Public Workers Free Speech Lawsuit Against the University of Michigan Moves Forward in Federal Court

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

News from the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice

April 1, 2026

Contact:           John Philo, jphilo@sugaraw.org,(313)-993-4505/(313) 801-8211

                          Liz Jacob, ljacob@sugarlaw.org, (313)-993-4505

Public Workers Free Speech Lawsuit Against the University of Michigan Moves Forward in Federal Court

This is a critical step forward for Palestine solidarity student protesters and workers to hold the University of Michigan accountable for violating their Free Speech Rights.

DETROIT — On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, the Honorable Judge Stephen Murphy in the Eastern District of Michigan denied significant portions of the University of Michigan’s Motion to Dismiss the Hakim et al., v. Regents et al., lawsuit filed by former workers at the University who were terminated and blacklisted from former employment because they expressed speech in support of Palestinian human rights.

“We applaud the court’s decision for recognizing that our clients have a right to be free from retaliation when engaging in free speech and petitioning their University to change policies and support the human rights of Palestinians.” said John Philo, Executive & Legal Director from the Sugar Law Center for Economic & Social Justice. “While we are disappointed that the University was not found to be required to follow minimal due process before taking adverse actions against workers, we will explore an appeal of those issues at a future time to affirm the principle that the University cannot terminate and permanently ban persons from employment on a fabricated basis and then ignore minimal Constitutional due process requirements.”  

In May 2025, the Sugar Law Center and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee filed the Hakim et al., v. Regents et al., lawsuit to protect the Constitutional and civil rights of workers whom the University of Michigan terminated and forever barred from future employment because they participated in pro-Palestine protests on the University’s campus. After attending a peaceful on-campus sit-in to call for the University’s divestment from Israel or participating in an impromptu demonstration on public sidewalks to call on Regents to meet with students and support divestment, workers were targeted by the University with adverse employment actions.

The University of Michigan Defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss the lawsuit in August 2025, and the Honorable Judge Murphy heard oral arguments on the motion in December 2025. Following Judge Murphy’s decision on March 31, 2026, the Plaintiffs’ due process and conspiracy claims were dismissed. However, the Plaintiffs’ core First Amendment claims – that they were retaliated against by their public employer because of their speech – will move forward. This is a significant victory of the Plaintiffs and an important step forward to advance the rights of workers and student protesters.

The Plaintiffs are represented by attorneys John Philo, Liz Jacob, and Tony Paris from the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice; the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, the Law Office of Herbert Sanders, and attorney Ezra Ritchin.

See story in the Detroit News by Sarah Atwood.

See decision of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan here.

See ADC press release here.

DTE stops forcing thousands to pay utility bills only in cash

“I was really heartened to see these changes,” said Liz Jacob, lead attorney at the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice in Detroit. “I’ve seen it impact quite a lot of clients who miss a payment or had an issue with a credit card and then had their account required to go through the cash payment option.”Jacob attributed the relaxed requirements to advocacy in regulatory proceedings and customers sharing their troubles with the policy directly with DTE."

See full article by Lucas Smolcic Larson at MLive

Key Claims Move Forward in Lawsuit over pro-Palestinian Speech at UM

"[I]n a hearing on Thursday, March 19, a motion from the university to dismiss claims was ... denied, allowing First and 14th Amendment allegations from SAFE and free speech allegations from the six individuals to move forward. ... [Liz] Jacob [from the Sugar Law Center] said they feel “heartened” at being able to test what she called “serious constitutional issues at the root of this case.”

“On the whole,” she said, students and alumni organizers “are feeling extremely, extremely happy with the decision. ...

Protesters have called on the university to divest funds from institutions and companies associated with Israel, expressing wide support for Palestinian human rights since the Israel-Hamas war began Oct. 7, 2023, in Gaza."

See MLive article by Jackie Smith

See Michigan Advance article by Ben Solis

Letter From 1,025 Organizations Asks Congress to Halt Funds for ICE and Border Patrol

Amnesty joined over 1,000 national, state, and local organizations in a letter to Congress to demand accountability and to halt funding for ICE and Border Patrol in light of the continued violence in Minneapolis and cities across the United States, and the deaths of our neighbors at the hands of ICE and Border Patrol.

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Southern Border Communities Coalition
Stand Up for Science
Stand.earth
Stop AAPI Hate
Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice
Sunrise Movement
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
Tahirih Justice Center
The Advocates for Human Rights

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See ACLU Press Release.

Tlaib Blasts U-M for its Handling of Student Protesters

“Tlaib spoke at a rally that also featured a student who said she quit the office that administers the student disciplinary procedure and a lawyer who is running to become a U-M regent … “The University of Michigan created a department, an office, to suppress and target students, to shut them up," Tlaib said. "They are impacting people's civil rights. Your First Amendment right to say free, free Palestine." … Liz Jacob is a lawyer with the Sugar Law Center for Economic & Social Justice who represents several of those students in two separate lawsuits. … Jacob said there is a provision in the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities that addresses litigation ... "The statement does say that you're entitled to pause these proceedings if there's ongoing litigation," Jacob said. "And they just would not even honor that." See full article by John Wisely in the Detroit Fee Press.

Layoff Surge Spurs Fresh Push to Update Federal, State WARN Acts

“Spikes in layoffs and growing fears of AI-fueled job losses are adding urgency for policymakers and advocates hoping to strengthen the early-notice requirements for employers making workforce cuts. … The WARN Act “was adopted at a time when you had plants that were employing a couple thousand people,” said John Philo, executive and legal director at the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice. “The act needs to be updated” to account for more dispersed workforces, including some dominated by remote employees.”

See full story by Chris Marr at Bloomberg Law.

Detroit Nonprofit Honors Labor Advocate Removed ... by Trump

“As Gwynne Wilcox awaits a court ruling to determine if President Donald Trump had the power to remove her from the National Labor Relations Board, the tireless labor advocate returned to Detroit last week with a hero’s reception. Wilcox was the first Black woman to serve on the board since its inception. She was also the first person to be removed from the board by a sitting president in its 90-year existence. … On Thursday, Wilcox headlined Sugar Law Center’s annual “Essential Advocacy: For Economic & Social Justice” dinner and speaker event. .. John Philo, the executive and legal director of the Sugar Law Center, told Michigan Advance that honoring Wilcox as she continues her fight against the Trump administration meant a great deal to the organization. The president cannot remove someone who has not been alleged to have engaged in any type of negligence nor any type of cause. They never pretended to even allege that there was any cause. “It’s the living struggle that’s happening right now between those who believe in rule of law and those who believe strictly in power. And she is at the pivot point of that,” Philo said. See full article by Ben Solis from Michigan Advance.

Reps. Sykes, Dingell, and Budzinski Reintroduce Fair Warning Act to Strengthen Worker Protections and Ensure Advance Notice of Layoffs

“WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), and Nikki Budzinksi (IL-13) reintroduced the Fair Warning Act. The bill would update the Worker Adjustment and Retraining (WARN) Act of 1988, hold employers accountable, and give workers and communities the notice they need to best prepare for and recover from employer decisions that cost them their jobs.

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"The Fair Warning Act is critical legislation allowing workers a fair opportunity to transition to new employment and training opportunities to avoid the devastating effects of sudden and unexpected job loss,” said Sugar Law Center for Economic & Social Justice Executive Director John Philo. “The Act updates and modernizes federal law to address the needs of today's workers and provides meaningful accountability when employers fail to meet their obligations to employees and the community."

U.S. Representatives Emilia Sykes press release here and the text of the bill here.

DAD Foundation's Suit In Support of Deaf & Hard of Hearing Volunteers at Tiger Stadium Can Proceed

“Now the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice has taken the case to court. They argue that what happened is discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Last month, a federal judge said their lawsuit can move forward. That means their claims under the ADA warrant a complete examination.

Although this happened at a baseball game at a popular stadium in Detroit, the story asks something bigger than baseball. What does access look like in a world built around sound?

Attorney Liz Jacob from the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice joined Robyn Vincent on The Metro to discuss what this ruling could mean for deaf and hard-of-hearing people across the country.”

See full story by Robyn Vincent at WDET here.

See the court’s decision denying the Defendants’ request to have the case dismissed, here.

Power surges damaged their property. DTE offered payouts if they kept quiet

“MLive reviewed two DTE agreements offering customers payments for damage claims where the utility had denied fault. Each required the customer to sign a release of claims and confidentiality agreement to accept.

“It does seem intended to silence people’s ability to talk about what they’re experiencing, to be able to share how they negotiated with the company,” said Liz Jacob, lead staff attorney with the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice in Detroit.

She represents low-income clients in conflicts with DTE and confirmed she’s observed the practice in disputes relating to both property damage and billing.”

See full story by Lucas Smolcic Larson from MLive here.