WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that individuals in Alabama who faced lengthy delays in their unemployment claims during the COVID-19 pandemic have the right to sue the state over these delays. This decision was made public on Friday and came as a response to a previous ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court that had dismissed a lawsuit involving 21 claimants.

Many of these individuals endured prolonged waits to find out if they were eligible for unemployment benefits, while some never received any decision or found their assistance abruptly cut off without explanation. Court records revealed a troubling case where one man’s claim was dismissed after he was unable to meet an administrative deadline due to being on a ventilator.

Initially, the lawsuit aimed at expediting the unemployment benefit process was dismissed by Alabama’s highest court on the grounds that the plaintiffs needed to exhaust all appeals at the unemployment agency before pursuing legal action. However, the U.S. Supreme Court identified this as a paradox, leading to their ruling.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh expressed in the court’s opinion, which was also supported by Chief Justice John Roberts and the three liberal justices, that the requirement for claimants to complete the administrative process before having the opportunity to sue effectively prevents them from seeking timely relief. This situation creates a vicious cycle where necessary legal challenges are rendered impossible.

The plaintiffs received backing from a diverse array of organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. These groups argued that mandating individuals to navigate the appeals process prior to filing a lawsuit could negatively impact other legal complaints, including those related to civil rights and business challenges against state regulations.

During the pandemic, Alabama faced one of the highest per-capita death rates in the country, leading to an overwhelming volume of unemployment claims that strained the already understaffed agency. However, the state emphasized that many of the claims filed by the plaintiffs have now been resolved, highlighting ongoing challenges in managing the fallout from the pandemic-related economic hardships.