Wrongful Termination Defense

Wrongful Termination Attorney in Pasadena

Employer-Only Defense for Pasadena Businesses

A wrongful termination claim can land without warning, pulling your attention away from operations and placing your business on the wrong side of an expensive legal process. At Hackler Flynn & Associates, we represent businesses and employers in these matters. We don’t represent employees. Every strategy we develop, every defense we build, is oriented around protecting the company.

Founded in 2014 by attorney Cynthia Hackler Flynn, our firm serves Pasadena businesses across industries, from early-stage startups to long-standing family companies to large corporations throughout Southern California. California’s employment laws, including the Fair Employment and Housing Act, impose broader protections than federal law alone. That complexity is exactly why early, employer-focused defense counsel matters.

If your business is facing a wrongful termination claim, don’t wait for the situation to escalate. Call our wrongful termination attorneys at (323) 991-7506 or reach us online to schedule a consultation.

Wrongful Termination Claims Pasadena Employers Face

California is an at-will employment state, meaning you can generally end an employment relationship for any lawful reason. The trouble starts when a termination is alleged to violate statute, public policy, or a contractual obligation. We defend Pasadena employers against the full range of these claims.

Discrimination-Based Termination:
Claims alleging a termination was motivated by race, gender, age, disability, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, pregnancy status, or another protected characteristic under FEHA or Title VII.

Retaliation Claims:
Allegations that a termination followed protected activity, such as reporting harassment, requesting a reasonable accommodation, or filing a workers’ compensation claim.

Whistleblower Claims:
Claims under Labor Code Section 1102.5, which prohibits terminating an employee for reporting suspected legal violations to a government agency, internally to a supervisor or someone with authority to investigate, or for refusing to participate in unlawful conduct.

Constructive Discharge:
A legal theory holding that working conditions were so intolerable that a reasonable employee would feel compelled to resign. California treats that as an involuntary termination for claim purposes.

Breach of Employment Contract:
Claims that a written, oral, or implied employment agreement governed the termination and was violated by the employer.

Why Pasadena Employers Choose Hackler Flynn & Associates

With 135-plus years of combined legal experience, our team brings real depth to every matter. More importantly, that experience is entirely on the employer side. We don’t split our practice across plaintiff and defense work. That means every defense strategy we build is oriented around your interests as a business, not balanced between competing client types.

Employer-only representation: Our exclusive focus means our defense strategies are built around protecting companies, not split between client types.
Direct attorney access: Matters aren’t handed off to junior staff. You work directly with experienced attorneys from start to finish.
Outsourced in-house counsel model: We’re structured to be available when you need us and cost-effective when you don’t, reducing overhead compared to maintaining a full-time legal department.
Agile response times: Our boutique structure lets us clear conflicts, review documents, and get to work within hours rather than days.
Compliance and risk prevention: Beyond defense, we assist with handbook reviews, manager training, and documented termination procedures designed to reduce claim exposure before issues arise.
WBE and WOSB certified: As a certified Woman Business Enterprise and Women-Owned Small Business, we offer distinct value for clients with diverse supplier requirements.

Attorney Cynthia Hackler Flynn was selected to California Rising Stars every year from 2017 through 2025 and to Super Lawyers in 2026. We offer in-person, virtual, and over-the-phone consultations to fit your schedule.

Speak with a Wrongful Termination Attorney About Your Case

Whether you’ve just received a California Civil Rights Department complaint or you want to strengthen your documentation practices before a dispute arises, Hackler Flynn & Associates is ready to help. We serve businesses throughout Pasadena and across Southern California. Contact us by phone at (323) 991-7506 or through our online contact form to schedule a consultation.

California Wrongful Termination Law: What Employers Need to Know

California’s at-will employment doctrine gives employers broad authority to end an employment relationship. That authority stops where statute, public policy, or contract begins. Understanding where those boundaries sit is essential to building a compliant termination process.

Protected Characteristics & Parallel Federal Protections

FEHA, codified at California Government Code Section 12940, prohibits terminations based on protected characteristics including race, gender, age, disability, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, and pregnancy status, among others. FEHA applies to employers with five or more employees and frequently imposes stricter standards than parallel federal protections under Title VII, the ADA, and the ADEA. California also maintains its own family and medical leave protections that often exceed federal FMLA standards.

Public Policy & Whistleblower Protections

Beyond discrimination-based claims, the Tameny doctrine allows employees to bring wrongful termination actions when a termination violates a fundamental public policy of California, even where no specific statute directly controls the situation. Labor Code Section 1102.5 adds another layer: it protects employees who report suspected legal violations, whether to a government agency or internally to a supervisor with authority to investigate, and prohibits retaliation, including termination, against those who engage in that protected activity.

Together, these frameworks mean California employers face a more complex termination compliance environment than employers in most other states. Knowing which rules apply to your workforce and documenting termination decisions consistently are two of the most effective ways to reduce exposure.

The Defense Process: From CRD Complaint to Resolution

Most FEHA-based wrongful termination claims begin with an administrative intake filing with the California Civil Rights Department. The claimant generally has three years from the alleged wrongful act to file with the CRD. Once the CRD issues a Right-to-Sue letter, the claimant has one year to file a civil lawsuit. Claims alleging a violation of public policy carry a two-year statute of limitations; breach of a written employment contract extends to four years.

We defend employers at every stage of this process, from the initial CRD administrative complaint through mediation, settlement negotiation, and litigation in the Los Angeles Superior Court, including the Pasadena Courthouse when matters reach that stage.

Strong documentation shapes the outcome at every step. Performance reviews, written warnings, disciplinary records, and evidence of consistent policy enforcement all bear directly on the strength of a defense position. Employers who have already invested in compliant handbooks and documented procedures tend to have more options and, in some cases, can reach earlier resolution. Early involvement of defense counsel helps preserve evidence and expands those options before they narrow.

Contact Us Today

At Hackler Flynn & Associates, we're always ready to take your call! Give us a call at (323) 991-7506 or fill out the form below to contact one of our team members.

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Why Choose Hackler Flynn & Associates?

Woman-Owned Firm with Personalized Service
As a certified WBE and WOSB, we deliver responsive, flexible support with options for in-person, virtual, or phone consultations tailored to busy business owners.
135+ Years of Combined Experience

The firm brings deep litigation and counseling experience that clients can trust in high-stakes situations.
Boutique Employment Defense Expertise
We focus exclusively on protecting business owners in employment law, offering highly specialized knowledge.

The best attorneys
“Absolute Pros. Cynthia and Emily helped navigate me through one of the most important business transactions of my life. They helped me clearly understand my ownership contract and ensure I made the right decision. Their services are worth every penny. The best attorneys I’ve hired.”

- Dan E.
Quick, effective, and professional
“Cynthia and her team nailed it! We had a very specific, urgent employment issue, and Cynthia came recommended to me from a close friend. Her team was quick, effective, and professional all the way through and helped us close it out cleanly. Thank you!”

- Nick F.
Capable, strategic, and thoughtful
“Cynthia is an exceptional law firm leader. She is highly capable, strategic, and thoughtful. Cindy is also a natural connector an oracle of local bar resources & knowledge, trusted by clients and fellow professionals alike to navigate them to what they need, both within and beyond her firm.”

- Lauren P.
A trusted partner
“Hackler Flynn, Cindy and her team, have been an outstanding partner to us and our clients for years when it comes to needing a bona fide, true blue employment law specialist who understands not only the legal complexities, which they do, but the relationship dynamics that often drive many of these issues and need hand-holding to ensure a successful resolution. Could not be prouder to call them a trusted partner.”

- Scott R.
Highly recommend
“My experience with the team at Hackler, Flynn and Associates was nothing short of outstanding. They handled our case with the utmost professionalism and care. Their proactive approach saved our company time and money. I highly recommend Hackler, Flynn and Associates to anyone seeking legal services in small corporate business cases such as PAGA and Employment Laws. Mariyam, Mimi and Cindy were absolute Professionals throughout the whole process which ultimately led to our case being dismissed. Thank you, HFA Team!”

- Satisfied Customer
Professional, thoughtful, and genuinely caring
“I’m so glad I chose this law firm to represent me. Orchid was absolutely amazing to work with — professional, thoughtful, and genuinely caring. From the very beginning, she took the time to truly understand my situation and listened carefully to all my concerns. She explained everything clearly, kept me well informed throughout the process, and made me feel supported every step of the way. She consistently showed that she had my best interests at heart and went above and beyond to help me reach the best possible outcome. I couldn’t have asked for better representation and highly recommend Hackler Flynn & Associates!”

- L.P.
Clear communication and compassion
“Orchid was wonderful to work with. She was very helpful navigating the situation with clear communication and compassion. I really appreciate her help and her supportive manner.”

- Jeanine W.
Alacrity and expertise
“As a lawyer for 40+ years, who has worked with a lot of law firms, including many employment specialists, I have had a superior experience with this Firm. Terrifically responsive, meticulous, knowledgeable, priced right. Got an employment problem? Contact Hackler Flynn first. Once again, one year later, Hackler Flynn team, especially Liz, have responded with alacrity and expertise to a somewhat unusual set of facts. We are so appreciative!”

- Leslie L.
Excellent representation
“My personal experience with the Hackler Flynn firm has been stellar. I have enjoyed quick, practical, and thorough legal services from Cindy Hackler all the way through to associates and support staff. They have provided excellent representation to me. Similarly, all clients whom I have referred to the firm have had very positive feedback whether they hired the firm or not.”

- Sima A.

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