I get a lot of messages from people every day who are thinking of suing an abusive workplace, and for the most part I give everyone the same advice. It is advice that I wish I had known going into my lawsuit. (I am so excited to cheer you all on, but sometimes hearing your stories of abuse in my DMs can be triggering to me.)
So I decided to make this infographic, to hopefully empower and guide you all in the right direction while pursuing justice.
1. Collect your evidence. Screenshot and copy all of the emails, texts and social media posts that might help you prove your case.
2. Write everything down. Telling the story of how you were abused over and over again while you look for a lawyer can be triggering, write it down once then copy and paste.
3. Look for resources for lawyers and for your mental health. If your case involves sexual harassment or assault I definitely recommend reaching out to @timesupnow for lawyer recommendations.
4. Find the right type of lawyer. A mistake that Mind Rite made was using a cannabis lawyer instead of an employment lawyer. Your lawsuit will be a matter of employment so you want someone who is well versed in employment law. And if you don't have the funds to pay for a lawyer up front find a lawyer who works on contingency. That means they don't get paid until you win.
5. Negotiating a settlement. This is specific to a lawsuit against a cannabis business... Cannabis businesses cannot declare bankruptcy. This could greatly impact how your lawyer negotiates your settlement.
6. If you do go to court make sure that you have means of self-soothing. Talking about your abuse in a public forum can be so triggering, and you are not allowed to show emotion in the courtroom or in public for the duration of your trial.
So make sure you have a support system in place and a therapist on call.
Really make sure to take extra care of yourself because this process can be exhausting.
7. If your case involves sexual harassment, and/or your disability not being accommodated you can use my case to uphold your case in court.
Vasquez VS MINDRITE DISPENSARY
And most of all, good luck!
#timesup #workersrights #cannabisindustry