Bickford v. The Estate of Albert Severance

**Bickford v. The Estate of Albert Severance: Employment Case Dismissed on Procedural Grounds** **What Happened:** An employee named Bickford filed an employment-related lawsuit against the estate of their former employer, Albert Severance, in 2001. While the specific details of the workplace dispute aren't provided, this was clearly an employment law case where Bickford was seeking some form of legal remedy against their deceased employer's estate. **What the Court Decided:** The court dismissed Bickford's case entirely, but not because of the merits of their employment claim. Instead, the case was thrown out because Bickford failed to follow proper court procedures. Specifically, they didn't file the required "return of service" paperwork within 90 days of starting the lawsuit, as required by Maine court rules. The dismissal was "with prejudice," meaning Bickford cannot refile the same case again. **Why This Matters for Workers:** This case serves as an important reminder that having a valid workplace complaint isn't enough—workers must also follow strict court deadlines and procedures when filing lawsuits. Missing even seemingly minor paperwork deadlines can result in losing your case entirely, regardless of how strong your employment claim might be. Workers considering legal action should work with experienced attorneys who understand these critical procedural requirements.