Practice Areas
Three Practice Areas. One Unwavering Commitment.
Whether you were wrongfully fired, unjustly dismissed from college, or fighting for a student's disability rights — Arneson Axelberg Law is ready to advocate for you throughout California.
Wrongful Termination
You Deserved Better. We Will Hold Them Accountable.
California is an at-will employment state — but that doesn't mean employers can fire you for any reason. When a termination violates the law, your contract, or public policy, you have the right to pursue justice. We hold employers accountable through skilled, strategic advocacy.
What Counts as Wrongful Termination?
Wrongful termination occurs when an employer fires an employee for an illegal reason. This includes retaliation for whistleblowing, discrimination based on race, gender, age, disability, religion, or national origin, violation of an employment contract, and termination in violation of public policy.
Types of Claims We Pursue
- Wrongful termination in violation of public policy (Tameny claim)
- Retaliation for whistleblowing — reporting illegal activity, safety violations, or fraud
- Racial discrimination under FEHA and Title VII
- Age discrimination (ADEA / FEHA) — workers 40 and older
- Gender, pregnancy, and family status discrimination
- Disability discrimination and failure to accommodate
- Retaliation for requesting or taking FMLA / CFRA leave
- Breach of written or implied employment contract
- Retaliation for filing a workers' compensation claim
- Constructive discharge — forced to resign due to intolerable conditions
- Wage and hour violations connected to termination
- Statutory damages under California Labor Code and FEHA
Signs You May Have a Case
- You were fired shortly after reporting misconduct or illegal activity
- Your termination followed a request for medical leave, pregnancy leave, or accommodation
- You were let go after filing a workers' compensation claim
- Your employer violated a written or implied employment contract
- You were treated differently than colleagues in similar situations
- The stated reason for your firing doesn't add up or changed over time
How We Advance Your Case
Consultation
We review the facts of your termination, assess the strength of your claim, and explain your legal options — at no cost to you.
Investigation & Evidence
We gather employment records, communications, performance reviews, and witness statements to build a compelling case.
Demand & Negotiation
We present your case to the employer and pursue a fair settlement. Many cases resolve here — without going to trial.
Litigation When Necessary
If the employer refuses to do right by you, we take the matter to court — and when the case calls for it, we partner with specialized co-counsel to ensure you have the full team your case deserves.
Student Discipline & Dismissal
Your Education and Your Record Are Worth Standing Up For.
A dismissal from college can feel like the end of the road — but so can an unjust grade, a disciplinary finding, or a suspension that follows you for years. Universities and colleges are required to follow fair procedures at every stage. When they don't, students have legal recourse. We represent students facing improper grading, unlawful discipline, and wrongful dismissal at institutions throughout California.
What We Handle
Our student representation covers the full spectrum of institutional misconduct — from grade disputes and academic integrity findings, to disciplinary sanctions and suspension, to outright dismissal. A wrongful outcome at any of these stages can damage a student's record, career prospects, and future. We step in wherever the institution has failed to follow its own rules or the law.
Types of Claims We Pursue
- Improper grade change or arbitrary grading — challenging a grade assigned without academic basis
- Academic integrity findings — contesting a cheating or plagiarism determination made without fair process
- Unlawful suspension or disciplinary sanction — where the process or outcome violated the student's rights
- Violation of due process — failure to provide notice, hearing, or opportunity to respond
- Breach of the institution's own published policies and procedures
- Academic dismissal based on arbitrary, capricious, or erroneous evaluation
- Disciplinary dismissal without adequate evidence or fair process
- Title IX violations — improper investigation or biased proceedings
- Discrimination based on race, gender, disability, or national origin
- Retaliation for a complaint filed against faculty or administration
- Writ of administrative mandamus — compelling the institution to reverse an unlawful decision
Signs You May Have a Case
- You received a failing or damaging grade you believe was arbitrary, retaliatory, or factually wrong
- You were found responsible for academic dishonesty without a fair investigation or hearing
- You were suspended or sanctioned and the school did not follow its own disciplinary procedures
- You were dismissed without a fair hearing or opportunity to respond
- The school failed to follow its own published policies and procedures
- Your situation followed a complaint you filed against a professor or administrator
- A Title IX investigation was conducted improperly or without impartiality
- You believe discrimination or bias influenced the grade, finding, or outcome
How We Defend Students
Confidential Consultation
We listen to your full story, review the school's decision and procedures, and give you an honest assessment of your options.
Appeal Preparation
We help you craft a compelling appeal that addresses procedural failures, factual errors, and due process violations.
Institutional Negotiation
We engage directly with the institution on your behalf, demanding compliance with their own policies and applicable law.
Legal Action
When internal remedies are exhausted, we pursue litigation — via writ or civil claim — to protect your educational rights and seek appropriate relief.
Student & Disability Rights, IEP & 504 Matters
Every Student Deserves the Support and Safety the Law Requires.
When a school fails to provide a student with a disability the services, accommodations, or protections they are legally entitled to — or fails to protect any student from bullying, harassment, or discrimination — families have the right to demand accountability. We represent students and families navigating IEP disputes, 504 plan failures, disability rights violations, and school safety matters at K–12 schools and colleges throughout California.
What We Handle
Federal and California law — including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and California's Education Code, and bullying under Seth's Law and Education Code section 220 — impose clear obligations on schools. When those obligations go unmet, students suffer. We help families understand their rights, challenge unlawful decisions, hold schools accountable for bullying and harassment, and secure the services and protections every student is entitled to.
Types of Matters We Handle
- IEP disputes — challenging inadequate or improperly developed Individualized Education Programs
- Failure to provide a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) under IDEA
- 504 plan denials or failures to implement agreed accommodations
- Denial of special education eligibility or improper declassification
- Failure to conduct timely or appropriate assessments and evaluations
- Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) violations — improper placement decisions
- Disability discrimination in discipline — disproportionate or unlawful disciplinary action
- ADA Title II violations by public schools and colleges
- Due process hearings — representing families before the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH)
- Violation of California's Seth's Law (AB 9, Ed. Code §§ 234–234.5) — school's failure to address prohibited discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying
- Failure to supervise — breach of a school's duty of care under Dailey v. Los Angeles Unified School Dist. (1970) 2 Cal.3d 741
- Statutory harassment under Education Code § 220 — discrimination or harassment on the basis of a protected characteristic in an educational program
Signs Your Child's Rights May Have Been Violated
- The school has refused to evaluate your child for special education services
- The IEP your child has does not reflect their actual needs or is not being followed
- Your child's 504 accommodations are being ignored or inconsistently applied
- The school has proposed removing your child from their current placement without your agreement
- Your child is being disciplined at a higher rate than peers due to disability-related behavior
- The school has missed legal timelines for assessments, IEP meetings, or placement decisions
- You have raised concerns and the school has dismissed or ignored them
- Your child is not making meaningful progress despite being on an IEP or 504 plan
- Your child was bullied at school based on their race, gender or perceived gender, sexual orientation, religion, or nationality — and the school was made aware and failed to stop it or intervene
- The school failed to create and implement policies to prevent and address bullying
How We Advocate for Your Family
Paid Consultation
We review your child's records, IEP or 504 plan, and the school's actions, then give you an honest assessment of your rights and the strength of your matter.
Records Review & Strategy
We analyze evaluations, meeting notes, communications, and placement decisions to identify where the school fell short of its legal obligations.
Negotiation & Resolution
We engage the school district directly — through IEP meetings, mediation, or resolution sessions — to secure the services and accommodations your child is entitled to.
Due Process & Litigation
When the district refuses to comply, we pursue due process hearings before the OAH or civil litigation — and seek recovery of attorney fees from the district when the law allows.
Not sure which applies to you?
Many clients come to us unsure whether they have a case. That's exactly what the initial consultation is for. Tell us what happened — we'll tell you where you stand.