Kugell v. Ardex Laboratories, Inc., No. Cv 00-158960s (Dec. 1, 2000)

Kugell v. Ardex Laboratories: Workers Miss Deadline to Sue

This case involved workers who sued Ardex Laboratories and Robert Hall for breach of contract. However, the workers had previously filed a lawsuit that was dismissed, and they waited too long before refiling their case.

The court ruled against the workers, dismissing their lawsuit entirely. The judge found that the workers missed the three-year deadline (called a statute of limitations) to bring their breach of contract claim. The workers argued they should get extra time under a Connecticut law that sometimes extends deadlines when cases are dismissed by accident or simple mistake. However, the court determined that the original case dismissal was due to "inexcusable neglect" by the workers or their lawyers, not an accident or simple oversight. Because of this inexcusable neglect, the workers could not use the law to extend their deadline.

What this means for workers: This case highlights the critical importance of meeting legal deadlines when pursuing workplace claims. If you're involved in employment litigation that gets dismissed, you and your attorney must act quickly to refile within the required time limits. Courts will not excuse delays caused by careless mistakes or poor case management, so choosing experienced employment counsel is essential.