Legal Question in Employment Law in California

Do I have a case of any kind?

I work in an industry that hires ''contractors'' for projects. Our positions are temporary and we expect to be laid off at some point, usually at the end of the project. I was hired by a company, and on the 2nd day of work I was let go. This appears to have happened because several of the other workers have worked with me before and dislike me on a professional level. Another worker employed at a different company I had worked at, also e-mailed the new company to warn them that I am a disruptive influence, and have caused trouble for the other companies in this industry that I have worked for by disrupting the people I work with. I do not deny that these things are all very likely true. I know that I would have been laid-off eventually anyway, but this situation is not a standard lay-off. Do I have any serious legal ground to stand on should I decide to pursue this? Thank you for your time.


Asked on 9/23/06, 7:21 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Beth Mora Cooper & Mora, A Professional Corporation

Re: Do I have a case of any kind?

I very much appreciate your honesty concerning the attacks on your character. However, I wonder if you are too quick to blame yourself. Terminating your contract is more likely than not, legal, depending on the language of your contract. Most contracts are written with the right to terminate within the document. Thus, to determine if the terminations are improper, I would need to know a bit more information. For example, what is it about you these employees don't like? If the reason is based on your race, gender, religion, national origin, etc... then their conduct is in fact illegal. Please help me understand.

I do see another possible legal claim. There is a tort that may be at play when a person is aware that you have a contractual econimic relationship or future relationship and intentionally interfers with that relationship causing you financial harm - with the intent to cause you harm. It sounds as if that is what is happening here - as long as you can prove it with statements from those invovled. Then you may have a claim against the individual who is actually interfering with your relations. The question then is, does this person you need to sue, have money?

If you wish to discuss this further, you are welcome to contact my office or an attorney in your area. Best of luck.

Sincerely, Beth Mora

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Answered on 10/03/06, 5:58 pm


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