Hoffman v. Dalgado

**What Happened** A hospital worker sued NME Hospitals after being exposed to HIV at work and later developing an infection. The employee filed claims for negligence, failure to warn about the dangers, and emotional distress. However, the lawsuit was filed more than two years after the workplace exposure occurred. **What the Court Decided** The court ruled in favor of the hospital and dismissed the case entirely. The judge found that the worker waited too long to file the lawsuit. Under Florida law, employees have only two years to sue for workplace injuries. The court determined that this two-year countdown began when the HIV exposure happened at work, not when the worker later discovered they had been infected. Since the lawsuit was filed after this deadline, the case was thrown out. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling highlights a crucial timing issue for workplace injury claims. Workers who suffer occupational exposures or injuries must act quickly to protect their legal rights, even if they don't immediately know they've been harmed. The two-year deadline starts ticking from the moment of exposure, not from when symptoms appear or when workers discover their condition. Workers facing potential workplace exposures should consult with attorneys promptly to avoid missing important filing deadlines.