Michigan suit is challenging denial of lost wages for injured undocumented immigrants

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the nonprofit organization Michigan Immigrant Rights Center and contends the organization’s resources are being depleted by the volume of injured undocumented workers seeking legal assistance. Every year, the nonprofit takes on more than 1,500 cases like these.

“They have to use resources, to meet, talk, explain the law,” said attorney John Philo from the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice. “But also to try and help them out… if there’s a dispute on the medical bills to help them with the medical coverage.” … See full story at NPR

Community continues fight to shut down northwest Detroit concrete crusher

he Sugar Law Center for Social and Economic Justice and the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center filed an amicus brief on behalf of the Schoolcraft Improvement Association in support of the city’s case.

“Through this amicus brief, community members will be able to have their stories shared with the court and show just how devastating this concrete crusher has been on their community,” said Liz Jacob, environmental justice attorney at the Sugar Law Center for Social and Economic Justice, in a news release. “We are honored to support the members of the Schoolcraft Improvement Association in their fight against this dangerous concrete crusher that threatens their health, livelihoods and well-being.” … see full article at WDET

Local News Detroit City Council to vote on tax breaks for Henry Ford Health Hospital expansion

"It's not equitable. It's not responsible to take the tax dollars the least of these are paying and divert them away from public use to subsidize a billionaire owner's wealth. That's not right," Tonya Myers Phillips, Community Partnerships & Development Director at the Sugar Law Center, said. "We're not anti-hospital expansion. What we are asking for is fairness and equity and for our public servants to use our money for public good." … see full story at CBS News Detroit

'Unbelievably frustrating': Jobless aid appointment waits vexing some Michigan claimants

Advocates who help unemployed people with their claims said the portal's confusing prompts have frustrated "dozens to hundreds" of claimants trying to work through issues with their claims — and serve as a reminder that the agency has yet to fix longstanding problems with confusing directives issued to claimants.

"It's unbelievably frustrating," said Tony Paris, lead attorney at Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice. … see full story at Detroit News

The Detroit Future of Health development's nine-digit gap controversy

What's happening: Developers have said in public meetings that they're providing $604 million worth of benefits for nearby residents, including $90 million to operate the new research center and $300 million in uncompensated care costs.

Yes, but: Tonya Myers Phillips, community partnerships and development director with Sugar Law Center, which helped advocate for the Community Benefits Ordinance in 2016 and still monitors its use, analyzes the total as just $9 million. … see full story at AXIOS Detroit

Michigan cosmetology school agrees to $2.8M settlement after unpaid labor dispute

A judge has approved a $2.8 million settlement in a dispute over unpaid work performed by aspiring hair stylists at a Michigan cosmetology school.

Roughly 1,500 people will get some compensation for cleaning floors, washing towels and stocking shelves when they were students at Douglas J Aveda Institute, attorney John Philo said Monday.

The Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice filed a class-action lawsuit, alleging violations of federal labor law. Philo said the work performed by students was not directly connected to their cosmetology education. … see full story at CBS News

Douglas J Aveda Institute agrees to $2.8M settlement over unpaid labor claims

DETROIT -- A federal judge has approved a $2.8 million settlement between the Douglas J Aveda Institute and plaintiffs who accused the school of forcing students to do unpaid labor while enrolled. According to the Associated Press, an estimated 1,500 people will receive compensation as part of the settlement which stems from a class-action lawsuit filed in 2014.

The lawsuit claimed that students who were attending the institute had to perform labor activities such as cleaning floors, washing, drying and folding laundry, and stocking shelves for no pay. The Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice -- which filed the lawsuit -- claimed the duties were not directly connected to the cosmetology education students were receiving and the students should have been compensated for their work.

“What this case says is there are limits to what you can ask of your students,” said John Philo a lawyer with the law center. … see full story at MLive