Reid v. Rapich

**What Happened** An employee named Reid filed a discrimination lawsuit against their employer, Rapich. However, Reid failed to pay the required court filing fees or submit a proper application to have those fees waived due to financial hardship. The court had given Reid 30 days to either pay the fees or file the waiver application, but Reid missed this deadline. **What the Court Decided** The court dismissed Reid's discrimination case entirely because of the unpaid filing fees. However, the dismissal was "without prejudice," which means Reid could potentially file the same lawsuit again in the future if they follow proper procedures and pay the required fees. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case highlights an important procedural hurdle that workers face when pursuing discrimination claims. Even if you have a valid complaint against your employer, courts require specific filing fees that can create barriers to justice. Workers who cannot afford these fees must properly request a fee waiver within court deadlines. Missing these administrative requirements can derail an entire case, regardless of its merits. Workers should seek legal assistance early to ensure they meet all procedural requirements when filing employment discrimination lawsuits.