Legal Definitions - Right to sue letter

A right to sue letter is a document issued by a federal or state administrative agency that grants a specific party the right to initiate a lawsuit within a certain period of time. This letter is usually issued after the party has exhausted all administrative remedies available to them.

For example, if an employee believes they have been discriminated against in the workplace, they may file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). If the EEOC investigates the complaint and finds evidence of discrimination, they may issue a right to sue letter to the employee, allowing them to file a lawsuit against their employer within a certain timeframe.

Another example is if a person is denied Social SecurityDisability benefits and they appeal the decision. If the appeal is denied, they may receive a right to sue letter from the Social Security Administration, allowing them to file a lawsuit challenging the decision.

These examples illustrate how a right to sue letter grants a specific party the right to initiate a lawsuit after they have exhausted all administrative remedies available to them.