Sukackas v. Fine Food Incorporated

**Employee Loses Discrimination Case Due to Filing Deadline** In Sukackas v. Fine Food Incorporated, an employee sued Acosta Marketing, Inc. claiming workplace discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, and failure to provide reasonable accommodations. The employee alleged that discriminatory acts occurred in May 2018, but didn't file the required complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) until December 2019. The court dismissed the case without prejudice, meaning the employee wasn't permanently barred from refiling. The problem was timing: the employee waited over 180 days after the alleged discrimination to file with the EEOC, which exceeded the legal deadline. The court gave the employee until September 18, 2020 to file a corrected complaint. **What this means for workers:** This case highlights a crucial requirement for employment discrimination cases. Before you can sue in federal court, you must first file a complaint with the EEOC within 180 days of the discriminatory act (or 300 days in some states). Missing this deadline can derail your entire case, even if you have strong evidence of discrimination. If you believe you've experienced workplace discrimination, contact the EEOC immediately to protect your rights and avoid losing your chance to seek justice.