If you are fired from a job, could it be considered wrongful termination?

What is the difference between just being fired and being wrongful termination?

• Employees serve “at will”…in other words, generally you don’t have a right to your job, and your employer can let you go at anytime.
• An exception to this rule is when you are fired for an illegal reason or because you are in a protected.

What are a few of the situations where firing an employee would be considered wrongful termination?
You can’t fire someone because of his or her race.
You can’t fire someone:

• Because they are a Whistleblower
• as a part of sexual harassment.
• Or due to age, if they are getting closer to retirement.

What penalties could an employer face if they are found guilty of wrongful termination?

• It will vary greatly depending on the circumstance.
• Civil rights violations carry fines.
• Money damages for lost wages is available in civil lawsuits.

If you are an employee and you feel you’ve been wrongfully terminated, what should you do?

• You need to contact an attorney whose practice focuses in that area of the law since there are short deadlines to apply for a right to sue letter” from the EEOC.
• Also, your attorney will help you draft a certified letter requesting the reason for your termination.
• You have a right under Missouri law to force your employer to place in writing the reasons for your termination.

What are the penalties for failing to produce such documentation?
If the company fails to produce a written reason for the dismissal within 45 days of the request, they may be held liable for lost wages. The fired employee has to prove that they were delayed or prevented from getting another job as a result of not receiving the documentation. Punitive damages are not allowed.

If you feel you have been terminated for an impermissible reason, protect your rights and call an attorney immediately.

While smoke detectors have greatly reduced the number of deaths in residential fires in the U.S., house fires remain a serious threat. Fire insurance is vital in allowing your family to bounce back if the unthinkable happens.

How serious is the threat of house fires in this country?
In 2006, there were more than 400,000 house fires nationwide, resulting in direct costs of nearly $7 billion.

Are losses due to fire covered in basic homeowner’s insurance?
Unless you have a very unusual, specialized policy, your homeowner’s insurance covers fire losses.

What is specifically covered by insurance?

• The dwelling itself. If it burns to the ground, the cost of rebuilding is covered.
• Other structures, such as a garage or shed.
• The contents of your house - basically, all the stuff your family owns.
• Living expenses - the cost of an apartment or hotel room for you to live in while your house is rebuilt.

What should be done ahead of time to make sure you’re fully covered in the event of a fire?
Go over your policy with your insurance agent and ask a lot of questions.

Make sure your coverage is high enough to cover the cost of rebuilding -
For example, if your house is old, it may cost you more than you expect due to recent building codes.

Review you policy as to coverage and make an inventory of the contents of your home.