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How does someone initiate a class-action lawsuit against a state employer? (lemmy.world)
submitted 4 months ago by to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world
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My state is actively ruining employees’ lives by reducing taxes for businesses (less revenue), which is making it so that the state cannot afford raises and are constantly increasing healthcare costs for employees.

I would love to do something, and the only thing I can think of that would have any meaningful impact would be to sue the state. But I have no idea what that process would take, nor do I personally have funds to hire a lawyer.

I hear about class-action lawsuits all the time, and would be interested in understanding their process better.

  1. How would I find a lawyer/firm that would be interested in taking the case?
  2. Can you even sue a state for this sort of thing?
  3. Aside of maintaining my anonymity to avoid retaliation, what else should I be aware of in case this process gets off the ground?

Edit: Clarity

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[–] 8 points 4 months ago (7 children)

You can probably sue the state for things that are actively harmful, like creating dangerous roads. But a lawsuit trying to set different priorities in revenue and spending isn't going to get very far. Setting tax rates is fundamentally political. That's the entire purpose of a state legislature, so the remedy is at the ballot box.

TBH, I wouldn't want a random selection of unelected people from my state (a jury) to be able to have the power to decide tax rates.

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  • [–] [S] 3 points 4 months ago (6 children)

    I am not looking to affect tax rates, I mentioned it as a reason why we state employees are being negatively impacted.

    Regardless of the cause, we are being financially harmed by our employer (the state), and I would like to do something legal about it.

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  • [–] 9 points 4 months ago

    That is what unions are for. In my country some years ago our postal workers' union's strike resulted in the prime minister resigning.

    So unionizing and organizing a strike would be the most effective legal thing i would say.

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  • [–] 4 points 4 months ago (3 children)

    Isn't that what strikes are for?

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  • [–] [S] 2 points 4 months ago (2 children)

    Strikes don’t affect change if the powers that be don’t listen. My state has had a lot of strikes from teachers that produced nothing positive for the teachers. And all other state employees are legally banned from unionizing.

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  • [–] 2 points 4 months ago* (1 child)

    I feared this was the case. I can sympathize.

    The problem here starts with your elected officials. They set spending policy which affects your salary budget. There is, as far as I know, no direct legal action you can take to correct this. My state’s employees have been experiencing this for decades.

    You can try raising money for lobbyists to represent government employees. You can run for office. You can try getting publicity about the problem in the media. I’m sure there are other things you can do.

    But you know, consultations with lawyers are free. I am not a lawyer, so don’t let me stop you from talking to one.

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