Crosby-Garbotz v. Fell

**Crosby-Garbotz v. Fell: Court Rules on False Information Claims Against Government** This case involved a dispute between an employee (Crosby-Garbotz) and the U.S. government over false information. The employee tried to sue the government in federal court, claiming violations of a criminal law that prohibits spreading false information about government agencies. The court dismissed the case entirely, ruling it had no authority to hear it. The judge explained that the employee was trying to use a criminal law (which is enforced by prosecutors, not private individuals) as the basis for a personal lawsuit seeking money damages. The court said this type of criminal law doesn't give individual workers the right to file their own civil lawsuits, and federal courts can't handle criminal matters in this way. **What this means for workers:** You cannot use criminal laws as the foundation for personal employment lawsuits against your employer, even if you believe the employer violated those laws. Criminal violations must be reported to law enforcement authorities. If you want to sue your employer, you need to base your case on laws that specifically allow workers to file civil lawsuits, such as employment discrimination or wage laws.