S.M. v. Mcknight

**What Happened** An employee named S.M. sued their former employer McKnight (also known as Bedrock Contracting) for breach of contract. The details of the original dispute aren't specified, but it appears the employee claimed the company violated their employment agreement in some way. **What the Court Decided** The court ruled in favor of the employer, Bedrock Contracting. Not only did the company win the case, but the court also ordered the employee to pay $23,095 in attorney's fees and legal costs to the company. The court found that Bedrock was the "prevailing party" and that the original employment contract included a clause requiring the losing side to pay the winner's legal expenses. **What This Means for Workers** This case highlights an important risk for employees considering legal action against their employers. Many employment contracts include "attorney's fees provisions" that require whoever loses a lawsuit to pay the other side's legal bills. Before pursuing a breach of contract claim, workers should carefully review their employment agreements and consider this potential financial risk. Even if you believe your employer wronged you, losing the case could mean paying thousands of dollars in their legal fees on top of your own costs.