SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico | Oct. 30, 2026 — The Liberty Justice Center (LJC) has secured a victory for public employees’ First Amendment rights in Rigau v. Quintana, securing reimbursement of improperly deducted union dues and binding commitments to prevent future unauthorized deductions from the wages of Puerto Rico Industrial Commission (PRIC) employee Luis Rigau. The agreements resolve his claims against his employer, Commission President María T. Quintana, in her official capacity, and the union, Federación Central de Trabajadores, UFCW Local 481.
Rigau’s lawsuit challenged the unauthorized reinstatement of his union membership and the resumption of union dues deductions from his wages, despite his repeated written objections. The Liberty Justice Center represented Rigau alongside the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation.
Under the settlements, Rigau has recovered the union dues deducted without his authorization, and both the union and the Commission have agreed to safeguards protecting him against future unauthorized deductions. On May 4, 2026, the union agreed to cease deducting dues and formally recognize Rigau as a nonmember, per his written request. On October 27, 2026, the union reimbursed Rigau for the disputed deductions and paid attorneys’ fees required under its settlement. The Commission has until November 9 to pay its agreed-upon attorneys’ fees.
The settlements also establish specific protections to ensure Rigau’s rights are respected going forward. The Commission agreed not to reinstate Rigau’s union membership or begin or resume deductions for any labor organization unless Rigau requests reinstatement in writing with his express, affirmative and knowing written consent, consistent with the First Amendment protections recognized in Janus v. AFSCME. The union separately agreed not to request or cause deductions for union dues, fees, assessments or other charges unless it first receives a new written authorization from Rigau, providing an additional safeguard against a recurrence of the conduct that prompted the lawsuit.
“The Supreme Court made clear in Janus that public employees cannot be forced to financially support a union without their affirmative consent. Yet years later, workers like Luis Rigau are still being forced to fight to enforce that right,” said Ángel J. Valencia, Senior Attorney at the Liberty Justice Center. “These settlements not only return the money taken from his paychecks but also establish clear protections against future unauthorized deductions. This is exactly the kind of accountability Janus requires.”
The case dates back to 2018, when Rigau resigned from the union following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in LJC’s case, Janus v. AFSCME. That decision established that public employees cannot be compelled to financially support a union without their affirmative consent.
The Commission initially honored Rigau’s resignation and stopped deducting dues. However, in December 2022, it resumed deductions without his authorization. Rigau repeatedly objected to both his employer and the union, yet the deductions continued.
LJC filed his federal civil rights lawsuit in November 2025. The settlements resolve Rigau’s remaining claims, provide for reimbursement and attorneys’ fees, and require the defendants to honor his written consent before any future union deductions. The agreements also provide for dismissal of the respective claims following satisfaction of the settlement terms.
The Liberty Justice Center continues to defend public employees against violations of their First Amendment rights, including in Puerto Rico. Its ongoing Puerto Rico litigation includes Dávila-Surén v. Puerto Rico Industrial Commission, Méndez López v. University of Puerto Rico and Carbonell et al. v. López Figueroa et al. Learn more about LJC’s work defending workers’ rights in Puerto Rico.
Rigau v. Quintana was filed on November 18, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. Additional information and filings are available on the Liberty Justice Center’s case page.