When your job turns into a fight over what is legal, you need a lawyer who knows California employment law cold.
California gives employees more protection than almost any other state, but knowing you have rights and getting your employer to respect them are two different things. If you were fired, harassed, discriminated against, or denied wages you earned, Amanda J. Heitlinger has spent her career holding Modesto-area employers accountable under state and federal law.
We also represent employers who want to do things right and need clear, practical advice before a personnel decision turns into a lawsuit. Whether you are an employee who was pushed out unfairly or a business owner trying to stay compliant, we give you a straight answer about where you stand and what to do next.
Talk to a partnerCalifornia is an at-will state, but at-will does not mean an employer can fire you for an illegal reason. We investigate whether your termination violated public policy, broke a contract, or crossed a line drawn by state or federal law.
You cannot be treated differently because of race, age, sex, disability, religion, or national origin. We build discrimination cases from the paper trail, the pattern of conduct, and the people who saw what happened.
Unwanted advances, lewd comments, and a hostile work environment are illegal under California law, whether they come from a supervisor, coworker, or client. We help you document the conduct and hold the company accountable.
Employers cannot punish you for reporting misconduct, filing a complaint, or taking legally protected leave. If you were demoted, written up, or fired after speaking up, we look at the timeline and the motive behind it.
Unpaid overtime, missed meal and rest breaks, and misclassified job titles cost California workers real money every year. We recover unpaid wages, penalties, and interest for employees who were shorted.
Federal and California law protect your job when you need time off for a serious health condition or to care for a family member. We step in when employers deny valid leave or punish employees for taking it.
Pregnant employees and new parents have specific protections under California law, including reasonable accommodations and protected leave. We pursue employers who demote, sideline, or push out workers because they are pregnant.
Not every employment dispute belongs in court, and smart employers want to fix problems before they become claims. We advise Modesto businesses on policies, terminations, and complaints so decisions hold up if challenged.
Most discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims must first go through the California Civil Rights Department, generally within three years of the last violation. Once you get a right-to-sue letter, you typically have one year to file a lawsuit. Deadlines vary by claim type, so talk to a lawyer as soon as possible.
No. At-will means your employer does not need a specific business reason to let you go, but it can never fire you for an illegal reason such as discrimination, retaliation, or refusing to break the law. If your termination crossed one of those lines, you may have a claim.
You can file a complaint with the Civil Rights Department on your own, but employers show up with lawyers and a strategy. Having your own counsel levels the playing field and helps you avoid mistakes that can weaken or waive your claim.
We handle most employee-side employment cases on contingency, which means you owe us nothing upfront and we only get paid if we recover money for you. We explain our fee structure clearly before you sign anything.
Discrimination is being treated worse because of a protected characteristic like age, race, or disability. Harassment is unwelcome conduct that creates a hostile environment. Retaliation is punishment for reporting either one. They often overlap in the same case.
It depends on what you signed. Some severance agreements include a release of claims, but those releases are not always enforceable, especially if they were rushed, unclear, or missing required disclosures. Bring us the document before you assume your rights are gone.
Call (209) 876-8886 or send us a message. You speak directly with a partner.