Sandra Fitzpatrick v. Leasecomm Corporation and East Texas Professional Credit Union, Longview

**What Happened** Sandra Fitzpatrick worked for Leasecomm Corporation and had her paychecks directly deposited into her account at East Texas Professional Credit Union. Leasecomm later tried to collect money from Fitzpatrick by garnishing (taking money from) her bank account. Fitzpatrick argued that her wages should be protected from garnishment because they were exempt under Texas law. She asked the court to stop the garnishment. **What the Court Decided** The court ruled against Fitzpatrick. The appellate court agreed with the lower court that once her paycheck was electronically deposited into her credit union account, it lost its protected status as wages. The court said that even though the money originally came from her paycheck, it became regular bank account funds that could be garnished once it was deposited. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling is significant because it shows that wage protection laws may not apply once your paycheck hits your bank account. Workers should understand that direct deposit might not provide the same protections as receiving a physical paycheck. If you're facing potential garnishment, the timing and method of how you receive your pay could affect your legal protections.