Fresno Employment Lawyers Representing Firefighters
Free Case Evaluation
$2 Billion
in Personal Injury Results
$150 Million
in Employment Law Results
for First Responders
Tenacious representation for California firefighters when fire departments discriminate, harass, retaliate, or violate employee rights
Being a firefighter is dangerous work. Fires, smoke, and dangerous toxins can be life-threatening and cause serious injuries. Firefighters, like the California first responders in early 2025, deserve to be honored and respected for the work that they do saving lives, property, and communities. At McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP, our employment attorneys honor firefighters by fighting to protect their jobs, obtaining full compensation, and ensuring appropriate workplace conditions are in place. We provide this protection by filing discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage loss, executive compensation, wrongful termination, and collective bargaining agreement claims. Our Fresno employment lawyers assert every law and every provision of your collective bargaining or employment agreement that supports your legal claim.
Our achievements during our 35 years of representation of employees include the following:
$3 Million
in a retaliation case. Our lawyers secured this sum for six firefighters who disclosed a dangerous and unlawful “Operation Catch-Up” fire department program.
$2.75 Million
in another retaliation case. Our attorneys obtained this amount for a fire department employee who disclosed potential grant fraud and abuse.
$1.5 Million
in a discrimination, harassment, and retaliation case. Our Fresno employment lawyers helped two firefighters obtain this amount of compensation when their employer violated the California Fair Employment Housing Act.
$1.5 Million
for a municipal fire agency worker when a disabled worker was forced to accept an administrative job (even though he had completed his injury rehabilitation), was harassed, and ultimately forced to resign due to his disability and workplace restrictions.
Quick questions
- What types of employee rights claims can firefighters file in Fresno?
- When can firefighters file a discrimination claim in Fresno?
- When can firefighters file a harassment claim in Fresno?
- When can firefighters file a retaliation claim in Fresno?
- What laws do you assert to enforce the rights of firefighters in Fresno?
- What’s the value of my claim if a fire department violates my employee rights?
- Do you have a Fresno firefighter employment lawyer near me?
What types of employee rights claims can firefighters file in Fresno?
Our Fresno employment lawyers have nearly 20 lawyers to serve you. Our family of lawyers files the following types of claims for firefighters and their support staff:
- Discrimination and harassment claims. We discuss your rights when fire departments adversely affect your work status or conditions because of your identity characteristics, create a hostile work environment, or condition your job on sexual favors (quid pro quo harassment).
- Retaliation claims. At McNicholas & McNicholas LLP, our lawyers hold fire departments accountable when they try to punish you for asserting your employee rights.
- Wage and hour claims. At McNicholas & McNicholas LLP, our lawyers demand that fire departments pay you for all the work you do promptly after you complete the work.
- Executive compensation claims. Our Fresno employment lawyers hold fire departments to their duty to pay you according to your contracts. Payment includes your salary, insurance benefits, retirement benefits, other benefits, vacation time, and severance pay.
- Qui tam/whistleblower claims and family leave claims. Our employment lawyers hold fire departments accountable when they retaliate against workers who disclose that their employer engaged in governmental fraud.
- Wrongful termination claims. Your job is your livelihood and your way to help the Fresno community. We file claims for job reinstatement and compensation when fire departments terminate their workers in violation of federal laws, state laws, collective bargaining agreements, or employment contracts.
- Other employment claims.
When can firefighters file a discrimination claim in Fresno?
The Fresno Fire Department and other Fresno employers can face a discrimination complaint if you are a member of a protected class and the employer adversely affects your job because of your protected class characteristics.
Protected class
Many federal discrimination laws and the Fair Employment and Housing Act protect workers who are judged based on one or more of the following characteristics:
- Race, country of origin, color, or ancestry
- Sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression
- Age – 40 or older
- A medical condition
- A physical or mental disability
- Genetic information
- Religion
- Marital status
- Veteran/military status
Workers generally include employees, independent contractors, and volunteers.
Adverse employment conditions
The Fresno Fire Department can adversely affect your job by:
- Terminating your employment
- Suspending your employment
- Denying you a deserved raise or promotion
- Reducing your pay
- Giving you undesirable assignments
- Failing to provide reasonable workplace accommodations to do your job
- Harassing you or failing to stop others from harassing you
- Not reviewing your job application
- Failing to provide the training or education you need to do your job
- Failing to provide opportunities for advancement if others have those opportunities
- Other adverse conditions
When can firefighters file a harassment claim in Fresno?
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) protect workers experiencing workplace harassment, or those who observe the harassment of others in workplaces that lack policies and procedures to prevent harassment.
Harassment of firefighters is dangerous because firefighters rely heavily on each other to save lives and property.
Hostile workplace harassment
Fire departments create a hostile workplace environment if they engage in or permit physically or emotionally offensive conduct. This conduct includes touching or hitting you, impeding your movement, jokes, images, postings, conversations, and other types of conduct that prevent you from focusing on your job duties.
Sexual workplace harassment
Firefighters can file a sexual harassment claim if employers engage in or permit physical or verbal conduct that involves sexual advances, images, conversations or any type of nonconsensual sexual conduct.
Quid pro quo sexual harassment
Fire departments can be held accountable if anyone in a position of authority conditions your job or your workplace conditions on sexual advances or sexual favors.
When can firefighters file a retaliation claim in Fresno?
Your employee rights include the right to pursue your legal claims free from interference or intimidation. At McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP, we hold fire departments accountable when they try to punish you for asserting your right to:
- File a discrimination or harassment claim
- File a worker’s compensation claim or a family medical leave claim
- Request reasonable workplace accommodations to do your job if you have a disability or pregnancy
- Assert any other legal right
What laws do you assert to enforce the rights of firefighters in Fresno?
At McNicholas & McNicholas LLP, we understand the full range of federal and state laws that protect employees. These laws include:
California employment laws:
- The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA);
- The California False Claims Act; and
- The California Family Rights Act
Federal employment laws:
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964;
- The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA);
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973;
- The Equal Pay Act of 1963;
- The Family Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act;
- The Pregnancy Discrimination Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act;
- The Federal False Claims Act;
- The Trauma Treatment Act; and
- The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.
We also assert your rights based on collective bargaining agreements, executive compensation agreements, Fresno County regulations, and the City of Fresno regulations.
Our Fresno employment attorneys represent police officers, firefighters and other first responder clients before the following agencies and courts:
What’s the value of my claim if a fire department violates my employee rights?
At McNicholas & McNicholas, we demand compensation from the date of the wrongful conduct through today and all the future damages you are likely to have. These damages, depending on the type of claim you have, include:
- Financial damages. These include wages, bonuses, overtime pay, salary
- Executive compensation and severance pay
- Insurance coverage
- Seniority benefits
- Pensions, 401Ks, and other retirement benefits
- Your emotional trauma
- Any damage to your reputation
- Damages set forth in the laws that govern your claim
- Attorney fees and court costs
- Punitive damages for unconscionable conduct
Our Fresno employment lawyers also request that judges order that fire departments rehire you, order a promotion you deserve, give you a raise you deserve, and provide other remedies.
Do you have a Fresno firefighter employment lawyer near me?
McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP meets with firefighters and support workers at our office located at 10866 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1400, Los Angeles, 90024. We also speak with clients by phone and through online video platforms, such as FaceTime and Zoom.
We’re prepared to answer your questions and guide you through the claims process.
Talk with our Fresno firefighter employment lawyers today
We understand how upset you are. Your job is your livelihood and your way to serve your Fresno neighbors. Firefighters help to save homes, apartments, businesses, land, people, and animals. They deserve lawyers who are dedicated to helping them when fire departments treat them illegally or in violation of their contracts.
Please call our Fresno firefighter employment lawyers or complete our easy-to-use contact form now to schedule a free consultation. McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP, is ready to restore your career and your future.
List of Fire Departments We are Suing or Have Sued
- Berkeley Fire/CoB (Non LEO)
- Los Angeles Fire Department