Lawsuits are tricky business, and hard evidence is fundamental to your success. If you’re considering litigation, it’s important to begin gathering concrete evidence as early as possible. It may be true that hearsay and circumstantial evidence work well when you’re griping about your boss with your best friend, but your lawsuit will be for all for naught unless you have evidence you can see, prove, or hold in your hands.
- Write it down. Whenever you make a complaint, do it on paper, not verbally. You may have told your HR manager that you had been called a racial epithet, but your HR manager can easily deny that fact unless you have a paper copy of the complaint that you filed.
- Make a note of it. Our memories can be unreliable, so keep a careful record of any workplace violations perpetrated against you. Otherwise, situations and experiences will change over time in your mind and will be much more difficult to prove. Write down times, places, names, dates, etc.
- Get witnesses. Every time someone infringes on your rights – be it verbally, physically, or in some other way – verify with any bystanders that they saw it take place. These witnesses will be invaluable when it comes to the time of the lawsuit.
- File it away. If a document comes across your desk that could be used as evidence in your suit, hang onto it.
And most importantly, get someone on your side who knows how to navigate the legal landscape. Your Los Angeles employment law experts are here to make sure your rights are protected.
