Spafford v. Granite Credit Union

**What happened:** An employee named Spafford sued Granite Credit Union for negligence, but failed to meet court deadlines for submitting expert witness testimony and supporting documents (called affidavits) needed to prove their case. When Spafford asked for extra time to submit this evidence, the trial court said no and threw out the case without a trial. **What the court decided:** Both the trial court and appeals court ruled in favor of Granite Credit Union. The appeals court agreed that the trial court was right to deny Spafford's request for more time and to exclude the late evidence. Without this expert testimony, Spafford couldn't prove their negligence claim, so the credit union won the case. **Why this matters for workers:** This case shows how important it is to follow court deadlines strictly when suing an employer. Missing deadlines for key evidence can destroy your entire case, even if you have a valid claim. Workers considering legal action should work closely with their lawyers to ensure all paperwork and evidence are submitted on time. Courts rarely give second chances when it comes to these deadlines, so proper preparation and timing are crucial for success.