The Michigan Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case filed against the state by an immigrant rights organization that claims its resources are being drained for representing undocumented workers who were denied benefits for on-the-job injuries.

The case is not about the substance of the argument over the benefits, but whether the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center’s (MIRC) case should be thrown out for missing a deadline to file.

The state argues MIRC failed to follow a rule that required it to file its lawsuit within a year of learning about the problem. MIRC said the state is leaning too heavily on a technicality to avoid legal culpability for denying benefits to workers based on their immigration status.

MIRC’s argument is that the clock started running every time a worker was wrongly denied benefits for on-the-job injuries. Attorney John Philo, who represents MIRC, said the court should not allow a time limit on stopping state officials from violating the law. … see attached Michigan Public