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Freelancer RightsKnow what you are owed, and why
Remedies and deadlinesApplies in: New York City

If you win, the City law can give you more than the unpaid amount

New York City Administrative Code § 20-933 lets a freelance worker sue in court and sets out what a court can award, along with the deadlines for bringing each type of claim: two years for written-contract claims under § 20-928, and six years for payment and retaliation claims under §§ 20-929 and 20-930.

2What that means

  • Different claims have different deadlines. A written-contract claim is on a shorter clock than a payment or retaliation claim.
  • The statute provides for damages and for attorney's fees and costs, and doubled damages are available for the payment violation.
  • Courts have actually awarded doubled damages in a Freelance Isn't Free Act case, but no result is guaranteed, and a judgment is not the same thing as money collected.
  • A separate provision lets the City bring pattern-or-practice actions with civil penalties — those are enforcement matters, not your individual case.

3In a real case, this is what happened

In Whitfield v. LEEBA, a freelancer obtained judgment on payment and written-contract claims

Supreme Court, New York County · August 4, 2025 · Index No. 656521/2022

What the freelancer alleged
A claimant who built a website and also provided paralegal services alleged unpaid work and no written contract.
What the court actually ruled
On August 4, 2025, the court granted the claimant judgment on the website payment and written-contract claims. The paralegal-services claim was severed and continued separately.
The key reason
The court resolved the website-services claims on summary judgment while leaving the other dispute open.
Stage of the case
Summary judgment — an actual ruling for the freelancer on part of the case.

The rest of the dispute continued. This project has not verified payment of any judgment.

Full record for this caseOriginal decision source

In E.R. v. Genie Quest, the freelancer recovered on contract but got no Freelance Isn't Free Act relief

Supreme Court, New York County · September 4, 2024 · Index No. 652925/2019

What the freelancer alleged
After a bench trial, the plaintiff asked for doubled damages under the City law based on a March 2017 agreement.
What the court actually ruled
The court denied Freelance Isn't Free Act relief and awarded $18,333.32 in contract damages against Genie Quest only.
The key reason
The agreement predated the law's effective date, so the Act did not apply.
Stage of the case
Decision after a bench trial.

The money awarded here was contract damages, not Freelance Isn't Free Act damages. Timing of the agreement mattered.

Full record for this caseOriginal decision source

4What matters for you

These are the facts and documents that decided the cases above. Gathering them does not decide your case, and this is general information rather than advice about it.

  • The date of the violation you are complaining about — it starts your clock.
  • Which claim you have: written contract, late or missing payment, or retaliation.
  • The exact amount unpaid, and the documents that establish it.
  • When the agreement was made — the City law took effect May 15, 2017, and earlier agreements have been held outside it.
  • Any fees and costs you have incurred pursuing payment.

5Where this applies

  • New York City Administrative Code § 20-933 governs the private lawsuit, deadlines and damages under the City law.
  • New York State's Freelance Isn't Free Act sets out its own remedies. Whether one law, the other or both apply depends on the facts.
The law behind this right
Decisions connected to this right