A judge presiding over a class action lawsuit against the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) has delayed by one month a final hearing to approve a proposed $55 million settlement agreement.
The new hearing in Saunders v Unemployment Ins. Agency et al. before Michigan Court of Claims Chief Judge Brock Swartzle is scheduled for 1 p.m. April 24 at the Michigan Court of Appeals courtroom in the Hall of Justice at 925 W. Ottawa, in Lansing. Members of the class action lawsuit can attend the hearing and anyone who opposes the final settlement will be allowed to address the judge about their concerns.
The preliminary settlement between UIA and affected parties affects more than 23,000 Michiganders who say they were wrongly asked by the agency to repay pandemic-era unemployment benefits before determining whether a claimants’ protests or appeals were submitted on time or at all. Under the preliminary settlement, the average award per lawsuit member is just over $1,400.
The deadline to join the lawsuit was Dec. 20, 2024, and the independent claims administrator is no longer accepting new participants. Questions about the preliminary settlement should be directed to the claims administrator by calling 1-866-499-4565 or emailing info@bwclassactions.com. A website at bwclassactions.com has more information.
As part of the litigation process, Swartzle ordered UIA to stop collecting all established overpayments on unemployment benefits claims – even those not related to the class action lawsuit – that were filed since March 1, 2020. The judge will decide when to order claimants to pay back money to UIA.
Under the preliminary settlement agreement, UIA does not admit liability in the case. Workers who joined the settlement agree to release all claims against the UIA or can opt out.
The new hearing in Saunders v Unemployment Ins. Agency et al. before Michigan Court of Claims Chief Judge Brock Swartzle is scheduled for 1 p.m. April 24 at the Michigan Court of Appeals courtroom in the Hall of Justice at 925 W. Ottawa, in Lansing. Members of the class action lawsuit can attend the hearing and anyone who opposes the final settlement will be allowed to address the judge about their concerns.
The preliminary settlement between UIA and affected parties affects more than 23,000 Michiganders who say they were wrongly asked by the agency to repay pandemic-era unemployment benefits before determining whether a claimants’ protests or appeals were submitted on time or at all. Under the preliminary settlement, the average award per lawsuit member is just over $1,400.
The deadline to join the lawsuit was Dec. 20, 2024, and the independent claims administrator is no longer accepting new participants. Questions about the preliminary settlement should be directed to the claims administrator by calling 1-866-499-4565 or emailing info@bwclassactions.com. A website at bwclassactions.com has more information.
As part of the litigation process, Swartzle ordered UIA to stop collecting all established overpayments on unemployment benefits claims – even those not related to the class action lawsuit – that were filed since March 1, 2020. The judge will decide when to order claimants to pay back money to UIA.
Under the preliminary settlement agreement, UIA does not admit liability in the case. Workers who joined the settlement agree to release all claims against the UIA or can opt out.
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