De La Cerda v. San Diego Convention Center Corporation, Inc.

**Worker's Contract Dispute Against NASA Dismissed for Wrong Court** A worker named De La Cerda filed a breach of contract lawsuit against NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) in federal district court. The worker claimed NASA violated their employment contract, seeking damages that exceeded $10,000. The court dismissed the case entirely, but not because the worker's claims lacked merit. Instead, the court ruled it had no authority to hear the case. When someone has a contract dispute with the federal government involving more than $10,000, they must file their lawsuit in a specialized court called the Court of Federal Claims, not a regular federal district court. Additionally, the court found that De La Cerda failed to follow required administrative procedures under the Contract Disputes Act before filing the lawsuit. This case highlights an important hurdle for federal workers and contractors. If you work for the federal government or have a contract dispute with a federal agency, you cannot simply file a lawsuit in any court. You must first exhaust internal administrative processes and then file in the correct specialized court. Workers should consult with attorneys familiar with federal employment law to ensure they follow proper procedures and file in the right venue.