Baltimore Judge Postpones Unemployment Lawsuit Hearing To Monday

By WBAL
Posted on 07/10/21 | News Source: WBAL

A Baltimore judge postponed a scheduled hearing for the lawsuits against Maryland's governor over unemployment benefits.

A full hearing originally scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday was postponed to Monday at 9:30 a.m.

Pressure is mounting for the governor to cease his opposition to the enhanced federal benefits.

The lawsuits were filed in an attempt to block Gov. Larry Hogan's early termination of enhanced unemployment benefits. The governor announced last month that Maryland will discontinue the benefits and reinstate work-search requirements starting July 3.

But on July 3, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lawrence Fletcher-Hill granted a 10-day temporary restraining order stopping the state from ending the benefits.

On Monday, the Court of Appeals dismissed the governor's appeal of the temporary restraining order, sending the case back to the lower court.

Daysi Serpa has a vested interest in the outcome of the lawsuit. The benefits are the only income the laid-off hotel worker has until her employer calls her back to work.

"I have family, you know, to take care of -- a boy and a girl and another nephew that I'm supposed to take care of," Serpa said.

Attorneys for the unemployed said they will argue the federal benefits serve as a lifeline for Serpa and hundreds of thousands of people still reeling from the economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including gig workers and the self-employed.

"What we are seeking in this lawsuit is that people just get their benefits through the federal program until Sept. 6 to give them some time to get recalled to work or find another job," said Roxie Herbekian, president of Unite Here Local 7.