Arellanes v. Regents of the University of New Mexico

Arellanes v. Regents of the University of New Mexico

What Happened

Arellanes filed a discrimination lawsuit against the University of New Mexico, claiming unfair treatment based on a protected characteristic.

What the Court Decided

The court dismissed the case on December 18, 2024. The dismissal was not based on the merits of the discrimination claim itself. Instead, the court threw out the case because Arellanes failed to properly serve the defendants with court documents within 90 days of filing the lawsuit, as required by court rules. Additionally, the case was dismissed for lack of prosecution—meaning Arellanes did not actively pursue the case.

Importantly, the dismissal was "without prejudice," meaning Arellanes could potentially refile the claim later if proper procedures are followed.

Why This Matters for Workers

This case illustrates that discrimination complaints must follow strict procedural rules. Workers pursuing employment discrimination claims need to act quickly and carefully—meeting all court deadlines and properly notifying employers of lawsuits. Missing these technical requirements can result in losing the case, even if the underlying discrimination claim has merit. Workers should work with an attorney to ensure all procedures are followed correctly and promptly.