Practice Areas

• Practice Areas • Practices • Employment Retaliation

Opposing unlawful discrimination, other illegal activity, and workplace danger takes courage and determination.

When you complain—formally or informally—about a workplace practice or action that you reasonably believe to be unlawful discrimination, a felony, or a serious danger, the law protects you from retaliation or backlash. When you raise concerns that your employer is engaging in prohibited discrimination—on the basis of race, gender, religion, national-origin, disability, age, ancestry, or other protected bases—your employer cannot legally subject you to actions that would deter someone from opposing discrimination.

And when you're a public employee speaking out on a matter of public concern, you cannot experience First Amendment retaliation, that is, adverse actions that might deter a person of "ordinary firmness" from having engaged in protected free speech to begin with.

When you engage in protected activity by opposing unlawful discrimination, or by participating in an investigation about such discrimination, your employer cannot use your complaint as a basis to terminate you, reduce your hours, deny you a promotion, or otherwise mistreat you. Your employer cannot use your opposition to discrimination to change your shift, or move your office, or change your title, or demote you. And just because you have complained about discrimination, your employer cannot drastically change your work responsibilities, give you a bad review, or take any other action that would dissuade a reasonable worker from opposing discrimination.

If you have complained about illegal discrimination in your workplace, illegal activity, or serious workplace safety issues—and have experienced retaliation as a result—we can help.

If you plan to report discrimination, safety violations, or illegal activities, and are concerned about potential backlash, we can advise you on your rights and how to effectively lodge your complaint so you are protected to the fullest extent of the law. It is important to have an attorney involved as early as possible in the planning and process so there are no inadvertent missteps.

Lawyers who get results in employment-retaliation cases

Founding and managing partner Subodh Chandra and his determined colleagues have obtained significant trial and settlement results for clients who faced retaliation. The results of individual cases, of course, depend on the strength of the evidence and measurable damages suffered by clients, but recent results include the following:

• A jury verdict of over $2,000,000 against the Village of Woodmere, Ohio and its then-Mayor, Yolanda Broadie, for employment retaliation under federal and Ohio law as well as First Amendment retaliation, to former police chief LaMont Lockhart for opposing race discrimination that was directed toward others.
• Nearly $1,000,000 for a fire battalion chief who was forced to retire early after he was wrongly perceived by city officials as having leaked to the media the fire chief's lack of qualifications.
• Nearly $1,000,000 for a former police lieutenant who was wrongly perceived as having leaked to the media the adoption of an unethical traffic-ticket quota.
• A high six-figure settlement for an employee of a major non-profit organization who endured retaliation for reporting sexual harassment.
• $550,000 for a former assistant prosecutor who reported prosecutorial misconduct and endured a retaliatory firing for having done so.
• A mid six-figure settlement for a corporate employee who was fired after reporting sexual harassment and assault by a senior company executive.
• A six-figure settlement for a police officer who was fired after opposing illegal activity.
• A six-figure settlement for a university employee who faced retaliation for opposing discrimination.
• A six-figure settlement for a doctor's office employee who reported illegal healthcare fraud by the doctor.
• Countless six- and high five-figure settlements for employees who faced retaliation for opposing sexual harassment, race discrimination, and religious discrimination.
• A ruling from federal Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) that a Cleveland Hopkins International Airport airfield-maintenance manager who complained to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) about safety violations, and was demoted, was retaliated against and should be reinstated to the job he loved. The employee also received money damages.

Contact The Chandra Law Firm LLC if you believe you are a victim of employment retaliation

At The Chandra Law Firm LLC, our attorneys have extensive experience representing workers who experience retaliation for standing up for their rights and the rights of their co-workers. We are proud to litigate on behalf of those with the courage to report unlawful discrimination and illegal conduct.

You can reach our firm, which serves clients throughout Ohio, by calling 216-578-1700 or by filling out our online contact form.