Mohammad v. Awadallah

**What Happened** Mohammad sued his former employer, Awadallah, over money he claimed he was owed. Mohammad had a promissory note (essentially an IOU) that showed his employer promised to pay him a certain amount. However, Mohammad waited too long to take legal action to collect on this debt. **What the Court Decided** The court ruled against Mohammad and dismissed his case entirely. The court found that Mohammad missed the legal deadline to sue for the money. Under Ohio law, people have six years to file a lawsuit to collect on a promissory note. Mohammad's six-year deadline expired in September 2009, but he didn't file his lawsuit until December 2010 – more than a year too late. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case serves as an important reminder that workers have limited time to pursue legal claims against employers. If your employer owes you money through a written agreement or promissory note, you cannot wait indefinitely to take action. Workers should be aware of these time limits (called statutes of limitations) and seek legal help promptly if they believe they are owed money. Waiting too long can result in losing your right to collect what you're owed, even if the debt is legitimate.