Harris v. American Protective Services of New York, Inc.

**What Happened** Patricia Harris sued her former employer, American Protective Services of New York, claiming she faced race discrimination, disability discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and defamation that led to her wrongful termination. She filed her lawsuit directly in federal court. **What the Court Decided** The court dismissed most of Harris's claims before they could go to trial. The judge threw out her race discrimination, disability discrimination, and retaliation claims because Harris had not first filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) as required by law. The court also dismissed her sexual harassment and defamation claims for other reasons. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case highlights a critical requirement for workers facing discrimination: you must file a complaint with the EEOC before you can sue your employer in court. This administrative step is mandatory for most discrimination claims involving race, disability, and retaliation. Workers cannot skip this process and go straight to court, or they risk having their entire case dismissed. The EEOC filing serves as a prerequisite that gives the agency a chance to investigate and potentially resolve disputes before they reach federal court.