Wrongful Termination Lawyer in Anaheim

If you experienced wrongful termination at an Anaheim workplace, you have strong protections under California law. We represent employees only, never employers, and offer a free, confidential consultation. 1-800-371-3088.

What Is Wrongful Termination in Anaheim

California is an at-will state, but the at-will rule has many exceptions. The leading case is Tameny v. Atlantic Richfield Co. (1980) 27 Cal.3d 167, which established the public-policy tort: an employee fired for refusing to commit an illegal act, for asserting a statutory right, or for reporting illegal conduct can sue in tort. Other Anaheim wrongful-termination grounds include FEHA (Cal. Government Code section 12940), Labor Code section 1102.5 (whistleblower retaliation), Labor Code section 6310 (Cal/OSHA retaliation), Labor Code section 232 (wage-discussion retaliation), and Labor Code section 132a (workers' compensation retaliation). Anaheim Resort workers fired for asserting Measure L hospitality minimum-wage rights have an additional retaliation claim under Labor Code section 98.6.

Anaheim Industries Where Wrongful Termination Claims Are Most Common

• Disneyland Resort cast members - 36,000 cast members. Common pattern: termination after the worker asserts Measure L rights or reports unsafe ride or backstage conditions (Cal/OSHA retaliation under Labor Code section 6310).
• Anaheim Resort hotel workers - common pattern: termination after the worker reports wage theft, harassment, or unsafe guest conduct (Labor Code section 1102.5).
• Healthcare workers - at Kaiser Permanente Orange County - Anaheim, AHMC Anaheim Regional, and West Anaheim Medical Center. Common pattern: termination after the worker reports patient-safety concerns under Health and Safety Code section 1278.5 ($25,000-per-violation civil penalty for retaliation).
• Public-sector workers - at the City of Anaheim, Anaheim Union High School District, Anaheim Elementary School District, and North Orange County Community College District. Public employees have pre-deprivation due-process rights under Skelly v. State Personnel Board (1975) 15 Cal.3d 194 and California Whistleblower Protection Act coverage under Cal. Government Code section 8547.
• Stadium, arena, and convention-center workers - common pattern: termination of concession workers who report tip-pooling or wage-theft violations (Labor Code sections 351 and 98.6).

Anaheim Mass-Layoff Notice Rights

If you were part of an Anaheim mass layoff, the California WARN Act (California Labor Code sections 1400 through 1408) requires covered employers with 75 or more workers to give 60 days' advance written notice of a mass layoff of 50 or more employees in any 30-day period, a plant closing, or a relocation. Federal WARN (29 U.S.C. sections 2101-2109) applies to employers with 100+ employees. Damages: up to 60 days of back pay and benefits, plus an additional civil penalty of up to $500 per day under federal WARN if notice is not given to the local government. SB 617 (effective January 1, 2026) expanded the required notice content.

California Law

For the full California framework, including Tameny, Labor Code section 1102.5, FEHA, Cal-WARN, and public-employee due-process rights, see our California employment law page.

What Compensation Can You Recover

Back pay, front pay (or reinstatement where appropriate), emotional-distress damages, punitive damages (unlimited under FEHA and under the Tameny tort), 60-day Cal-WARN back-pay damages where applicable, and attorneys' fees and costs (Cal. Government Code section 12965(c); Labor Code section 1102.5(j)). For details, see our California employment law page.

How to File a Wrongful Termination Claim in Anaheim

FEHA charges go to the CRD, 320 W. 4th Street, Suite 1000, 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90013. Federal charges go to the EEOC, 255 East Temple Street, 4th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Whistleblower and wage claims can be filed with the California Labor Commissioner (DLSE Santa Ana, 2 MacArthur Place, Suite 800, (714) 558-4910). Civil suits are heard at the Orange County Superior Court, Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701 (complex civil matters at the Civil Complex Center, 751 West Santa Ana Boulevard, Santa Ana, CA 92701). Call us at 1-800-371-3088 before any deadline.