Judge Holbrook Ruled Ohio Governor Michael DeWine Violated His Statutory Obligation to Secure Unemployment Benefits for Ohio Citizens

As a result of a class action filed by Zimmerman Law Offices PC and DannLaw, Ohio Judge Michael Holbrook ordered Ohio Governor Michael DeWine to immediately reinstate Ohio’s participation in the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (“FPUC”) program, and take all action necessary to obtain Ohio’s share of FPUC program benefits from the United States Department of Labor (“DOL”).

The lawsuit alleges that Governor DeWine prematurely ended Ohio’s participation in the FPUC program during the COVID pandemic, and this premature termination of unemployment benefits left thousands of Ohio citizens unable to cover basic living expenses such as housing, utilities, food, and health care. The lawsuit seeks an injunction to compel Governor DeWine to reinstate Ohio’s participation in the FPUC program, obtain the federal unemployment money that Governor DeWine refused to accept, and distribute that money to eligible Ohio citizens.

“Judge Holbrook ruled that Governor DeWine had a clear legal duty to continue Ohio’s participation in the federal unemployment benefits program, and that he violated his statutory obligation when he refused to obtain $900 million of federal money for thousands of eligible Ohio citizens who were out of work and could not pay their bills during the COVID pandemic,” said Thomas A. Zimmerman, Jr., who represents the plaintiffs in this matter. “The federal money is still available from the DOL. All Governor DeWine has to do is ask for it and distribute it to his constituents who desperately need financial assistance,” said attorney Zimmerman.

The case is Candy Bowling, et al. v. Michael DeWine, et al., Court No. 21-CV-4469, filed in the Franklin County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas. A copy of the complaint and Judge Holbrook’s ruling are available upon request, as are interviews with the attorneys in this matter.

We ask all Ohio citizens to contact their elected officials and urge them to support Governor DeWine’s efforts to immediately obtain the federal unemployment money.

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