ATLANTIC PLASTIC & HAND SURGERY, P.A. v. MERITAIN HEALTH, INC.

**Court Allows Worker to Sue for Unwanted Calls, But Blocks Class Action** A worker sued his employer, Solar Alternatives, Inc., claiming the company violated federal law by sending unwanted automated calls or texts. The worker couldn't afford the court filing fees and asked to proceed without paying them. He also wanted to represent other workers in a class action lawsuit, meaning he would sue on behalf of all employees who received similar unwanted communications. The court made a split decision. It allowed the worker to proceed with his individual lawsuit without paying filing fees because he demonstrated financial hardship. However, the court rejected his request to represent other workers in a class action. The judge ruled that workers representing themselves (without lawyers) cannot adequately protect the interests of other employees in complex class action cases. The court gave the worker a chance to explain why his class action claims shouldn't be dismissed entirely. **What This Means for Workers:** If you receive unwanted automated calls or texts from your employer, you may be able to sue individually even if you can't afford court fees. However, representing other workers in a class action lawsuit requires legal representation to ensure everyone's rights are properly protected.