Can I file a lawsuit against a former employer for sending paysrub unsealed?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Can I file a lawsuit against a former employer for sending paysrub unsealed?
After 2 years of extreme mental stress and exhaustion, I was pushed to the brink of quitting work for my former employer. I recieved my last paystub, yesterday. This pay stub was from August. It was mailed to me completely unsealed and exposed to the public. All of my personal informatoione exposed. This is highly embarrassing Not to mention the worry and anxiety it has caused. I want to fole a lawsuit against them for violating my privacy, exposing my personal information, causing me intense emotional distress and any other laws and regulations that were not followed to protect me.
Asked on December 22, 2017 under Employment Labor Law, Maine
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
No, you may not. The law does not provide compensation for what *could* have happened (e.g. theft of any personally identifying information, like SSNs or bank account information, that could have been in paystub), but only for what provably *does* happen: unless you can trace (with evidence) some loss, theft, etc. this, you do not have a claim. Furthermore, you would only have a claim for the actual provable loss or theft: there is no compensation in cases like this for "emotional distress."
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.