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Denver Employment Law Overview

Denver Employment Law Overview

Resolving Employment Disputes Through Litigation

Many layers of state and federal law impact the employer-employee relationship. Legal considerations affect every stage of the employment lifecycle, from hiring to firing and every step in between. Competent legal counsel can be instrumental in effectively navigating the various legal obstacles that may arise at any point during the employment process.

Local Attorneys Dedicated to Exceptional Legal Service

At Ciancio Ciancio Brown, P.C., we provide experienced legal guidance for both employees and small business employers. Our attorneys are highly knowledgeable in all aspects of employment law. We are adept at crafting innovative legal solutions that are custom-tailored to address clients’ unique needs.

Our legal team shares a core commitment to providing next-level representation.

We take pride in offering exceptional legal services. As local attorneys, we are well-connected in the community, and we draw on a broad base of collective strengths to advance our clients’ goals and interests. We have served as trusted advocates for individuals and businesses for more than four decades.

Skilled Litigators With Extensive Experience

As trial attorneys, we skillfully navigate all aspects of employment litigation, from pretrial alternative dispute resolution such as mediation, arbitration and settlement negotiation to discovery, trial and appeals. We represent clients in a broad array of employment law matters, including:

  • Discrimination and retaliation. Discrimination is treating someone unfairly based on a protected class, such as race, age, sex or disability. Retaliation means to take adverse employment action against a worker for filing a complaint, such as a discrimination or harassment complaint.
  • Family Medical Leave Act claims, including retaliation. The Family Medical Leave Act is a federal law that requires employers to provide a certain number of weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in the event of a medical or family emergency. It prohibits employers from retaliating against those who take this leave.
  • Wage and overtime disputes. Employers in Colorado must adhere to federal and state wage and overtime laws, including minimum wage, the rules of how overtime is paid, and meal and rest break requirements.
  • Employment contract disputes. Employment contracts include non-compete agreements, nondisclosures and contracts for definite terms. If an employer or employee believes a contract has been violated, it can lead to a legal dispute.
  • Non-compete agreements. A non-compete agreement is a contract that is not always enforceable in Colorado. It prohibits an employee from benefiting the competition by seeking a job with a competitor for a certain amount of time after leaving the company.
  • Wrongful termination. Wrongful termination is an accusation made by an employee who believes that he or she has been terminated from a job for illegal reasons, such as harassment, discrimination or retaliation. Since Colorado is an at-will employment state, wrongful termination cases can be difficult to prove.
  • Defamation. Defamation means to damage someone’s reputation with a falsehood spread between two or more parties. It can refer to slander – spoken defamation – or libel – written defamation.
  • Small business defense. Small businesses in Colorado have their own specific concerns, issues and legal matters. These include licensing issues, intellectual property disputes, copyright infringements, vendor disputes and contract disputes.
  • Employee handbooks. An employee handbook lays out the rules and terms of employment, defining the relationship between an employer and employee. It is important to properly draft an employee handbook in a way that will safeguard the employer and create a productive work environment.
  • Appeals. If an employment law case does not result in a fair outcome, an appeal can be filed. An appeal must be based on proof that there was not a fair trial, such as jury misconduct, a material misrepresentation of fact or an administrative error.

Our attorneys capably handle cases before state and federal courts as well as administrative agencies. Together, we share a solid foundation of experience at the administrative, trial and appellate levels. We are driven by a dedication to achieving a positive outcome in every case.

What Laws Protect Employees?

Employees and employers should both understand all the state and federal laws in place to protect employee rights. As an employee, this knowledge can help you stand up for yourself and take legal action if your rights have been violated. As an employer or business owner, these laws are your guidelines for how to treat employees and avoid lawsuits being filed against you. Our lawyers can guide you through all of the laws that apply to you, including:

  • The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). An act for protecting employees with disabilities. It prohibits employers from discriminating against people with disabilities and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations.
  • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This federal law prohibits employment discrimination based on certain protected classes, including ethnicity, race, religion, sex and color.
  • Family Medical Leave Act. This law provides leave without fear of termination for employees who need to take time away from work for their own medical issues or those of a family member.
  • Pregnancy Discrimination Act. This law prohibits employers from discriminating against a job applicant or employee due to pregnancy, childbirth or a related condition.
  • Colorado state employment laws. Employers in Colorado must follow state regulations, such as the minimum pay standards, paid sick leave, the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, employment verification laws, and labor rules.

Whether you need help enforcing these laws as an employee in Denver or are facing a legal dispute for allegedly breaking one of these rules as an employer, we are the right legal team for you. Our lawyers know how to navigate legal disputes involving all of these employment laws and others. Find out how we can help you in more detail during your initial consultation.

High-Quality Mediation and Arbitration Services

Mediation, arbitration and other types of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) are beneficial for those who get involved in employment law cases. ADR can save money in court costs, as well as time, as a trial for an employment dispute can take a year or longer. ADR is private and confidential, protecting the reputation of a company as a business owner. A trial is part of public record and open to reporters.

Mediation and arbitration are similar in that neither is a full court trial with a judge or jury. Mediation is the less formal of the two. It uses a mediator, or an unbiased third party who is typically trained in conflict resolution, to help the parties come to an agreement. Mediation does not have to result in a resolution. Arbitration is more formal and often results in a binding agreement formed by the opinion of the arbitrator.

At Ciancio Ciancio Brown, P.C., our mediation and arbitration services for civil litigation can be used to resolve employment disputes, non-compete issues, construction disputes and other issues involving commercial litigation. We will work closely with you as our client to understand your goals and facilitate a satisfactory resolution. We can help you efficiently and effectively put an end to an employment dispute during ADR while avoiding a trial. We also offer our services as objective mediators or arbitrators, depending on your needs.

A Team of Trial-Tested Attorneys

Some employment law cases cannot be resolved with ADR and must go to trial in Colorado to end the conflict. It’s important to hire an employment law attorney in Denver with equal prowess in and out of the courtroom. Your lawyer should excel at ADR and conflict resolution to decrease your risk of a trial; however, he or she should also be an aggressive trial attorney in case the matter goes to court.

Ciancio Ciancio Brown, P.C. is a team of experienced trial lawyers that is familiar with all aspects of the trial process. We can guide you through discovery (including e-discovery), evidence collection, negotiations of a pretrial settlement, and arguing your case before a judge and jury. Our attorneys have effectively litigated cases before state, federal and appellate courts, as well as various administrative agencies. We are confident in our ability to take an employment law case to trial on your behalf.

Contact Our Employment Discrimination Lawyers · Serving Denver, Westminster, Breckenridge and All of Colorado

For next-level legal guidance in any type of employment law matter, contact Ciancio Ciancio Brown, P.C. at 303-451-0300. Our Denver-area employment litigation lawyers serve clients throughout the metro area and statewide.

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Litigation is a journey. This is a journey we have taken with our clients a countless number of times. If you face the uncertainty, risk, fear, anger, or disbelief that comes with the prospect of going through a legal dispute, the law firm of Ciancio Ciancio Brown, P.C. will help you through it.