COLUMBUS, Ohio — Legal representatives from DannLaw and Zimmerman Law Offices have taken significant steps to ensure the preservation of nearly $1 billion in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) for Ohioans. This action comes in response to the state of Ohio’s decision to appeal a previous court ruling that favored residents who were denied the FPUC benefits.
The attorneys have formally requested the Tenth District Court of Appeals to mandate Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (ODJFS) to retrieve and safeguard the FPUC funds from the U.S. Department of Labor. They propose that the funds be held by the Clerk of Franklin County Common Pleas Court while the state’s appeal is ongoing.
Marc Dann, representing the plaintiffs, expressed the necessity of this move, stating that depositing the funds with the Clerk of Courts ensures they remain available for distribution to deserving Ohioans should the plaintiffs prevail in court. He highlighted the risk of these funds being repurposed for other federal initiatives amid discussions in Congress about using unspent COVID relief dollars to facilitate a debt ceiling agreement.
The appeal underscores the urgency of protecting these funds from being absorbed into unrelated federal projects. “With federal policymakers eyeing these unspent funds for other uses, it’s critical that we act swiftly to secure what rightfully belongs to the people of Ohio,” Dann explained.
The motion also criticizes Governor DeWine for his continued resistance to follow through on the legal obligations determined by Judge Michael Holbrook’s ruling, which mandates the distribution of these funds to eligible Ohioans. “The governor’s failure to act not only defies the court’s order but directly opposes the interests of the very people he was elected to serve,” Dann added.
The attorneys are urging the court to issue an “affirmative injunction” to:
- Reinstate Ohio’s participation in the FPUC program from its previous end date on June 26, 2021, through its expiration.
- Secure the FPUC benefits from the U.S. Department of Labor.
- Deposit these funds with the Clerk of Franklin County Common Pleas Court to ensure their availability during the appeals process.
- Grant any additional relief deemed appropriate by the court.
This legal action highlights the ongoing struggle to ensure that pandemic relief efforts reach those in need amidst bureaucratic challenges and shifting federal priorities.