Final answer:
Deanna's case is an example of the expiration of the statute of limitations, a legal constraint preventing the initiation of a lawsuit after a certain period has passed. The Lilly Ledbetter case and the resulting Fair Pay Act highlight the implications of the statute of limitations on discrimination lawsuits.
Step-by-step explanation:
Deanna's inability to sue her real estate agent due to the passage of too many years since the incident is an example of the expiration of the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations is a law that sets the maximum time after an event within which legal proceedings may be initiated. Once the statutory period has passed, the plaintiff no longer has legal recourse to file a lawsuit regarding that incident. This concept is crucial in maintaining a balance in the legal system by encouraging the timely pursuit of legal actions while ensuring evidence remains fresh and the threat of never-ending legal actions does not hang over individuals indefinitely.
The Lily Ledbetter case exemplifies the impact of the statute of limitations on discrimination cases. Ledbetter learned of her pay disparity well after the discriminatory decisions by her supervisor had been made, and by the time she sued, the statute of limitations had expired. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was subsequently passed to address such issues by redefining discriminatory practice to include each disparate paycheck as a separate discriminatory act, which could restart the limitations period.