Love v. American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees Local 1733

# Love v. American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees Local 1733 **What Happened** Love, an employee of Shelby County, sued his union local and his employer over a workplace dispute. He claimed the union was negligent by failing to request arbitration on time, which he said caused him to lose money. He also claimed the union broke its contract with him. **What the Court Decided** The trial court had dismissed Love's negligence case, but the appeals court disagreed and reversed that decision. The court found that Love had proven the union's delay directly caused his financial harm. However, the court upheld the dismissal of his contract breach claim. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling clarifies that unions can be held responsible when they fail to take timely action on behalf of their members. Workers who believe their union has negligently missed important deadlines—like requesting arbitration—may have the right to sue for damages. However, workers should note that contract breach claims face higher legal hurdles than negligence claims.