Judy Weekes-Walker v. Macon County Greyhound Park, Inc.

**What Happened** Judy Weekes-Walker and other employees at Macon County Greyhound Park lost their jobs during layoffs in early 2010 and when the facility permanently closed in August 2010. The workers sued because their employer failed to give them advance warning about losing their jobs, as required by federal law. **What the Court Decided** The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the workers. The court found that the greyhound park violated the WARN Act (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act) by not providing the legally required 60-day advance notice before both the mass layoffs in January and February 2010 and the permanent closure in August 2010. The employer tried to argue that unforeseeable business circumstances excused them from giving notice, but the court rejected this defense because the company still failed to provide any notice to workers. **Why This Matters for Workers** This decision reinforces that employers must follow WARN Act requirements when conducting large layoffs or closing facilities. Workers have the right to 60 days' advance notice before losing their jobs in these situations. Employers cannot simply claim "unforeseeable circumstances" if they provide no notice at all. This protection gives workers time to prepare financially and search for new employment.