LANSING, Mich. (AP) A $47 million computer system that came online after the state's unemployment insurance agency laid off about 400 people in 2012 to cut costs has been mistakenly charging thousands of people with fraud, some lawyers say. State lawmakers are holding a series of legislative hearings, with two scheduled this week, to see what can be done about what they say could be an inordinate number of false fraud charges from the agency. State Rep. Ed McBroom, a Vulcan Republican who set up a panel of lawmakers to look into the issue, said he wants legislation on the House floor by the end of the month, after an April audit found that hundreds of thousands of phone calls to the agency went unanswered while much of its mail was sent to wrong addresses. It said the agency could do a better job of ensuring due process for those it's accusing of fraud. An earlier February audit found a strikingly low number of appealed cases from 2013 to 2015 were actually upheld 263 of 3,460, about 8 percent. About 45 percent of appealed cases were dismissed. "So flip that around, a whopping 92 percent of people accused of fraud didn't do anything wrong," said Jennifer Lord, a Royal Oak attorney working on a lawsuit filed against the agency in the state court of claims. "This fraud program is actually a profit center." Lord said she believes the agency mistakenly assessed much of the money it levied against people from 2013 to 2015, though officials with the agency said they could not readily confirm how much was actually collected. You can read the entire story here
Crain's Interviews Lord in UIA Review Story
From Crain's Detroit Weekly
January 6, 2017
LANSING — The state's embattled unemployment agency said Friday it will review all computer-identified claims of benefits fraud — more than 30,000 — that until now have not been re-examined after...
Lord Interviewed by Michigan Radio Discussing UIA Auditor Report
From Michigan Radio:
A report from the state auditor general says Michigan's Unemployment Insurance Agency isn't doing enough to collect the delinquent taxes from employers. Some of those falsely accused of fraud have filed a class action...
Lord Cited in Detroit News/ WZZM TV Stories Regarding UIA Shakeup
From Detroit News
Lansing — The director of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency has been reassigned after a shocking review revealed that an automated computer system made more than 20,000 fraud claims against out-of-work residents that...
Lord Discusses UIA Fraud with Traverse City Record Eagle
From the Traverse City Record Eagle -
TRAVERSE CITY — Software once used by Michigan's Unemployment Insurance Agency erroneously accused tens of thousands of people who filed for benefits of intentional misrepresentation, and one attorney fears...
Jennifer Lord Speaks to WNYC About What's Next for UIA
Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers Partner Jennifer Lord spoke to John Hockenberry at WNYC in NY. A summary is below.
The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency reviewed over 20,000 instances where the state accused citizens of fraudulently seeking...
ABA: Who's To Blame for Poisoning of Flint Water?
For LeeAnne Walters, the first sign of trouble came in the summer of 2014, when her 4-year-old son Gavin developed rashes after coming into contact with the water.
In July, Gavin and his twin, Garrett, both suffered scaly patches of skin that...
Lord Shares Disgust with Free Press over State Tapping UIA Funds
LANSING — A bill headed to Gov. Rick Snyder's desk transfers $10 million in "surplus" unemployment insurance funds to help balance the state budget at the same time thousands of Michigan residents are claiming millions of dollars in...
Pitt Takes on Whistleblower Case for Judicial Watchdog
From Courthouse News
DETROIT (CN) – The former head of Michigan’s judicial disciplinary board claims he was fired for recommending a formal complaint be filed against a child-jailing judge (Lisa Gorcyca), disagreeing with the view that she is...
Pitt Sought by Media over Ruling Allowing Flint Residents to Sue State
From Detroit News
A Michigan Court of Claims judge has ruled Flint residents can indeed sue state officials for their decisions that led to the city’s drinking water contamination problems.
Judge Mark T. Boonstra, a Michigan Court of Appeals...
Pitt Discusses Flint Water - 'One Year Later' with Fox 2
From Fox 2 Detroit
Some progress has been made in Flint, the city is back on Detroit water millions of dollars have been earmarked.
But the city's water is still not safe to drink but for the average Flint resident, it does not seem like a year...
Michigan Public Radio Talks to Michael Pitt About Flint Stall
From Michigan Public Radio
Amidst the headlines about Attorney General Schuette's criminal investigation and charges filed in the Flint water disaster, there is another legal story unfolding.
Four separate civil lawsuits were filed on behalf of...
McGehee Featured on WXYZ 7 Spotlight on the News
Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers Partner Cary McGehee was a featured guest Sunday, September 4 on Chuck Stokes' WXYZ TV 7 "Spotlight on the News" program to discuss her mentorship and involvement in the 2016 Freedom Tour.
You can see the entire...
Pitt Named VP of Washington Based Public Justice
Royal Oak, Mich., August 23, 2016 – Royal Oak attorney Michael Pitt was recently selected Vice President of Public Justice. Public Justice is a Washington, D.C.-based national public interest firm of 14 lawyers which fights injustices through...
Detroit News Covers Warren Whistleblower Lawsuit
From the Detroit News:
Warren — A former city planner who resigned nearly two years ago is awaiting a federal judge’s decision on a whistleblower lawsuit that alleges Warren officials forced him out of the job.
Kenneth Bouchard, who served as...
Lord Whistleblower Client's Case Aired on Fox 2
WARREN, Mich. (WJBK) - He blew the whistle on his boss while working for the city of Warren, but claims he paid the price when he questioned what he believed was illegal activity.
Meet Ken Bouchard. He worked for the city of Warren coordinating tax...
Macomb Daily Coverage of Lord Warren Whisteblower Case
Kenneth Bouchard, who is suing the city of Warren where he worked in the Planning Department, and his attorney, Jennifer Lord. Ray Skowronek--The Macomb Daily
By Norb Franz, The Macomb Daily
A former Warren city employee who filed...
Observer and Eccentic Covers Lord "Women in the Law" Selection
From the August 3 Observer and Eccentric
Jennifer Lord, of Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers, has been named by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as one of its “2016 Women in the Law.” The publication makes its annual selection of 30 leading female...
Jennifer Lord Named to 2016 Women in the Law
Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers Partner Jennifer Lord has been selected as one of 2016 Women in the Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
Lord was honored September 16 at the legal newpaper's seventh annual luncheon and awards celebrating those who...
McGehee Named Vice Chair of Local US District Court Rules Committee
Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers Founding Partner Cary McGehee was named Vice-Chair of the Local Rules Advisory Committee of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on June 6, 2016 for a one-year term.
"The fact that...
Lord Chosen by Crain's as One of Detroit's Top Litigators
Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers Partner Jennifer Lord has been chosen as one of 14 Detroit area litigators featured in a recent Crain's Detroit Business story on lead attorneys behind recent major court action. She was chosen based on her work...