A group of attorneys hope to restore $300 weekly extended COVID relief federal unemployment benefits for people in Florida through a lawsuit filed against the State in Broward County on July 25.
Attorneys Scott Behren, Gautier Kitchen and Marie Mattox are heading the suit that named several people who live in Broward County as plaintiffs in the case that was filed in the 17th Judicial Circuit Court.
"Counsel for the Plaintiffs are seeking to obtain the $400 million in FPUC (Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation) payments owed to the people of Florida, pursuant to the American Rescue Plan, which were cut off prior to the expiration date of Sept. 6, by Gov. (Ron) DeSantis for purely political and partisan purposes," Behren said in a statement to the Florida Record.
DeSantis announced at the end of May that the extra payments would end effective June 26, 2021 citing his belief it gave people an incentive not to work, Bay News 9 reported.
"The unemployed of Florida need these benefits to pay basic living expenses such as rent, utilities, food and medicine," Behren said in the statement.
The goal of the lawsuit is to restore the additional weekly federal unemployment benefits to all Floridians who've been impacted by the state's decision to end the program early.
"As a result of the actions of the Defendants, the Plaintiffs and all unemployed Floridians, have suffered and will continue to suffer substantial and irreparable harms for which they have no adequate remedy at law, prohibiting their ability to pay for basic living expenses such as vehicles, food and rent," the lawsuit stated.
According to the lawsuit, Florida has one of the lowest payouts for unemployment benefits so even with the additional federal payments it "barely allows" those without work to pay basic bills.
Those named in the lawsuit believe they're "entitled" to FPUC benefits.
They've asked the court for a temporary and permanent mandatory injunction that would force the state to reinstate the extra payments, according to the lawsuit.