Richards

**Worker Loses Challenge to Washington State Family Leave Program** A worker sued Union Pacific Railroad Company over Washington State's Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, apparently challenging how the law applied to their employment situation. The worker brought their case to federal court, seeking to challenge aspects of the state's paid leave program. The court dismissed the case entirely, ruling that federal courts don't have the authority to hear this type of dispute. The judge found that a federal law called the Tax Injunction Act prevents federal courts from interfering with state tax collection systems. Since Washington's paid family leave program is funded through payroll taxes, the court said it couldn't rule on the worker's claims. **What This Means for Workers:** This ruling reinforces that challenges to state-run benefits programs like paid family leave must generally be handled in state courts, not federal courts. Workers who have disputes about state family leave programs will likely need to pursue their claims through state legal systems rather than federal court. The decision also shows that courts view these benefit programs as part of state tax systems, which limits how they can be challenged. Workers should consult with attorneys familiar with state employment law when dealing with paid leave program disputes.