Wrongful Termination Lawyers

Losing your job is one of the most stressful events in life. It threatens your home, your family, and your future. When you are fired suddenly, it feels unfair. But in Kentucky and Tennessee, "unfair" is not always illegal.

Both states are "At-Will" employment states. This means your boss can fire you for good cause, bad cause, or no cause at all. They can fire you because they don't like your tie, or because the Vols lost on Saturday.

However, they CANNOT fire you for an ILLEGAL reason.

At Freeman Childers, we find the truth hidden behind the "official" reason. Employers rarely admit, "We fired her because she's pregnant." They lie. They say it was "downsizing" or "poor performance." We dig through the emails, the performance reviews, and the personnel files to prove that their reason is a pretext for discrimination or retaliation.

When Is Firing Illegal? (The Exceptions)

We represent clients who were terminated for specific, protected reasons:

1. Discrimination (Title VII)

It is illegal to fire someone based on:

• Race / Color / National Origin

• Gender / Sex (including Pregnancy)

• Religion

• Age (Over 40)

• Disability (ADA)

• Genetic Information

2. Retaliation (The "Whistleblower" Shield)

You cannot be fired for exercising your legal rights.

• Workers' Comp Retaliation: Did you get hurt on the job, file a claim, and suddenly get let go? This is a major violation.

• Safety Reporting (OSHA): Did you report unsafe working conditions (like a lack of PPE or dangerous machinery) and get fired for being a "troublemaker"?

• Wage & Hour Complaints: Did you ask why you weren't getting overtime pay, and they fired you to shut you up?

3. FMLA Violations

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) guarantees unpaid leave for serious health conditions or caring for a sick family member.

• If you took approved FMLA leave for surgery or a new baby, and they gave your job away while you were gone -> That is Illegal.

"Constructive Discharge" (They Made Me Quit)

Sometimes, an employer is smart enough not to fire you. Instead, they make your life miserable hoping you will quit.

• They cut your hours to zero.

• They move your desk to the basement.

• They humiliate you in front of coworkers. If the working conditions were so intolerable that a reasonable person had to quit, the law treats it as if you were fired. This is called Constructive Discharge.

Don't Sign the Severance Agreement Yet!

Employers often offer a small "severance package" in exchange for you signing a document. That document is a Release of Claims. If you sign it, you can never sue them, no matter how illegal the firing was. Do not sign anything until a lawyer reviews it. We can often negotiate a much higher severance package by pointing out the legal risks they face if they don't pay up.

Were You Fired Illegally?

If you suspect the "reason" they gave you was a lie, trust your instincts. Call 606-528-1000 for a confidential case review.