Blackett v. UNUM Life Insurance Company of America

**Blackett v. UNUM Life Insurance Company Case Summary** **What Happened:** Shayla Blackett sued her former employer, KSL Associate Group (doing business as Sagewood at Daybreak), claiming workplace discrimination, retaliation, and harassment that created a hostile work environment. However, during her lawsuit, it came to light that Blackett had previously filed for bankruptcy but failed to mention her potential employment claims against her employer in that bankruptcy case. **What the Court Decided:** The court dismissed Blackett's case using a legal principle called "judicial estoppel." Essentially, the court said that because Blackett didn't tell the bankruptcy court about her employment claims (which could have been valuable assets), she couldn't pursue those same claims now. However, the dismissal was "without prejudice," meaning she might be able to refile the case if she can address the bankruptcy disclosure issue. **Why This Matters for Workers:** This case highlights a critical requirement for workers: if you file for bankruptcy, you must disclose ALL potential legal claims against employers, even if you haven't filed them yet. Failing to do so can result in losing your right to pursue workplace discrimination or harassment claims later. Workers should consult with both bankruptcy and employment attorneys to ensure proper disclosure of all potential assets and claims.