Fired for Refusing to Commit an Illegal Act in Midland?

If you live and work in the town of Midland/Odessa, dealing with a case of unfair termination can be an unexpected struggle at a time when financial stability and job security is of utmost importance. Even with plenty of time to plan an exit strategy, the aftermath of a firing can be a time of uncertainty and financial stress.

Although statewide Texas business and employment laws uphold an at-will-employment doctrine, sometimes, your case may fall under an exception. One of these exceptions to Texas’ employment policies is known as a Sabine Pilot claim. Here are a few commonly asked questions for those considering filing an employment lawsuit following termination.

From a legal standpoint, every case is different, and Texas’ at-will-employment doctrine typically gives employers the right to terminate employment at any time. But relative to this at-will employment statute, many cases include various exceptions and extenuating circumstances that may change how a judge views your case in court.

One of the most common of these is the Sabine Pilot rule. Sabine Pilot claims are those in which a worker has been fired as a result of employer retaliation after refusing to commit an illegal or criminal act as ordered by his or her superiors. This exception is in place to protect whistleblowers and prevent workers from feeling cornered into acting illegally at the risk of losing their job.

Other common exceptions include protection from termination for workers who must miss work to attend jury duty, discrimination against sex, ethnicity, age, religion, or sexual orientation, anyone called into active military service, or the filing of a lawful workers compensation claim against an employer.

If (usually alongside an experienced lawyer) you’ve proven employer retaliation, the question remains: what damages can be claimed in a Sabine Pilot case?

After you determine that you have indeed experienced unfair treatment at the hands of your superiors, it is time to evaluate what damages can be claimed in a Sabine Pilot case. Some of the most common of these include:

• Future loss of wages
• Current loss of wages
• Loss of benefits
• Emotional harm
• Pain and suffering

If you have been blindsided by wrongful termination in Midland and you suspect that you have been fired unfairly, your ability to obtain full compensation is in part due to how you handle your your claim.

The moment you are notified of your termination, your settlement process begins. Moving forward, there are a few things you can do to preserve your claim and maximize your chances to regain your quality of life and financial stability. These include:

• Research/Gather evidence
  • Research during this time is crucial. This includes not only research into the legal parameters of your employment and the finer details of your employment contract (if applicable), but also, what your benefits package entails and how long your coverage lasts, even after termination of employment.
  • The more information that you have in writing, the easier moving forward with a settlement will become. Get your termination in writing, review any form of an employment contract you may have signed, etc. Be thorough, even overly cautious. This will make your attorney’s job easier later on.
• Keep track of your employer’s behavior/interactions
  • Before you leave under the conditions of your termination, it is important that you ask questions. Inquire about your severance package. Ask why you are being fired. Find out who ordered the firing, and what their motives were.
• Consult your case with a lawyer
  • A legal representative with experience handling cases involving the Sabine Pilot exception can help you assemble the facts and present an irrefutable case in front of a judge.

For more information about what damages can be claimed in a Sabine Pilot case, contact our Midland attorneys today. We can help you hold your employers accountable for employer retaliation, and determine what you may be owed.

Contact our Midland employment lawyers anytime toll free at 800-862-1260, or our Midland offices, at 432-620-0544. You can also sit down with our attorneys in person to discuss your case. In fact, the lawyers from Carabin Shaw offer all first-time potential clients a free consultation. We are here for you.