Pomona, California

Wrongful Termination Lawyer in Pomona

California wrongful termination representation for Pomona workers. Free, confidential consultation. We represent employees only.

If you experienced wrongful termination at a Pomona 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 Pomona

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 Pomona 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).

Pomona Industries Where Wrongful Termination Claims Are Most Common

  • Healthcare workers at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center (PVHMC) - at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center at 1798 N. Garey Avenue, Pomona, CA 91767 - a 427-bed fully-accredited acute care hospital, one of the largest not-for-profit hospitals in the Pomona Valley, serving eastern Los Angeles and western San Bernardino counties. Includes the Robert & Beverly Lewis Family Cancer Care Center. Covered by SB 525 healthcare-worker minimum-wage schedule (Cal. Labor Code sections 1182.14, 1182.15, 1182.16), California Health & Safety Code section 1278.5 ($25,000-per-violation civil penalty for patient-safety retaliation), and CNA / SEIU-UHW / NUHW collective bargaining agreements.
  • Higher education workers at Cal Poly Pomona - at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona - one of the largest CSU campuses serving the eastern Los Angeles and Inland Empire regions. CSU employees are covered by HEERA (Cal. Gov. Code sections 3560-3599), CSU collective bargaining agreements (CFA for faculty, CSUEU for staff, APC for academic professionals), the 6-month Government Claims Act deadline, PEPRA, and Title IX (20 U.S.C. section 1681).
  • K-12 education workers at Pomona Unified School District (PUSD) - at the Pomona Unified School District. Covered by California Education Code sections 44930-44987, the Educational Employment Relations Act (EERA / Cal. Gov. Code sections 3540-3549.3), Cal. Education Code section 44113 (school-employee whistleblower protections), and CTA-affiliated collective bargaining agreements. PEPRA and the 6-month government-claim deadline apply.
  • Event and entertainment workers at Fairplex (LA County Fair) - at the Fairplex - a 500-acre nonprofit 501(c)(5) campus that hosts the Los Angeles County Fair (returning May 2027), an NHRA-sanctioned drag strip, the Pomona Fairplex Hotel, the Motorsports Museum, and many other public-private events. Workers are covered by IWC Wage Order 10 (amusement and recreation), Cal. Labor Code, and FEHA.
  • City of Pomona government and public-safety workers - at the City of Pomona (incorporated January 6, 1888; became a charter city in 1911; 7th-largest city in Los Angeles County), the Pomona Police Department, and the Pomona Fire Department. Police covered by POBR (Cal. Gov. Code section 3300 et seq.); firefighters by FBOR (Cal. Gov. Code section 3250 et seq.); all public employees by PEPRA, MMBA (Cal. Gov. Code sections 3500-3511), and the 6-month Government Claims Act deadline (Gov. Code section 911.2).
  • Warehouse and logistics workers - at warehouses and distribution centers along the I-10, I-210, SR-57, and SR-71 freight corridors. Warehouse workers are protected by the Warehouse Quotas Act (AB 701, Cal. Labor Code sections 2100-2112).
  • Retail, restaurant, and consumer-services workers - at retailers and restaurants throughout Pomona, including along Garey Avenue, Holt Avenue, and Indian Hill Boulevard. Fast-food workers at chains with 60+ national locations earn the $20.00/hour AB 1228 floor (Cal. Labor Code section 1474). Retail workers covered by IWC Wage Order 7 (mercantile industry).

Pomona Mass-Layoff Notice Rights

If you were part of a Pomona 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. Pomona's 500-acre Fairplex (host of the LA County Fair) and adjacent warehouse/distribution facilities along the I-10 / I-210 / SR-57 / SR-71 freight corridors generate significant seasonal employment fluctuations. The California WARN Act (Cal. Labor Code section 1400 et seq.) protects workers from inadequate notice of mass layoffs and plant closures.

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 Pomona

FEHA charges go to the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), Los Angeles Office, 320 West 4th Street, 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90013. Federal charges go to the EEOC Los Angeles District Office, 255 East Temple Street, 4th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Whistleblower and wage claims can be filed with the California Labor Commissioner (DLSE El Monte Office, 9530 Telstar Avenue, Suite 200, El Monte, CA 91731). Civil suits are heard at the Los Angeles County Superior Court - Pomona Courthouse, 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona, CA 91766. Call us at 1-800-371-3088 before any deadline.

Frequently Asked Questions

A worker was fired from a Pomona warehouse for filing a workers' comp claim. Is that wrongful termination? +
Yes. Labor Code section 132a prohibits retaliation for filing a workers' comp claim. A worker can also bring a Tameny common-law wrongful-termination claim for violation of public policy.
If a Pomona employer laid off 80 workers without 60 days' notice, is that a WARN violation? +
Possibly. The California WARN Act (Labor Code sections 1400-1408) requires 60-day notice for any mass layoff of 50+ employees at a single facility, stricter than federal WARN. Damages include up to 60 days of back pay and benefits.
Can a worker sue Cal Poly Pomona for wrongful termination? +
Yes, but a worker must first file a Government Claims Act notice within 6 months. FEHA, Labor Code section 1102.5, and Tameny public-policy claims all apply. The Pomona Courthouse handles the civil case.
How long does a worker have to sue for wrongful termination in Pomona? +
FEHA: 3 years to CRD, 1 year after right-to-sue. Tameny public-policy: 2 years. Labor Code section 1102.5: 3 years. WARN Act: 3 years. Public-entity Gov. Claims notice: 6 months.

Were You Fired Without a Legal Reason?

Speak with a California wrongful termination lawyer today. Free confidential consultation. No fee unless you win.

Legal Disclaimer: This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Employment law is complex and fact-specific. The information on this page reflects California law as of 2026 and may change. If you believe your rights have been violated, please consult a licensed California employment attorney to evaluate your specific situation.