Prejudice should never decide who earns a paycheck, who climbs a career ladder, or who keeps a job. Yet across San Diego, people still encounter discrimination rooted in race, skin color, or cultural background. California law makes those acts unlawful, but the path to justice begins with a single step: calling the right advocate. A San Diego racial discrimination attorney can help you take that step—fighting for fairness, accountability, and the justice you deserve.

If you need a San Diego racial discrimination attorney, the first call you should make is to the Law Office of John Dalton. Attorney John Dalton has secured verdicts and settlements in the tens of millions of dollars for workers whose rights were violated, and he will personally answer the phone when you reach out.

Why Should I Call John Dalton First?

Your strongest first move is to contact our office immediately. Many workers attempt to handle issues on their own—by confronting supervisors, completing HR paperwork, or even filing complaints with government agencies. Unfortunately, those early choices often damage cases before they reach a courtroom. Calling us first prevents those missteps. 

With decades of trial experience, John is a San Diego racial discrimination attorney who knows how to protect evidence, frame your claim under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), and avoid the delays and pitfalls that come with federal channels.

How Does California Law Protect People from Race Discrimination?

California law is clear: employers cannot mistreat workers because of race, color, or national origin. The FEHA prohibits discrimination in hiring, promotions, wages, job assignments, and terminations. Unlike federal law under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, California’s protections extend to smaller employers with just five or more employees. That means workers in restaurants, hotels, retail shops, and offices, where most of our clients are employed, receive protection even when federal law would not apply.

A search for a race discrimination attorney should point you toward experience that matters. California law offers broader protections than federal law, and John has spent almost 30 years using those laws to deliver real results for workers across San Diego.

How Do I Recognize Racial Discrimination in the Workplace?

Verbal insults or slights related to race can be unlawful, but bias can also affect paychecks, job security, or conditions of employment, and the law is on your side. Examples include:

  • Passing you over for promotions while less qualified employees of a different race advance,
  • Assigning you to less desirable shifts or work sites because of your skin color,
  • Terminating you shortly after you complain about racially offensive remarks,
  • Allowing a hostile work environment caused by racial slurs or stereotypes, and
  • Paying you less than coworkers who do the same job but belong to another race.

The best response is not to gather evidence on your own or confront management. Instead, call the Law Office of John Dalton immediately. Our team knows how to secure documentation, preserve testimony, and protect you while building your case.

How Does a San Diego Racial Discrimination Lawyer Build My Case?

Every successful claim begins with listening. John Dalton treats law as a service profession—answering questions, easing fears, and removing the mystery that keeps many people from seeking justice. In fact, many clients have said they remembered John years later because he took the time to explain the law when no one else would. That approach has led to lasting trust and life-changing results in court.

Once you call, he will:

  • Listen to your story in detail, without judgment;
  • Outline options for negotiation, settlement, or litigation;
  • Investigate quickly to preserve evidence and witness accounts before memories fade;
  • Apply California’s FEHA and other laws to ensure your claim rests on the state’s strongest protections;
  • Calculate damages that reflect lost wages, emotional harm, and future impact;
  • Negotiate aggressively with employers while preparing every matter as if it will go to trial; and
  • Litigating decisively when corporations refuse accountability, drawing on decades of trial victories.

This method keeps control in your hands while giving your employer no room to hide behind technicalities or delay.

Historic Verdicts, Local Commitment

John Dalton has been trial counsel in some of California’s largest employment cases. His work includes:

  • Gober et al. v. Ralphs Grocery Company—jury awarded over $30 million (the largest sexual harassment jury verdict in the nation);
  • Marcisz et al. v. Ultrastar Cinemas et al.—verdict of $6.85 million; and
  • Moran v. Shah Management, Inc. et al.—$1.25 million verdict, with attorney’s fees awarded exceeding $2 million;
  • Vargas v. Southern California Edison Company et al. – arbitration award of $1,600,000;
  • Barnes v. AHMC San Gabriel Valley Medical Center – arbitration award of $800,000.

These are not just numbers on paper; they represent workers whose dignity has been restored. While the national media covered many of these trials, John’s practice remains rooted in California, where he continues to fight for employees who might otherwise feel powerless.

Why Does Experience Matter in Race Discrimination Cases?

Corporations have teams of attorneys ready to defend every decision they make. Without strong representation, individuals can feel overwhelmed. Hiring an experienced attorney levels the field. John has fought these battles for almost 30 years, giving workers the same firepower that large employers wield. He has seen every tactic used to deny responsibility and knows how to dismantle them in court. For you, that means confidence. For employers, it means accountability. For the law, it means fairness.

What Common Myths Stop Workers from Calling an Experienced Race Discrimination Attorney?

Many employees hesitate because of misinformation. Here are some myths and the truth behind them:

  • Myth 1#. You must file an internal HR complaint first. The truth is, if the discrimination comes from a supervisor, the law already holds the employer responsible, so calling us first is what matters. Even if the discrimination is from a co-worker, it is important to contact us first.
  • Myth #2. You cannot win without written proof. The truth is, witness testimony, patterns of behavior, and employer records often prove stronger than a single document; and
  • Myth #3. You should go straight to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The truth is, the EEOC often delays cases and limits recovery, whereas California’s system is more protective.

Our office knows how to utilize the state system to achieve maximum impact. Don’t let myths silence you. Call John and get the facts that apply to your specific situation.

Why John Dalton Stands Apart

John Dalton’s background is unusual: after gaining experience as a UC San Diego honors graduate, a CIA officer, and a California Western School of Law graduate, he launched his own practice in 1998. Since then, he has recovered tens of millions of dollars for workers. 

Clients praise his accessibility—he will answer his own phone—and his determination to take cases to trial when settlement is not enough. John sees the courtroom as a place where bullies are held accountable and the voiceless are empowered. That “David versus Goliath” drive defines his entire career.

Take the First Step and Contact the Law Office of John Dalton Today

If you believe race has influenced how your employer treats you, the first and most important step is simple: contact the Law Office of John Dalton for a free, confidential consultation. With a track record of historic verdicts and a practice built on trust, accessibility, and results, John is the San Diego racial discrimination lawyer you need when fairness is on the line. Our office is here to protect your rights under California law, pursue justice through negotiation or trial, and give you the same level of representation corporations rely on every day.