Formisano v. Eastchester Union Free School District

**Formisano v. Eastchester Union Free School District: Late Claims Against Employers** This case involved a worker named Formisano who wanted to sue the Eastchester Union Free School District but waited nearly six years before properly filing the required legal paperwork. In New York, people who want to sue government employers like school districts must file a "notice of claim" within a specific time limit. Formisano missed this deadline by years and asked the court for permission to file the notice late. The appellate court said no. The judges reversed a lower court decision that would have allowed the late filing. They found that Formisano didn't have good enough reasons for the nearly six-year delay, and that allowing the late claim would be unfair to the school district because so much time had passed. **What this means for workers:** If you work for a government employer (like schools, cities, or counties) and believe you have a legal claim against them, you must act quickly. These employers have strict deadlines for filing paperwork, and courts rarely excuse long delays. Missing these deadlines can mean losing your right to pursue your case entirely, even if you have a valid complaint.