FONG v. CITY OF NEWARK

**What Happened** Richard Fong filed a discrimination lawsuit against the City of Newark, claiming he faced workplace discrimination. However, Fong failed to follow the court's basic filing requirements. The court had given him a deadline of November 15, 2021, to either properly file his complaint according to court rules, complete paperwork to have his filing fees waived due to financial hardship, or pay the required filing fees. Fong did not meet any of these requirements by the deadline. **What the Court Decided** The court dismissed Fong's case without prejudice, meaning he failed to follow proper court procedures rather than losing on the merits of his discrimination claims. "Without prejudice" means Fong could potentially refile his case later if he follows the proper procedures and meets all requirements. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case highlights the importance of following court procedures when filing employment discrimination lawsuits. Even if workers have valid discrimination claims, their cases can be dismissed if they don't complete required paperwork, meet deadlines, or pay filing fees. Workers should seek legal help or carefully review court rules to ensure they meet all procedural requirements when pursuing workplace discrimination cases.