McEvoy v. Washington County

**McEvoy v. Washington County: Court Limits Employer's Ability to Re-Question Workers** This case involved workplace discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims against SkyWest Airlines. During the legal process, SkyWest Airlines asked the court for permission to conduct additional questioning sessions (called depositions) with plaintiff Sarah Budd and witness Michael Billotto. The company wanted to re-interview these individuals beyond their initial questioning sessions. The court denied SkyWest's request. The judge ruled that the airline had already had adequate opportunity to gather the information they needed during the first round of depositions. The court found that forcing the workers to go through additional lengthy questioning sessions would be too burdensome compared to any benefit the company might gain from the extra interviews. This decision matters for workers because it shows courts will protect employees from excessive and repetitive questioning during workplace disputes. When companies face discrimination or harassment lawsuits, they cannot endlessly re-interview workers just because they want another chance to gather information. Courts recognize that these questioning sessions can be stressful and time-consuming for employees, and will limit them when employers have already had a fair opportunity to present their case.