law.

You have an absolute right to be free from sexual harassment in the workplace.

The Employment Law Firm LLC, Employment Law Litigator, has over 20 years of experience as an employment litigation lawyer. I will aggressively pursue your claim. I have taken on every size employer, from a small business to the federal government. I can help you pursue a claim of sexual harassment.

Sexual harassment claims are on the increase.

According to a study by the National Partnership for Women & Families, between 1992 and 2003, sexual assault claims by Caucasian women rose 5%, claims by African American women rose 42%, and claims by Hispanic women rose 120%. For the same period, claims by men increased by 5.7%.

Juries have been awarded multimillion-dollar punitive damages awards. News of these victories appears frequently in the press, but that has not stopped the incidences of sexual harassment.

You have the right to work in a harassment-free environment.

A combination of state and federal laws provides you with the right to work in an environment that is free of sexual harassment. Many forms of behavior can create a hostile work environment.

These include:

  • Verbal sexual abuse
  • Physical sexual abuse
  • Sexual harassment
  • An offer of sex for advancement ("quid pro quo")
  • Any sexually demeaning or degrading speech or conduct
  • Obscene language

A variety of behaviors may constitute sexual harassment. These behaviors have no place in the workplace.

You do not have to be the target to have a claim.

The essence of a sexual harassment claim is the existence of a hostile environment, even if no one is harassing you directly. If there is an air of vulgarity, and you find it offensive, you may have a claim. If Adam is pursuing Beth and it affects your work environment, you may have a claim.

To find out whether you have a sexual harassment claim, contact The Employment Law Firm LLC, Employment Law Litigator. Make an appointment for a consultation today.

Wrongful Termination

Wrongful Termination Lawyer With Over 20 Years Of Experience

If you have been fired from your job for an illegal reason, your rights have been violated. The law provides you with legal remedies. The Employment Law Firm LLC, Employment Law Litigator, helps victims of wrongful termination to enforce those rights and recover money damages, or perhaps, even be reinstated. I can fight for you against any employer, from a local store owner to the federal government.

Generally, an employer can fire you at any time, for almost any reason or for no reason. But there are some reasons for which you may not be fired.

If you were fired for an illegal reason, then you have been a victim of wrongful termination. These reasons include:

  • Race
  • Gender
  • Pregnancy
  • Age
  • Disability
  • Religion

Wrongful termination can also result when people are fired for the following reasons:

  • Whistleblowing
  • Pursuing a sexual harassment claim
  • Asserting your rights under the FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act)
  • Filing a workers' compensation claim

Finally, individual employment situations may give rise to a claim for wrongful termination if your dismissal was in violation of the following:

  • An employee handbook
  • A contract of employment
  • A company's personnel policy
  • Any federal, state, or local employment law that protects your right to work

Remember, just because you have been fired does not mean you have a claim against your employer. You may, of course, be fired if your employer does not like your work performance or if you are habitually late. You may even be fired for an irrational or silly reason. So long as your employer does not fire you for an illegal reason, you will not have a claim for wrongful termination.

However, if your firing does come under one of the circumstances listed above, you may be able to recover damages, obtain reinstatement, or both.

I have over 20 years of experience as an employment law litigator. Put that experience to work for you.

To schedule a consultation with me, contact The Employment Law Firm LLC, Employment Law Litigator, today.