Raul Garcia v. Union Pacific Railroad Company

**Garcia v. Union Pacific Railroad Company: What Workers Need to Know About Filing Deadlines** Raul Garcia, a railroad worker, sued Union Pacific Railroad Company for discrimination. Garcia believed his employer had treated him unfairly based on his protected characteristics and wanted to seek justice in court. However, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Garcia and sided with Union Pacific. The court didn't examine whether discrimination actually occurred. Instead, they dismissed his case entirely because Garcia missed a critical deadline. Oregon's labor bureau had sent Garcia a "right-to-sue" notice, which gave him permission to file a lawsuit in court. But Garcia waited too long and filed his lawsuit more than 90 days after receiving this notice. This case serves as an important reminder for workers facing discrimination: timing is everything in employment law. Even if workers have strong discrimination claims, they can lose their right to pursue them in court by missing filing deadlines. Workers who receive right-to-sue notices from state agencies must act quickly—typically within 90 days—or risk losing their chance for legal remedies. When facing workplace discrimination, workers should consult with employment attorneys promptly to ensure they don't miss these strict deadlines.