Wilfert Bros. Realty Co. v. Commonwealth of Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination

**Wilfert Bros. Realty Co. v. Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination** This case involved a real estate company challenging a discrimination ruling by the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. The company was appealing the Commission's decision, but the state argued that the appeal was filed too late to be valid. The main dispute centered on when exactly the company's lawyer received official notice of the Commission's decision. The company claimed their attorney got the notice on May 28, 2002, while the state argued it was received on May 24, 2002. This timing mattered because appeals must be filed within a specific deadline. The court sided with the real estate company, determining that the attorney did receive notice on May 28, not May 24. This made their June 25, 2002 appeal filing timely and valid. The court rejected the state's request to dismiss the case and allowed it to move forward for a full review. **What this means for workers:** This ruling shows that strict deadlines in discrimination cases are taken seriously, but courts will carefully examine the facts when there are disputes about timing. It demonstrates that the appeals process remains available to both sides in discrimination cases, ensuring proper review of these important workplace protections.