Lee v. State

Tina Lee filed suit against the State, alleging a violation of her rights under the self-care provision of the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). In October 2007, the district court entered judgment in favor of Lee and awarded her money damages and attorney fees and costs. In March 2008, the district court ordered the State to pay Lee attorney fees and costs she incurred between October 2007 and February 2008. The Supreme Court reversed. On remand, the district court ordered the State to reinstate Lee and pay her lost wages and benefits from the date of the October 2007 judgment. The district court then ordered the State to pay Lee the attorney fees and costs she was entitled to in its October 2007 and March 2008 orders and to cover the attorney fees and costs Lee incurred between February 2008 and June 2014. The Supreme Court reversed, holding (1) sovereign immunity bars awards of attorney fees and costs incurred in seeking retroactive monetary relief in actions brought against state officials under Ex parte Young to remedy violations of the self-care provision of the FMLA; but (2) state sovereign immunity does not bar awards of attorney fees and costs incurred in seeking prospective relief in such actions. View "Lee v. State" on Justia Law