Grant, Caleb v. Krolikowski, Daniel

**Worker Loses Case Against Private Employer Over Contract Dispute** Caleb Grant sued his employer Daniel Krolikowski, claiming his contract was broken. Grant tried to use two legal approaches: a federal civil rights law (Section 1983) and claims related to the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF). The court threw out Grant's entire case before it could go to trial. The judge ruled that Grant's civil rights claims failed because Section 1983 only applies to government employees and agencies, not private employers like Krolikowski. The court also dismissed Grant's September 11th-related claims because Grant had already filed for compensation through the official VCF program. By doing so, he gave up his right to sue in regular court over the same issues. **What This Means for Workers:** This case shows two important limits on workplace lawsuits. First, certain federal civil rights laws only protect workers from government employers, not private companies. Second, if you participate in special compensation programs (like the 9/11 fund), you may lose the right to file separate lawsuits about the same problems. Workers should carefully consider their options and understand which laws apply to their specific employment situation before deciding how to pursue legal claims.