Judge issues decision in DETR lawsuit, says court finds 'significant delays'

A judge has issued a decision in a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of those still waiting for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) in Nevada.

Jeremy Chen reports.

DETR TO PAY MORE CLAIMANTS ...AND HE WANTS TO SEE PROGRESSMADE ON ADDRESSING PROBLEMS THEAGENCY IS FACING.13 ACTION NEWS REPORTER JEREMYCHEN IS LIVE TO BREAK DOWN THEJUDGE'S RULING..AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR PEOPLEWHO DESPERATELY NEED THEMONEY...IT'S A VICTORY FOR PUAAPPLICANTS- ESPECIALLY FORTHOSE WHO HAVE SEEN THEIRPAYMENTS STOP AFTER INITIALLYGETTING THEM OR WERE DENIEDBECAUSE THEY GOTSOME INCOME WHILE FILING.THE JUDGE STOPPED SHORTORDERING THE AGENCY TO PAY ALLCLAIMS-BUT IS ORDERING DETR TOMAKE PROGRESS WITH ONGOINGCLAIMS."DETR IS NOT TO WITHHOLDBENEFITS THAT HAVE ALREADYSTARTED." WASHOE COUNTY JUDGEBARRY BRESLOW-MAKING HISDECISION IN A PUA LAWSUIT FILEDAGAINST DETR.JUDGE BRESLOW ORDERED DETR TOCONTINUE PAYING BENEFITS FORPEOPLE WHO ALREADY HAD BEENRECEIVING THEM UNLESS THEYSTOPPED FILING WEEKLY CLAIMS,MADE TOO MUCH IN INCOME-OR IFTHE AGENCY FOUND SIGNIFICANTEVIDENCE OF FRAUD.RIDESHARE DRIVERS-SHOULD BEPAID PUA BENEFITS AFTERSUFFERING SIGNIFICANT BUSINESSLOSS BUT HAVEN'T ENTIRELYCEASED OPERATIONS.HE SAYS DETR ACTED "SOMEWHAT"IN A CAPRICIOUS AND ARBITRARYMANNER IN DETERMINING WHO WASAPPROVED OR NOT."WE'RE NOT GOING TO PENALIZEPEOPLE UNDER THE CARES ACTBECAUSE THEY TRIED TO MAINTAINSOME LEVEL OF SUBSISTENCEINCOME WHILE THEY WAIT FOR THEECONOMY TO RIGHT ITSELF OROTHERWISE HAVE BENEFITSAVAILABLE." THE JUDGE ALSOASKED FOR DETR TO MAKE PROGRESSADDRESSING A COMMON ISSUE-WHEREPUA CLAIMANTS ARE STUCK INLIMBO WHILE DETR IS TRYING TOFIGURE OUT IF A PERSONQUALIFIES FOR REGULARUNEMPLOYMENT OR PUA BENEFITS.HE WANTS TO HEAR AN UPDATEDREPORT IN A COURT HEARING JULY30TH."I WOULD LIKE WHEN WE MEET ONTHE 30TH, TO HEAR FROM THESTATE, POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS ONTHE UI/PUA DICHOTOMY."THE JUDGE SAYS ALL PAYMENTSTHAT NEED TO BE MADE SHOULD BERECEIVED BY NEXTTUESDAY.COMING UP AT SIX-WE'LL TAKE ACLOSER LOOK AT THE REPORT BYTHE SPECIAL MASTER..THIS IS THE PERSON APPOINTED BYTHE JUDGE TO LOOK INTO THEMILLION" DOLLARS ..THE STATE IS GIVING "30MILLION" DOLLARS ..TO HELP PEOPLE PAY RENT..IF THEY'RE EXPERIENCING