Florida Employment Law and Discrimination Lawyer

Law Office of William M. Julien, P.A.

1675 North Military Trail Suite 550 Boca Raton, Florida 33486 USA

 (561) 995-9990 or (866) 569-7398
 (561) 995-8103

www.attorneyjulien.com
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Law Firm Overview Free Consultation

The Law Office of William M. Julien, P.A., based in Boca Raton, Florida, is an employment law firm. When you need to get experienced representation because of workplace discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful termination or other mistreatment on the job, attorney William Julien can help you. He’s a tough and experienced advocate for workers with claims relating to discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on the job.

Our firm concentrates on protecting the rights of people on the job and Mr. Julien has done just that for more than 15 years. The Law Office of William M. Julien, P.A., was founded in 2002, and we can focus on helping you in a highly stressful and frustrating situation. We stay current with the complex laws, rules and procedures that cover problems such as harassment, retaliation protection and other issues.

Employment lawyer William Julien has represented clients in employment law matters since 1994. In 2002, he opened his own law firm with the goal of protecting employees' rights. Prior to opening his firm, Mr. Julien earned his law degree from the University of San Francisco. In college, he was named Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year as an NCAA wrestler at Wright State University in Ohio. Mr. Julien brings that same wrestler's toughness, tenacity and will to win in every employment law claim.

Practice Areas

Additional Practice Areas: Sex Discrimination; Race Discrimination; National Origin Discrimination; Disability and Handicap Discrimination; Age Discrimination; Wage and Hour Claims; FMLA Claims; Pregnancy Discrimination; Glass Ceiling Claims; Severance and Noncompete Agreements

Practice Areas Description

The Law Office of William M. Julien, P.A. is committed to helping clients. We can handle workplace issues such as:

- Discrimination

Our knowledge of state and federal employment law, together with our aggressive approach to the investigation and litigation of employee rights claims, has enabled us to settle many claims for discrimination, retaliatory termination, or harassment for six-figure amounts up to $600,000+. In 2005, we won a $2 million jury verdict on a sexual harassment claim. The employer was also forced to pay an additional $900,000 in attorney's fees. In some cases, an employee with a strong case for discrimination, harassment, or employer retaliation doesn't even realize his or her rights until he or she encounters problems with a claim of unemployment insurance benefits. We can review denial of unemployment benefits claims to see whether the circumstances of your termination might support a more substantial case against your former employer.

- Sexual Harassment

Most cases of sexual harassment fall into one of two categories--sexually hostile workplace or quid pro quo. The latter cases, derived from the Latin phrase meaning "this for that", involve pressure from a coworker, manager, or supervisor to provide sexual favors in exchange for keeping a job, getting a promotion or raise, or avoiding disciplinary action or a demotion. If you are the victim of quid pro quo sexual harassment, Boca Raton workplace rights attorney William Julien can advise you on all aspects of your situation from documenting the facts of the case to proving the full extent of your damages. In some cases, the best solution to a case of quid pro quo sexual harassment will involve negotiation of a substantial settlement or severance package as an alternative to litigation. At the Law Office of William M. Julien, we investigate and pursue claims of sexual harassment promptly and aggressively. Our focus on employee rights litigation enables us to develop the facts essential to proof of liability against the employer while protecting our client's workplace interests.

- Sex Discrimination

Attorney William Julien is an aggressive and focused lawyer who concentrates on workplace rights cases on behalf of employees. His practice integrates highly responsive and attentive client service with a relentless pursuit of your rights against your employer, former employer, or any other defendant who can be held accountable to you. Among the sex discrimination claims he handles are the following: Discrimination in hiring or promotion, including glass ceiling claims for women in the professions or management positions; Wrongful termination on the basis of gender; Discrimination in pay, benefits, hours, perks, or vacation policies; Retaliation for filing a complaint for sexual harassment or discrimination; Pressure to keep from testifying on behalf of another person with sexual discrimination claims; Retaliation for taking advantage of company pregnancy leave, maternity leave, or family leave policies.

- Race Discrimination

Racial discrimination on the job is much more sophisticated and harder to prove today than it was a generation ago, but it still occurs, and you are still protected under law. The employer can often state a false reason, or pretext, justifying your termination or demotion, but a careful investigation of your claim by a skilled attorney might well reveal prohibited racial discrimination as having played an important role in your case. We represent victims of job-related racial discrimination with claims such as the following: Denial of promotion; Unfair treatment in pay, benefits, or working conditions; Retaliation for reporting race discrimination or supporting the claim of another employee; Wrongful discharge; Offensive racial jokes or epithets; Discrimination in layoffs or downsizing; Harassment or stalking; Workplace violence.

- National Origin Discrimination

The South Florida workplace is more diverse now than ever, with native-born employees of all races working alongside immigrants from all over the globe. While it is reassuring to consider that our diversity is our strength, in many cases the true situation is not so pleasant. Misunderstandings and tensions involving race, religion, language, or nationality can arise on the job just as they do elsewhere in American society. For reliable advice about your options if you have been treated unfairly at work on the grounds of your national origin or nationality, employment discrimination lawyer at the Law Office of William M. Julien in Boca Raton can help.

- Disability and Handicap Discrimination

Both federal law and Florida law protect employees with disabilities or handicaps from discrimination in the workplace. These protections also extend to workers who are not disabled, but who are perceived to have a disability, and as a result are treated as though they do. If you need advice about your workplace rights and options for compensation, the Law Office of William M. Julien in Boca Raton can help.

- Age Discrimination

At the Law Office of William M. Julien in Boca Raton, we represent persons who face problems at work due to age discrimination, or who suspect that they have been laid off or terminated because of the employer's perception that they are too old. An age discrimination claim under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act or the Florida Civil Rights Act can help you recover your losses of income, benefits, and career prospects.

- Workers' Comp Retaliation

Most employers carry workers' compensation insurance to cover the costs of an injured employee's medical expenses and lost income, or even the costs of refusing coverage in a disputed claim. The costs of workers' compensation insurance increase with the number of claims filed by injured workers. As a result, some employers actively discourage employees from filing claims for anything less than the most severe and disabling injuries. This policy of retaliation can take the form of firing workers who file for workers' compensation benefits. While most private sector employees can be fired for any reason or no reason at all, it is illegal for a company to fire an employee for an unlawful reason, such as discrimination or asserting rights that are protected under state or federal law--such as the right to file for workers' comp benefits in the event of an injury on the job.

- Whistleblower Claims

Both state and federal law can protect employees known as "whistleblowers" who report or oppose dangerous workplace conditions or illegal activity on the part of their employer. If you believe whistleblower protection might apply in your situation, the Law Office of William M. Julien can help you with your legal rights and possible recovery of damages. Although the law concerning whistleblower retaliation and protection can vary a lot depending on your own particular situation, certain fact patterns seem to recur frequently: Employee is demoted or disciplined for reporting a supervisor’s fraud; Dismissal or termination of employee for reporting or complaining about discrimination or harassment in the workplace; Employee is fired for reporting health or safety violations; Discipline or termination for supporting the complaint or report of another employee concerning race discrimination or sexual harassment.

- Wage and Hour Claims

An employee’s right to recover for unpaid wages can result from any of the following situations: An employer misuses exempt employee classifications in order to avoid overtime pay; An employer tries to avoid overtime by paying a “salary” to non-exempt employees; An employee is required to perform work “off the clock”; An employer refuses to pay for essential preparation time, such as for putting on safety gear; An employee receives less than the minimum wage. If you’re facing an overtime dispute, if your employer has misclassified you as an exempt employee, or if you’re forced to work off the clock, Boca Raton wage and hour attorney William Julien can help you recover your back pay and other damages. In most cases, there will be no charge to you until settlement or judgment on your claim.

- FMLA Claims

The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protects workers from having to choose between the conflicting claims of job and family in situations where the demands of a family member's health condition or immediate medical needs require you to take time off from work. Under the disability laws, an employee has additional protections that allow for time off to recover or to obtain treatment for illnesses. Examples of situations covered under the FMLA are the following: Pregnancy, childbirth, and maternity; Cancer treatment; Surgery to repair back, knee, or wrist injuries; Treatment for heart disease; Extended care for a child or parent; Psychiatric treatment. The employer is entitled to documentation showing the nature and duration of the treatment for which time off is requested, and an employee's failure to give proper notice of the request or any reasonably requested medical documentation can jeopardize the employee's right to assert an FMLA claim.

- Pregnancy Discrimination

Discrimination in the workplace isn't always a question of age, race, or sex. Sometimes employers treat workers unfairly because a medical condition or family situation will be inconvenient for management or cause health insurance expenses to rise. For pregnant women, both medical and family situations can tempt an employer to find someone else for the position. If you need an attorney's advice because you were fired, laid off, reassigned, or demoted during pregnancy or maternity leave, employment discrimination lawyer William Julien in Boca Raton can help. The right to a period of unpaid leave during pregnancy or after childbirth is protected under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act as well as Florida's anti-discrimination law. Many women find, however, that they are not welcomed back after they return from maternity leave.

- Sexual Orientation Harassment

Although members of sexual minorities--gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender--are not explicitly protected from workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation under state or federal law, both the Florida Commission on Human Relations and the federal courts have shown some willingness to protect persons from harassment on the basis of sexual orientation at the workplace.

- Glass Ceiling Claims

Although gender gaps in employment have narrowed significantly in many occupations and professions over the last thirty years, women continue to be underrepresented in the highest executive and management positions. Female managers are also likely to be paid less than their male counterparts of comparable experience. Commonly and collectively known as the glass ceiling, the invisible barriers to the rise of women in their jobs beyond a certain level continue to persist in such occupations and professions. If you have ever had the experience of training or mentoring a younger male colleague who later is promoted ahead of you, it is entirely possible that you have bumped up against the glass ceiling. A discrimination claim might well be a viable legal option for you. You might also consider using the leverage of a potential sex discrimination lawsuit as a means of negotiating a severance package that will allow you to continue your career elsewhere. We resolve many claims without ever having to file a case in court.

- Civil Rights and Section 1983 Claims

If you have recently encountered problems on the job while working for a city, a school district, or a county agency, an experienced workplace rights lawyer at the Law Office of William M. Julien in Boca Raton can help. His understanding of the legal, procedural, and strategic factors that bear upon the investigation and proof of employment law claims against public agencies can make the decisive difference in your case. Unlike the private sector, where most employment relations between labor and management are strictly a matter of contract, public employers act on behalf of the state or a municipality. As a result, any unfavorable action that a government employer might take against a public employee will involve state action. The fact of state action can then implicate such civil rights as a property interest in continued employment, a right to due process before terminating or demoting the employee, and a possible right to a federal Section 1983 claim to protect constitutionally recognized civil rights.

- Severance and Non-compete Agreements

If you have substantial claims against your employer based on age discrimination or sexual harassment, an important consideration will be the impact of a lawsuit on your ability to continue in your present position. If your relationship with your employer has been effectively destroyed, or if the pressures of workplace rights litigation will worsen an already unpleasant working atmosphere, a negotiated severance agreement will often provide a good alternative to a lawsuit in situations where there is little doubt as to the facts necessary to establish the employer's liability.

Attorneys

Mr. William M. Julien Attorney Civil Rights, Employment

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