John C. Cook

Virginia Lawyer for Wage Theft

March 25, 2023

Wage theft is a crime, but unfortunately it comes in many forms. Some may be obvious, while others are more difficult to identify. If you have been the victim of wage theft, you need to speak to a Virginia wage theft lawyer. Here’s how to spot wage theft and what you can do about it. Wage Theft Simply put, wage theft is any instance where you don’t receive a benefit you’ve earned. Sometimes this is easy to notice, like when an employer fails to pay overtime and instead pays the normal rate of pay. Other times, it can be hard for the employee to identify. Unfortunately, hundreds of employees can be robbed of their hard work and labor this way. Wage theft can include benefits and pay but also access to meals and rest breaks, or the right to worker’s compensation if you get injured. When this is done intentionally, it is nefarious. However, it can be done innocently and unintentionally by uniformed employers. Either way, even innocent mistakes can be labor law violations. Have You Been a Victim of Wage Theft? Here are some signs that you may have been a victim of wage theft. Your paycheck is repeatedly

DOL Recovers $1.2 Million in Unpaid Wages

March 9, 2023

Unpaid wages can impact many workers. Unfortunately, many workers are also hesitant to file a claim for fear of retaliation from their employer. If you have experienced unpaid wages or wage theft, we urge you to speak to an attorney and get what you are owed. La Carreta Case For over four years, Diego Jimenez worked long hours as a server at La Carreta Mexican Restaurant in Derry, New Hampshire. He regularly worked over 50 hours a week serving customers and cleaning the restaurant. However, the only compensation he received was for all of his hard work was the tips paid by restaurant patrons. Diego says, “I took pride in the level of service I provider to my customers, but working for only tips made it so much harder for me to meet my family’s basic needs.” Even though Diego wanted to be paid an hourly wage and overtime owed to him under the Fair Labor Standards Act, he hesitated to file a complaint. After finding other employment, Diego found the security he had been looking for. This gave him the confidence to file a complaint. Following the investigation and subsequent court action, Diego received $134,864 in back wages and

When to Hire a Virginia Unemployment Attorney

March 2, 2023

If you have lost your job, you may be trying to save every penny you can. However, in some cases, it is well worth it to seek the legal advice of a Virginia unemployment attorney. Applying for unemployment is relatively easy, but in some situations, it just makes sense to hire an attorney. Best of all, under state law, you only have to pay the attorney if you win your case! Here’s when to hire a Virginia unemployment attorney. DIY Unemployment Claims If your situation is straightforward, it’s probably okay to file your own unemployment claim. This is a simple process for most people. Although the forms vary by state, you will need basic information like work history, personal information, and your reasons for being unemployed. After you submit a claim, you may do an interview with the unemployment agency and if you meet requirements, the state will grant your claim. Then you begin receiving benefits. When to Hire a Virginia Unemployment Attorney Here are three scenarios when it would be prudent to involve an unemployment attorney: Your claim for benefits was improperly denied. If your claim is denied, you have the right to appeal. In this case, you will

Benefits of a Full-Service Law Firm

February 23, 2023

When you need an attorney, it Is important to choose the right one. Whether personal or professional, a full-service law firm can offer unique expertise in a variety of areas. From civil matters to employment law and more, they can help. What is Full-Service? A full-service law firm is a team of diverse professionals with experience and knowledge in a wide range of law specialties, not just one specialty niche. There are countless circumstances where an attorney can make transactions much smoother. From fighting a speeding ticket to starting a business, many people rely on their attorney for important legal matters. Other situations that require legal counsel include: Divorce Marriage Adoptions Custody issues Estate planning Employment issues Gender or racial discrimination Sexual harassment Civil matters Criminal charges Commercial litigation Constitutional rights defense Business law Personal injury and tort Mediation Campaign law Diversity Full-service law firms work with a wide variety of clientele. This means that they have experience with many unique situations and circumstance. This adds to their knowledge and experience, making them well suited to handling many issues. Additionally, full-service law firms have professionals that specialize in different areas of the law. So, your attorney has close colleagues within

Disability Discrimination Lawyer Northern Virginia

February 16, 2023

Disability discrimination in the workplace still happens. However, a disability discrimination lawyer in Northern Virginia can help you protect your rights and ensure that you receive fair treatment in the workplace. Here’s what you need to know. What is Disability Discrimination? Disability discrimination is any situation where you are treated unfavorably because of a disability. If you are applying for a job that you can do, a potential employer cannot deny your application because of your disability. However, the employer can deny your application if you lack the qualifications required for the job. Disability discrimination is covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act or the Rehabilitation Act for federal employees. Both acts require the employer to provide reasonable accommodation to you, as an employee or applicant. If the reasonable accommodation causes excessive financial or other hardships for the employer, they are not required to provide it. To be considered an undue hardship the accommodation would have to be too expensive in comparison with the size of the company and its financial resources. [Related: ADA Compliant Website Claims] Defining Reasonable Accommodation The law states that an employer must make a reasonable accommodation for a disabled employee. Reasonable changes might include providing

Virginia Lawyer for Wage Theft

DOL Recovers $1.2 Million in Unpaid Wages

When to Hire a Virginia Unemployment Attorney

Benefits of a Full-Service Law Firm

Disability Discrimination Lawyer Northern Virginia

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