Guerra v. Disaster Services LLC

**Guerra v. Disaster Services LLC: Court Dismisses Employee's Civil Rights Claim** An employee sued their former employer, Bronx Care Medical Center, claiming the hospital violated their civil rights under federal law. The worker also asked the court to pursue criminal charges against the hospital. The court dismissed the entire case for two main reasons. First, the judge explained that the civil rights law the employee tried to use (Section 1983) only applies when government entities or government employees violate someone's rights. Since Bronx Care Medical Center is a private hospital, not a government institution, this law doesn't apply to them. Second, the court noted that private citizens cannot ask courts to file criminal charges - only prosecutors can decide whether to pursue criminal cases. However, the court gave the employee 30 days to file a revised complaint that fixes these legal problems. **What this means for workers:** This case shows that certain federal civil rights laws only protect against government wrongdoing, not private employer misconduct. Workers dealing with private employers need to use different laws, such as employment discrimination statutes or workplace safety regulations. If you believe your employer broke the law, consult with an employment attorney to understand which legal protections apply to your specific situation.