Celebrating 20 years of representing Dallas employees, including Rasha Zeyadeh, Deontae Wherry, Fadi Yousef, Clara Mann*, Kalandra Wheeler, Jeannie Buckingham*, Austin Campbell, Julie St. John, Colin Walsh, and Jairo Castellanos. *Indicates non-lawyer staff.

Riley Carter

Dallas Employment Trial Lawyer Riley Carter

1. Confirm your eligibility

Before you file a claim, determine whether you meet the basic eligibility requirements. Typically you must be unemployed (or partially unemployed), through no fault of your own, able and available for work, actively seeking work, and have sufficient work history and wages. Review the TWC’s Unemployment Benefits Handbook for details.

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Rachel-Bethel-200x300

Rachel Bethel Dallas
Trial Attorney

Many workers live with medical conditions that are episodic in nature. Symptoms might present only during periods of flare-ups or relapses that interrupt otherwise stable health.

Such conditions may include multiple sclerosis, seizure disorders, severe migraines, bipolar disorder, mood disorders, Crohn’s disease, and autoimmune disorders.

Harjeen Zibari

Dallas Employment Trial Lawyer Harjeen Zibari

Most of us will have worked a service industry job at one point. While in undergrad, I waited tables at several different restaurants to save money for law school. Waitressing taught me some really important things: how to carry a tray of champagne glasses without dropping it (I learned that the hard way), that you’ll probably get in trouble for honestly telling customers that you think certain dishes are disgusting (I’m scared of frogs in real life, what would make you think I’d want to eat frog legs?!), and that tips are the lifeblood of a lot of Americans.

This Blog will discuss some important considerations for employees who receive tips.

Ellen Johnston

Dallas Employment Trial Lawyer Ellie Johnston

As Thanksgiving approaches, most people are thinking about carving turkeys, not careers. But for many workers in Texas, the end of the year brings a less welcome tradition: company “restructuring.” Each November, employers roll out layoffs, citing budget cuts, reorganizations, or “changing business needs.”

If you’ve been told your position is being eliminated, you may feel blindsided, confused, and unsure what happens next. The good news? Even in Texas—a state known for at-will employment—you still have important rights when it comes to layoffs, severance, and unemployment. Understanding them can help you protect yourself, your finances, and your future.

Cassidy Monska

Dallas Employment Trial Lawyer Cassidy Monska

If you’re experiencing discrimination or harassment at work, your first instinct may be to tell someone, but how you report it can make a significant difference in how your complaint is handled and whether you’re protected under the law.

Why Reporting Is Essential

Austin Campbell

Dallas Employment Trial Lawyer Austin Campbell

In this blog, I address the confusion a number of potential clients have had between the concept of it being unlawful to discriminate against them due to a mental health disability, and the experience of mental anguish or emotional distress caused by their workplace.  Specifically, a workplace exacerbating or even creating a mental health disability is not the same thing as being subjected to disability discrimination.  Can those two things be related? Very possibly, and they often are.  But they are not one-to-one.     

First of all, the Americans with Disabilities Act as currently amended – along with various states’ laws – prohibit employers from discriminating against employees (1) because of their disability, (2) because of their past history of having a disability, (3) because they appear to have a disability, or (4) because of their association with another person with disability.  And “disability” here is much broader than most people think.  It is not just missing a limb or being unable to walk.  Rather, a disability protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act is any physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity.  “Major life activities” can include many things, from driving or speaking to concentrating or sleeping.

Riley Carter

Dallas Employment Trial Lawyer Riley Carter

When employees experience health challenges, one of the first questions they often ask is whether their condition qualifies them for protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Not every medical issue rises to the level of a “disability” under the law and understanding the difference between an injury and a disability can be critical in determining your rights.

What the ADA Protects

Rachel-Bethel-200x300

Rachel Bethel
Trial Attorney

You’re in an awful work environment. Your boss is making retaliatory remarks. Or maybe a coworker is sexually harassing your friend. You would like to know if you can legally record conversations at work.

I’ve had a number of potential clients ask me this question at their consultation with our firm. The answer is more nuanced than a simple “yes” or “no.” As with many legal questions, the details matter. Recording conversations without understanding the law can have serious risks.

Harjeen Zibari

Dallas Employment Trial Lawyer Harjeen Zibari

When Americans think of “free speech,” they often think of the First Amendment. And it’s true-the First Amendment is one of our most cherished constitutional rights. But when it comes to your job, especially in a workplace that is privately owned and not part of the government, your rights may not be what you think they are.

Here’s what every employee should understand about free speech in the workplace.

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Ellen Johnston

Dallas Employment Trail Lawyer Ellie Johnston

October is here—pumpkins on porches, costumes in the stores, and a chill in the air. But for many Texas employees, the real scare isn’t haunted houses or ghost stories. It’s the fear of speaking up at work. When employees exercise their rights—whether requesting a disability accommodation or reporting unfair treatment—they too often face retaliation. And that’s more frightening than anything you’ll find in a corn maze.

In this post, we’ll look at how disability rights and workplace retaliation intersect, what protections the law gives Texas employees, and what steps you can take if your employer crosses the line.

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