Services for Employees
Photo: Robert S. Donovan
I represent employees in disputes with current and former employers. My cases usually involve contested proceedings through the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) or the Oregon courts. I can and will take cases to trial when necessary. Here are some of the types of cases I handle:
- Retaliation/Whistleblowing;
- Sexual Harassment;
- Wrongful Discharge;
- Family and Medical Leave violations;
- Disability Discrimination/Failure to Accommodate;
- Wage and Hour Claims;
- Injured Worker Retaliation;
If you are considering taking some kind of legal action against your employer or former employer, there are a couple things you should know. First, you should know that Oregon is an “at-will” employment state. That means that employers are generally entitled to hire and fire employees as they see fit. It also means that there is nothing that requires employers to be professional, courteous, or fair. You can read more about “at-will” employment by clicking here. That said, “at-will” employment does not make it okay for an employer to break state or federal laws. If you wish to bring a claim, you will have the burden of proving that the employer broke the law.
The second thing you should know is that suing an employer is a commitment. It takes time, energy, money and support from others. In most cases, your employer or former employer has more resources, more information and is generally better equipped for a long fight in court. Many employment cases are defended by insurance companies and their insurance defense lawyers. Even though the vast majority of cases end up in some kind of negotiated settlement, you need to be willing to go all the way if necessary. That’s where a skilled attorney can make all the difference.
Regarding fees, most lawsuits I file against employers are handled on a contingent fee basis. This means that my fee is either a percentage of whatever I recover for you or an amount awarded by the court and paid by the defendant. There are also costs associated with a lawsuit. In other words, there are certain things like filing fees, deposition costs and process server fees that need to be paid. Even though I sometimes (not always) advance those costs, my clients are ultimately responsible for paying them.
I you would like to determine whether I am the right lawyer for your case, the easiest thing to do is to call me at 503-405-8274 or email me at christiansenj@gmail.com.
