Deeply Committed to Justice for Detroit, Tonya Myers-Phillips

Tonya Myers Phillips, an attorney deeply committed to justice for Detroit, has long advocated for Right to Counsel for residents facing foreclosure and many other community-centered causes. At the Sugar Law Center, where she serves as Community Partnerships & Development Director, Tonya collaborates closely with local organizations, working to establish community benefits agreements and offer legal guidance on economic issues impacting Detroiters. … see full story at Detroit is Different

Federal lawsuit: Deaf nonprofit banned from concessions program at Comerica Park

The civil lawsuit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Detroit by DAD Delphine Alfred Duncan Foundation for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and its volunteers Jason Pauling, Zion White, Shatia Tankersley and Deangelo Simmons, all of Detroit and who are deaf or hard of hearing.

"This lawsuit is just about basic fairness and dignity and respect of folks who are members of the community, who are valuable members and who should be treated as such," said John Philo, an attorney with the Sugar Law Center For Economic & Social Justice in Detroit, which filed the discrimination lawsuit under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act. … see full story at Detroit Free Press

Metro Detroiters open up about the emotional impacts of DTE Energy power shut-offs

Liz Jacob, energy insecurity coordinator at the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice and an organizer for the Dismantle DTE campaign, said the movement is focused on building power among communities of color and low-income communities, which are most impacted by DTE Energy.

“We want to push back against this idea that the only way we can get our energy is through investor-owned utilities,” Jacob said, adding, “Something that I’ve heard from a lot of folks is that they didn’t realize they had rights. That’s actually not the case.” … see full story at Planet Detroit

'Decent, generous and giving': Community honors late human rights lawyer

Community members shared laughter, tears and applause as they gathered Saturday to honor the life of veteran Detroit lawyer Bill Goodman at Wayne State University.

Goodman died Nov. 17, 2023, at age 83 and a funeral was held at Ira Kaufman Chapel in Southfield on Nov. 20, 2023.

Attendees filled the Community Arts Auditorium at Wayne State on Saturday afternoon, listening as speakers of all ages and backgrounds discussed the profound impact Goodman left on their lives and careers.

Goodman's decadeslong legal career included human rights and civil liberties advocacy, taking on cases like stop-and-frisk policies, Guantanamo Bay detentions, the Flint water crisis, Palestinian rights, police brutality, prisoners' rights, Vietnam War victims and more.

He co-founded Goodman and Hurwitz, P.C., a Detroit-based civil rights firm, co-founded the Sugar Law Center for Economics and Social Justice in Detroit, taught at Wayne State's law school for over 15 years, and served as the legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights in New York. … see full story at Detroit Free Press

Unemployment Insurance Technology Pain Points Across Three States

In Michigan, Jacob Fallman works as an advocate with the Sugar Law Center, working on behalf of claimants in accessing the state’s UI system. The center handles more than 200 UI cases a year, and the majority of those cases involve appeals once workers have initially been denied benefits. Michigan requires claimants to first create a state Single Sign-On (SSO) account and enter a Social Security Number before they start applying for UI benefits. Once an account is created, an individual can start applying for UI and is prompted to submit additional forms of identity verification, like a driver’s license, to complete the application. This creates several challenging steps for claimants ahead of claim filing. … see full story at Georgetown University, Beeck Center

Michigan suit is challenging denial of lost wages for injured undocumented immigrants

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the nonprofit organization Michigan Immigrant Rights Center and contends the organization’s resources are being depleted by the volume of injured undocumented workers seeking legal assistance. Every year, the nonprofit takes on more than 1,500 cases like these.

“They have to use resources, to meet, talk, explain the law,” said attorney John Philo from the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice. “But also to try and help them out… if there’s a dispute on the medical bills to help them with the medical coverage.” … See full story at NPR

Community continues fight to shut down northwest Detroit concrete crusher

he Sugar Law Center for Social and Economic Justice and the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center filed an amicus brief on behalf of the Schoolcraft Improvement Association in support of the city’s case.

“Through this amicus brief, community members will be able to have their stories shared with the court and show just how devastating this concrete crusher has been on their community,” said Liz Jacob, environmental justice attorney at the Sugar Law Center for Social and Economic Justice, in a news release. “We are honored to support the members of the Schoolcraft Improvement Association in their fight against this dangerous concrete crusher that threatens their health, livelihoods and well-being.” … see full article at WDET