How a Termination Retaliation Lawyer Builds a Strong Case Against Your Employer?

Losing your job is hard enough but when you suspect the real reason behind it wasn’t your performance, the confusion and stress can feel overwhelming. The good news is that retaliation is illegal. And a Termination Retaliation Lawyer in New York can help in this situation!

These lawyers handle termination and retaliation cases and know exactly how to gather the truth and build a case that actually holds your employer accountable.

Here’s how they usually do it, step by step.

1. Really Listening to Your Story and Identifying Your “Protected Activity.”

The entire case starts with something surprisingly simple: your lawyer sits down and listens. Not rushed and dismissive. They want to hear the whole story what happened, when it happened, and how your employer reacted along the way.

They’ll look for things that legally count as “protected activities,” like:

• Reporting discrimination or harassment
• Filing a workers’ comp claim
• Asking for medical leave
• Raising concerns about workplace safety
• Joining or helping with a workplace investigation
• Speaking out about unethical or illegal behavior

As soon as your lawyer identifies the action that was covered, he will zoom in on what follows the protected act in the retaliation cases since they are always determined by what you did and what follows by the company.

2. Laying Out the Timeline in a Way That Reveals Patterns

A considerable part of exposing retaliation is simply putting the events in order. Then, suddenly, things that appeared random can be traced out.

Your attorney will map out.

• When you voiced concerns or filed a complaint
• How management reacted afterward
• Any noticeable shift in behavior or workload
• Performance reviews before vs. after your complaint
• The exact circumstances surrounding your firing

When your firing has occurred immediately after you have performed a protected action, that moment is a giant flashing arrow of retaliation. And trust me – lawyers know how to make those arrows hard to ignore.

3. Gathering Documents That Help Prove Your Side

This is where the paper trail becomes your best friend. Your lawyer will dig through documents like;

• Emails, texts, and internal messages
• HR reports and complaints you filed
• Previous performance reviews
• Any disciplinary write-ups
• Employee handbook or company policy
• Pay stubs, schedules, and job records

These aren’t just random documents. They help your lawyer show the story behind the story.

For example, if you were getting glowing performance reviews before reporting something, and then suddenly you’re written up? That sudden shift isn’t just suspicious, it’s evidence.

4. Talking to Witnesses Who Saw What Happened

People who are around you coworkers, supervisors, or even former employees often have insight that can make or break a case.

Your Termination Retaliation Lawyer in New York might talk to people who can confirm:

• That you were doing your job well
• Management made comments hinting at retaliation
• Your workload or treatment suddenly changed
• You were disciplined unfairly
• Rules weren’t applied evenly across employees

Real-life testimony hits harder than anything written on paper. When multiple voices say the same thing, it becomes tough for an employer to hide behind excuses.

5. Digging Into the Employer’s “Official Reason” for Firing You

Employers rarely admit they retaliated. Instead, they usually claim something like:

• “Your performance dropped.”
• “You violated a company rule.”
• “We were restructuring.”

A skilled attorney doesn’t just accept these explanations – they investigate them.

They may;

• Compare your treatment to how others were treated
• Look for gaps or contradictions in HR paperwork
• Point out unrealistic or sudden changes in expectations
• Check whether the company policies were applied correctly.

If the official reason doesn’t hold up, your lawyer will expose it for what it is – a cover.

6. Calculating What You Actually Lost Because of the Retaliation

Retaliation harms you in more ways than most people realize – financially, emotionally, and sometimes physically. Your
lawyer will break down your losses like these!

Economic damages:

• Lost wages and benefits
• Future earning potential
• Job search or training costs
• Medical bills tied to stress or anxiety

Non-economic damages:

• Emotional distress
• Damage to your professional reputation
• Mental and emotional suffering

if your employer acted maliciously or intentionally, you might even qualify for punitive damages, which are meant to punish the employer.

7. Bringing in Experts to Strengthen Your Case

Sometimes your lawyer brings in outside experts to boost your claim, such as:

• Vocational experts who explain how the firing affects your future earning power
• Mental health or medical professionals who can speak to emotional harm
• Forensic tech experts who help recover deleted or hidden digital evidence

Experts add credibility especially in complicated cases.

8. Handling Every Communication and Negotiation

Once your lawyer has built a solid foundation, they take over all communication so you don’t have to deal with the
stress. This might include:

• Filing complaints with the state agencies
• Responding to statements from your employer
• Writing demand letters
• Negotiating potential settlements

Their goal is to protect you and fight for the best possible outcome.

9. Preparing for Court

Not every case goes to trial many settle but if your employer refuses to take responsibility, your attorney will be
ready.

They’ll work on things like;

• Drafting the lawsuit
• Organizing evidence into a compelling story
• Taking depositions of managers and witnesses
• Challenging the employer’s defenses
• Representing you in front of a judge or jury

Most companies don’t want to face a well-prepared retaliation lawyer in court, which is why strong preparation often
leads to settlements.

Call Us Today To Talk To Our Lawyer

Retaliation is wrong, illegal, and can completely derail your life if left unchecked. A termination retaliation lawyer
doesn’t just collect evidence they help tell the truth of what happened and fight to make things right.

If you believe your employer crossed the line, our team is here to stand between you and their abuse of power. Call us
at Cohen and Fitch LLP today let our termination retaliation lawyers in New York fight for the justice and dignity you
deserve.