Sugar Law

05/26/2026

05/26/2026

05/26/2026

"A group of civil rights activists is suing the University of Michigan for ... retaliating against a pro-Palestinian student. The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) and the Sugar Law Center for Economic & Social Justice filed a federal lawsuit on Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan ... university officials are accused of harassing Josiah Walker, a Black Muslim student, who participated in protests between 2023 and 2024 ... The lawsuit alleges that Walker was arrested without probable cause and endured excessive force and seizure of his personal property. "The campaign against Mr. Walker disrupted his education; barred him from employment at the university; placed him in financial peril as a student working to afford his education; damaged his reputation; invaded his privacy; caused physical injury; inflicted emotional distress; deprived him of his property; and caused other harm and damages," read the lawsuit."

University officials are accused of harassing Josiah Walker, a Black Muslim student, who participated in protests between 2023 and 2024 following the Israel-Hamas conflict.

05/26/2026

The Sugar Law Center recently joined as co-counsel in support of Lake Superior Academy (LSA)'s ongoing lawsuit to stop excessive noise generated by a bitcoin data mining operation in northern Michigan. Suit was filed and is being led by counsel at O'Dea, Nordeen, Burink and Pickens, PC and we look forward working with them to help their efforts on behalf of LSA. LSA operates a K-5 Montessori school that prioritizes learning through exploration and respect for the natural environment around us. /

The mine’s computers emitted a loud, persistent hum that has, for the time being, been silenced by litigation.

05/26/2026

The Sugar Law Center is proud to join with CAIR MI and the law firm of Akeel & Valentine, PLC an represent another student activist targeted by the University of Michigan for his support of Palestinian human rights.

Sugar Law Executive and Legal Director John Philo said:
“It is breath-taking that any university, let alone one with the history and traditions of the University of Michigan, would depart so radically from the values of free debate and vigorous inquiry on issues of deep public concern. The University has targeted students engaged in nonviolent protest because they expressed one viewpoint that institutional powerbrokers strongly disfavor — advocating for an end to a genocide in Palestine and divestment from Israel. To silence such speech, the University subjected Josiah [Walker] to unprecedented surveillance by private contractors, physical assault by university police, and a series of baseless employment bans and prohibitions against entering campus buildings and public spaces. The University’s actions are morally and legally wrong.”

05/15/2026

Sugar Law and Great Lakes Environmental Law Center have an opening for Development Director who will work jointly with both organizations. If you are interested, take a look at the job posting and get in touch! Hope to hear from you.

05/04/2026

We were very humbled to receive CAIR MI's Partner in Justice Award at their annual dinner this weekend. Was a really great event and much thanks to Dawud Walid and Amy Doukoure for this honor and for all CAIR MI's work throughout the year!

04/25/2026

MIRS conducts a year-end interview with state Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks ... Also, MIRS meets Jacob Fallman, the Sugar Law Center's UIA Policy Coordinator. He talks about the push for a bill to stop the Unemployment Insurance Agency from collecting COVID-19 overpayments made five years ago (28:55).

MIRS conducts a year-end interview with state Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, the Grand Rapids Democrat. She talks about wanting to expand brownfield redevelopment tax breaks to cultural institutions that create experiences instead of products. She adds that it's naive to think Michigan won't....

04/20/2026

Very proud of the outcome in this case, working with Resilience Force - a really great org. -; and representing all the clients. This case is one of the only cases in the nation where a tort recovery was had for workers exposed to COVID by their employer's refusal to observe protocols at the outset of the epidemic. See the blog article by another org. doing really great work - Private Equity Stakeholder Project.

"Workers have finally reached a settlement in a lawsuit alleging that a Servpro franchise and its contractors did not provide protective equipment or implement other safety measures during the first months of the Covid-19 pandemic ... John Philo, a lawyer at non-profit Sugar Law Center, explained the severe medical issues and associated financial costs for those who contracted the virus: “We have two folks who were put on ventilators, and one who has over $300,000 in medical bills. Folks did have very real costs that they were paying for through medical care and testing. And they do want to be paid back for what they have been put through because of what these defendants did.” The plaintiffs alleged that the employers did not provide evidence of any comprehensive Covid-19 policy implementation.

While Servpro does not publish an employee count, the company ultimately profits from the labor arranged through franchisees, which often use subcontractors to hire additional workers. This franchising and subcontracting method can cause problems for workers – when workers face a problem on the job, it can be difficult to identify which company is accountable. Servpro in Tennessee (as a franchisor) successfully removed itself as a defendant from this lawsuit, avoiding legal responsibility as the parent company. For more on how private equity profits from disaster, see our September 2023 report."

Workers have finally reached a settlement in a lawsuit alleging that a Servpro franchise and its contractors did not provide protective equipment or implement other safety measures during the first months of the Covid-19 pandemic.

04/14/2026

Much congrats to the National Lawyers Guild national office and the National Lawyers Guild Detroit & Michigan Chapter for putting on the annual convention this past weekend here in Michigan. Was great helping pull together two panels with the NLG Labor & Employment Committee of the National Lawyers Guild that addressed "Protest Movements & Staying on the Job" and "Workers, Private Sector Unions, and Labor Law at the Edge of a Cliff". Thanks to all the great panelists for coming in and speaking and to Marquel Ramirez and Jeremy DaCruz from the NLG L&EC for all their work on the panels.