Practice Areas
Nashville employment lawyer Curt Masker is a relentless advocate for workers who have endured workplace discrimination and retaliation. After graduating from Vanderbilt Law School, Curt worked at one of the 200 largest law firms in the United States. Now, Curt exclusively represents employees in workplace disputes in court and before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). He has a proven track record of successfully fighting for his clients. Contact Curt for your Free Attorney Consultation at the number above or online.
At-Will Employment in TennesseeDo not be deterred by the so-called “at-will” employment doctrine. Although Tennessee is an at-will employment state and an employee can be fired for no reason or even a bad reason, an employee cannot be fired for an unlawful reason. Dozens of unlawful reasons exist under federal and Tennessee law, some of which are detailed below.
Wrongful TerminationWrongful termination means you were fired in violation of a legal right. Dozens of unlawful reasons exist, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and breach of contract. This list of practice areas is a small subset of unlawful reasons for terminating an employee so you should speak with a skilled employment attorney to discuss the specific facts of your case.
Nashville wrongful termination attorney Curt Masker fights to achieve the best possible results for Tennessee workers. Know your legal rights. If you have endured workplace discrimination or harassment, contact Curt for your legal consultation.
DiscriminationEmployees deserve to be treated fairly at work regardless of their sex, disability, race, or faith. Yet, workplace discrimination continues to be a pervasive problem. Nashville discrimination lawyer Curt Masker is dedicated to fighting for workplace fairness and seeking the maximum compensation possible for victims of discriminatory employment practices.
Curt represents clients who have endured:
- Race Discrimination: Race discrimination occurs when you are treated unfairly based on your race, skin color, physical features, dialect, or other personal and cultural characteristics.
- Gender Discrimination: Employment decisions including hiring and promotion cannot be based on an employee’s sex or gender status.
- Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Discrimination: Under federal law, your LGBTQ status is protected and employers are prohibited from treating you unfairly based on societal stereotypes of gender roles and norms.
- Pregnancy Discrimination: Your pregnancy and related conditions are off limits to your employer in making decisions about your job.
- Unequal Pay/Wage Discrimination: You deserve equal pay for equal work. Employers are prohibited from paying you less than opposite sex coworkers in substantially similar positions.
- Age Discrimination: Protected employees (age 40 and up) are protected from adverse employment actions based on their age.
- Disability Discrimination: The law requires most employers to provide reasonable accommodations to workers with disabilities.
Sticking up for yourself takes courage. Retaliation is a very real concern for employees who want to do the right thing, but do not allow this perceived threat force you to accept substandard working conditions. Contact Nashville retaliation lawyer Curt Masker for your Free Attorney Consultation to know your legal rights.
- Retaliation for Opposing Discrimination or Harassment: Reporting alleged discrimination or harassment in the workplace, even if later proven to be legal, is protected activity under federal and state law.
- Retaliation for Opposing Wage Violations: Most employees who work over 40 hours per week are entitled to overtime. Speaking out against unpaid overtime is protected under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
- Retaliation for Opposing or Refusing to Participate in Illegal Activities: You deserve to perform your job without being forced to engage in illegal or unsafe activities. If you speak out about or refuse to participate in such activities, you may be protected under the Tennessee Public Protection Act.
- Retaliation for Engaging in Protected Free Speech: Citizens do not surrender their First Amendment rights by accepting public employment. The First Amendment protects speech on matters of public concern.
Nashville employment law lawyer Curt Masker is a relentless advocate for victims of workplace harassment. Enduring sexual harassment at work can be traumatic and devastating. You do not have to tolerate being objectified and humiliated at work for the sake of “not rocking the boat” or keeping your job. You need a lawyer in your corner who you trust and who can take the fight to the company and the harasser.
Hostile Work EnvironmentA hostile work environment goes beyond rude or obnoxious behavior based on bad management or personality conflicts. The law prohibits a work environment that is riddled with severe or pervasive harassment that prevents you from performing your job or that has an adverse impact on your mental health. Nashville hostile work environment attorney Curt Masker can help you assert your legal rights against your employer.
- Racially Hostile Work Environment: Encountering racially offensive conduct such the n-word or physical threats due to your race may constitute a racially hostile work environment.
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides employees with job-protected leave so they can seek treatment, heal, or tend to a sick loved one without risking their livelihood. If you have been discriminated against or denied rights or benefits related to medical leave, your employment law rights may have been violated. Nashville-based FMLA lawyer Curt Masker is dedicated to seeking the maximum compensation possible for employees who have been discriminated against after requesting or taking medical leave
Military Leave – USERRAThe Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) is a federal law that protects civilian job rights and benefits for U.S. military members including Reserve components. USERRA provides a comprehensive remedial scheme to guarantee the employment and reemployment rights of servicemembers called upon to serve our nation. No employer can refuse to provide any right or benefit guaranteed by USERRA.
Whistleblower & Qui TamHealthcare fraud and abuse costs taxpayers billions each year. Workers who choose to stick up for taxpayers by opposing unlawful billing is encouraged and protected by the False Claims Act, a federal whistleblower law.
- Qui Tam Actions Under the False Claims Act: Whistleblowers who expose fraud on the government can receive substantial compensation for their efforts.
You deserve to be compensated properly for all hours worked and all tips earned. But some employers try to short change employees by refusing to pay overtime or illegally siphoning tips from a tip pool. The law protects workers who are being unlawfully denied their earned wages. Choose to fight back by contacting a wage theft lawyer.
EEOC - Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionThe EEOC is a federal governmental agency that enforces federal anti-discrimination laws. It is tasked with investigating charges of discrimination filed by workers, making determinations of whether or not discrimination occurred, and, in a limited number of cases, filing suit on behalf of employees. The EEOC enforces laws that protect employees from discrimination, harassment, or retaliation based on the following protected categories: race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, and genetic information.
- Filing an EEOC Complaint in Tennessee: Nashville EEOC attorney Curt Masker recommends speaking with a legal professional before filing a charge of discrimination with the EEOC.
A severance package usually refers to severance pay along with a severance agreement. A severance agreement is a contract between you and your employer that lays out the terms of your termination. Nearly all severance packages contemplate the same thing: In exchange for you releasing (aka waiving) your legal rights connected to the employment relationship, and making other binding promises, the company agrees to pay you exit money and benefits. Nashville severance package lawyer Curt Masker can ensure your severance is fair based on the market, industry, and specific facts of your situation. If it’s not, then Curt can negotiate a better deal on your behalf.
Do You Have a Wrongful Termination Case?It’s time to fight back against unlawful treatment at work. Contact Nashville-based labor and employment attorney Curt for your Free Attorney Consultation at 866-931-0146 or online.
- Wrongful Termination
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
- Discrimination
- Retaliation
- Retaliation for Opposing Discrimination or Harassment
- Retaliation for Opposing Wage Violations
- Retaliation for Reporting Fraudulent Medical Billing Practices
- Retaliation for Requesting or Taking FMLA Leave
- Retaliation for Opposing or Refusing to Participate in Illegal Activities
- Free Speech / First Amendment Retaliation
- Sexual Harassment
- Hostile Work Environment
- Wage Theft
- Severance Agreements
- Whistleblowers
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- Military Leave - USERRA