Lawyers arguing that public school employees are due an immediate refund from a $550 million in escrow monies held by the state seemed to find some sympathy from at least two Michigan Supreme Court justices during a hearing Wednesday.
Since the money was paid under a statute found to be unconstitutional, “Isn’t paying back the money the only remedy?” Justice Richard Bernstein asked Gary Gordon, an attorney representing the state in the long-running dispute.Justice David Viviano seized on another point: Didn’t the state stipulate years ago it would return the money if the law was found to be unconstitutional?