SAMARADASA WEERAHANDI VS. REGINA LIU (L-7225-17, MIDDLESEX COUNTY AND STATEWIDE)

**What Happened** Samaradasa Weerahandi filed a lawsuit against Regina Liu and the American Statistical Association, claiming he faced discrimination and retaliation. Weerahandi argued that his civil rights were violated under New Jersey's anti-discrimination laws. **What the Court Decided** The court dismissed Weerahandi's case, ruling that he couldn't bring his claims under New Jersey's Civil Rights Act or Law Against Discrimination. The court found two key problems: first, Weerahandi was not actually an employee of the defendants, and second, the defendants weren't acting "under color of law" (meaning they weren't government actors or acting like government officials). The dismissal was made "without prejudice," which means Weerahandi could potentially refile his case if he could address these legal problems. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case highlights important limitations in workplace discrimination laws. New Jersey's anti-discrimination protections generally apply only to actual employees, not contractors or other types of workers. Additionally, certain civil rights claims require that the defendant be a government entity or acting like one. Workers should understand that their legal protections may depend on their employment status and the type of organization they work for.