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Wrongful termination statute of limitations

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Gates

Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Alabama

What are the statute of limitations in Alabama for filing a wrongful termination suit against your former employer?

Thank you,

Gates
 


dolebot

Member
Look to federal law regarding the SOL.

A large number of people feel that their termination constitutes "wrongful termination" - wrongfully.

The statutes in effect are published online via a web application called "ALISON" at:

Alabama Legislative Information System Online

A quick look reveals nothing obvious in the AL statutes specifically prohibiting any employer from terminating an employee, other than quite a bit of stuff regarding age discrimination. They refer to the federal laws a bit too - so I would think that there aren't many laws at all regarding terminations.

Is it an age discrimination case you are confronted with?

Look to the FLSA (fair labor standards act) - it describes illegal terminations as those based on discrimination based on protected characteristics. (age, race, gender, age, disability, medical condition, etc) Are you confronted with discrimination based on a protected characteristic?

If not - good luck, because thats really all "wrongful termination" is.

It's not that your boss treats "just you" differently. It's not that he fired you for no reason. It's not that he fired you because he didn't like you. It's not that you were fired because he says you stole from the company and you really didn't, or a whole host of other reasons that folks think constitutes "wrongful termination".

Alabama is a state that observes the "At-Will" doctrine - you are employed - and you work for your employer - "At-Will". In other words - you can quit at any time if you don't like the job or how your employer treats you, and he can fire you at any time for any reason (unless a collective bargaining agreement or a bona fide employment contract is in effect - talk to your union, or for WhistleBlowing) - or for no reason at all, again unless its because of discrimination due to a protected characteristic.
 

Gates

Junior Member
TY Dolebot, see what you think of this :)

Covenant of good faith and fair dealing exceptions (aka. "Implied-in-law" Contracts)
See also: Quasi-contract


U.S. states with a covenant-of-good-faith-and-fair-dealing exception
Only eleven U.S. states have recognized a breach of an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing as an exception to at-will employment.[9][11] These 11 states are:
• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• California
• Delaware
• Idaho
• Massachusetts
• Montana
• Nevada
• Utah
• Wyoming
This exception for a covenant of good faith and fair dealing represents the most significant departure from the traditional employment-at-will doctrine. Rather than narrowly prohibiting terminations based on public policy or an implied contract, this exception — at its broadest – reads a covenant of good faith and fair dealing into every employment relationship. It has been interpreted, by some courts, to mean either that employer personnel decisions are subject to a “just cause” standard or that terminations made in bad faith or motivated by malice are prohibited. (SEE JUST CAUSE BELOW)

Statutory exceptions

Although all U.S. states have a number of statutory protections for employees, most wrongful termination suits brought under statutory causes of action use the federal anti-discrimination statutes which prohibit firing or refusing to hire an employee because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or handicap status. Other reasons an employer may NOT use to fire an at-will employee are:
• for refusing to commit illegal acts – An employer is not permitted to fire an employee because the employee refuses to commit an act that is illegal.
• family or medical leave – federal law permits most employees to take a leave of absence for specific family or medical problems. An employer is not permitted to fire an employee who takes family or medical leave for a reason outlined in the Family and Medical Leave Act.
not following own termination procedures – often, the employee handbook or company policy outlines a procedure that must be followed before an employee is terminated. If the employer fires an employee without following this procedure, the employee may have a claim for wrongful termination.[12] Examples of federal statutes include:
• Equal Pay Act of 1963 (relating to discrimination on the basis of sex in payment of wages);
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (relating to discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin);
• Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (relating to certain discrimination on the basis of age with respect to persons of at least 40 years of age);
• Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (related to certain discrimination on the basis of handicap status);
• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (relating to certain discrimination on the basis of handicap status).
• The National Labor Relations Act provided protection to members of labor unions, but this portion of the Act has been repealed.[13]

……………………………………………………………………………………………
JUST CAUSE
In the workplace, Just Cause is a burden of proof or standard that an employer must meet to justify discipline or discharge. Just Cause usually refers to a violation of a company policy or rule. In some cases, an employee may commit an act that is not specifically addressed within the employers policies but one of which the employer believes warrants discipline or discharge. In such instances, the employer must be confident that he can defend his decision.

When an arbitrator looks at a discipline dispute, the arbitrator first asks whether the employee's wrongdoing has been proven by the employer, and then asks whether the method of discipline should be upheld or modified. In 1966, Professor and Arbitrator Carroll Daugherty expanded these arbitration principles into his famous seven tests for just cause. The concepts encompassed within his seven tests are still frequently used by arbitrators when deciding discipline cases.

________________________________________
Daugherty's seven tests are as follows: Was the employee forewarned of the consequences of his or her actions? (NO but several were fabricated) Are the employer's rules reasonably related to business efficiency and performance the employer might reasonably expect from the employee? (What rules? Raises and 2 promotions should ans this question) Was an effort made before discharge to determine whether the employee was guilty as charged? (NO) Was the investigation conducted fairly and objectively? (NO) Did the employer obtain substantial evidence of the employee's guilt? (No because there was NONE) Were the rules applied fairly and without discrimination? (NO) Was the degree of discipline reasonably related to the seriousness of the employee's offense and the employee's past record? (ABSOLUTELY NOT, she had been considered a super star before new boss arrived)

The last test, the degree of discipline, is important because arbitrators want to ensure that the "punishment fits the crime." An employer's use of progressive discipline often gives the employer an advantage in arbitration. The culture of the community or community standards sometimes play an important role in how Just Cause is defined, especially if there are issues of immorality. What is accepted in an urban and liberal community may not be accepted in a rural and religiously conservative community. The courts or arbitrator who will rule on a challenge to the discipline may be a product of those communities. Just Cause can become controversial in instances when the employers personnel policies do not address a specific act but the employer believes that Just Cause exists. For example, if an employee is arrested and charged with a misdemeanor, the employer may deem that sufficient cause for dismissal, even if the employee is not incarcerated or is not convicted.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_cause"

………………………………………………………………………………………………

WRONGFUL DISMISSAL
Wrongful dismissal, also called wrongful termination or wrongful discharge, is an idiom and legal phrase, describing a situation in which an employee's contract of employment has been terminated by the employer in circumstances where the termination breaches one or more terms of the contract of employment, or a statute provision in employment law. It follows that the scope for wrongful dismissal varies according to the terms of the employment contract, and varies by jurisdiction. Note that the absence of a formal contract of employment does not preclude wrongful dismissal in jurisdictions in which a de facto contract is taken to exist by virtue of the employment relationship. Terms of such a contract may include obligations and rights outlined in an employee handbook.
Wrongful dismissal will tend to arise first as a claim by the employee so dismissed. Many jurisdictions provide tribunals or courts which will hear actions for wrongful dismissal. A proven wrongful dismissal will tend to lead to two main remedies: reinstatement of the dismissed employee, and/or monetary compensation for the wrongfully dismissed.
A related situation is constructive dismissal, in which an employee feels no choice but to resign from employment for reasons imposed by the employer.

One way to avoid potential liability for wrongful dismissal is to institute an employment probation period after which a new employee is automatically terminated unless there is sufficient justification not to do so. The dismissed employee may still assert a claim, but proof will be more difficult, as the employer may have broad discretion with retaining such a temporary employee. (THEY HIRED SOMEONE ELSE ON A FULL TIME BASIS)
 

ecmst12

Senior Member
If your termination did not violate any equal opportunity laws, then it was not a wrongful termination.

If equal opportunity laws WERE violated, then you MUST file a complaint with them and receive a right-to-sue letter before you can sue.
 

Gates

Junior Member
Take a look at.....

If your termination did not violate any equal opportunity laws, then it was not a wrongful termination.

If equal opportunity laws WERE violated, then you MUST file a complaint with them and receive a right-to-sue letter before you can sue.
"TY Dolebot, see what you think of this :)" It is posted above. I think you will find that not only is Alabama one of the excepted 11 states but there are quite a few issues that allow for a suit that are NOT EEOC related.
 
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ecmst12

Senior Member
I think you are misinterpreting the wiki posting. There is only ONE state that does not follow at-will employment, and it is not Alabama. If your termination did not violate a SPECIFIC federal or state statute, it was not wrongful.
 

dolebot

Member
Thanks Gates. I really appreciate a nice meaty post that's just brimming with knowledge. I'm verifying it of course, so far nothing in Alison to support it. Have any pointers?

Oh I think I get it. It's deep in case law, not statutory.

Well good luck with that.
 
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cbg

I'm a Northern Girl
There is more than one kind of wrongful termination, and the statute of limitations to file depends on what kind you (think you) have.
 

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