Punitive Damages & Employment Law

Every employer is bound to the employment laws that govern the state of California. And, in turn, every employee has the ability to exercise the rights that these laws grant them.

If an employer violates the employment laws that govern the state of California, any employees affected by this can file a lawsuit against them. This lawsuit could lead to punitive damages, along with other related damages.

Going over how punitive damages and employment law intertwine, while speaking with a Northern California employment law attorney, will help you obtain the compensation you are owed.

What Are Punitive Damages?

Punitive damages are damages that you receive in addition to regular damages. You receive punitive damages for the following reason: the court would like to punish the offender for their actions.

As an example, if your employer steals your wages, you can be awarded damages. These damages will encompass the wages that were stolen from you, as well as any other losses you incurred as a result of this theft.

If the wage theft you experienced was especially severe, you may be awarded punitive damages on top of the regular damages. These won’t encompass any losses, but they will punish your employer for their actions.

Even though punitive damages are never guaranteed, if your employer violated your rights in a particularly egregious manner, they are often worth pursuing.

How Can You Obtain Punitive Damages?

The best way for you to obtain punitive damages is as follows: file a lawsuit against your employer for their illegal actions.

A good example of the above is as follows: your employer has been stealing your wages and, as a result of this, you file a lawsuit against them for the wages that you are legally entitled to.

To file a lawsuit, you should work with an attorney. To ensure you have the best chances of winning your lawsuit, here too, you should work with an attorney. The employment laws that govern California are complex, and working with an experienced legal professional is almost always necessary.

Your attorney will go over the facts of your case and help you file a lawsuit properly. Although for your attorney to win your lawsuit, they are going to need evidence that supports your claims.

For example, if you have pay stubs and time sheets that support your claim of wage theft, then you must present this evidence to your attorney.

Or, as another example, if you have correspondence that supports your claim of retaliation, then this evidence would also need to be presented.

In the event that this lawsuit is successful, you will receive the compensation you are entitled to. This could include further damages – punitive damages, in particular – as well as further compensation for the losses you incurred.

No matter what, if you want to obtain punitive damages for an employment law violation that you, as an employee, experienced, it is of the utmost importance that you have knowledgeable legal representation.

Speak With A Northern California Employment Law Attorney Today

If your rights as an employee were violated, you must work with someone who can help. Speak with a Redding, CA employment law attorney at Maire & Deedon today, and we will help you obtain the damages you are entitled to.