Los Angeles, CA employment plaintiffs attorney Navid Yadegar talks about the damages that can be awarded in a disability discrimination case. He describes four categories of damages that may arise in discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims, particularly when an employee has been terminated. He identifies economic damages as losses resulting from the termination, including wages the employee would have earned during the period of unemployment as well as the value of lost employment benefits. He explains that these damages are calculated based on the income and benefits the employee would have received had the employment continued.

He also identifies emotional distress damages as a significant component of an employee’s potential recovery. He notes that losing a job can have a substantial emotional impact because an employee may lose their social network, their ability to earn income and support their family, and their sense of self-worth, particularly when the termination or other adverse treatment was connected to a disability or other unlawful conduct. He points out that the emotional and psychological harm resulting from these experiences may be compensable and can represent a substantial portion of the damages awarded by a jury.

He describes punitive damages as another category, which may be imposed by a jury, arbitrator, or judge to punish an employer for particularly wrongful conduct. He identifies attorney’s fees as the fourth category, explaining that although these fees do not necessarily go directly into the client’s pocket, they can be an important part of calculating the overall recovery during settlement negotiations. He notes that employees may be entitled to recover the value of the legal services provided by their attorney and that attorney’s fees can become a substantial component of an employment case.