Wrongful termination is when employer lets go, or fires an employee for illegal reasons. If you believe you have been wrongfully terminated, know that you have rights.However, federal and state laws prohibit wrongful termination or employee firing based on illegal reasons. 1. Five Grounds to Sue. In California, wrongful termination occurs when your employer fires you or lays you off for unlawful reasons. If you have been wrongfully terminated, you have the ability to file a lawsuit against your employer. Unlawful Termination is an unfortunate yet frequent occurrence in today's workforce. Wrongful Termination - Orange County Employment Discrimination Lawyer. All written and signed complaints of potential violations of the County Ethics Law, shall be filed on a Complaint Form and contain as much detail as possible. In some cases, a wrongful termination case may raise the possibility that the employer pays punitive damages to the terminated employee.