Stay on SRHS Litigation in State Courts
A number of Singing River retirees and their attorneys are outraged today after a judge puts an indefinite hold on litigation in state court regarding the health system and its pension plan.
Harvey Barton, who represents over 200 retirees, tells News 25 that specially appointed Chancery Judge Breland Hilburn sent an email around 5 o’clock last night to cancel this morning’s scheduled hearing where they were planning to call for Hilburn to recuse himself.
The reason given for the stay was to avoid duplicating efforts and litigation in state and federal courts. “The judge said there’s a stay issue because of the pending class certification in federal court, which we’re not a part of but very soon we will be entering an appearance there to fight that process. We certainly do not intend for there to be a class certification without there being a fight. Right now, there’s no fight in the federal court system. So, we’ll go over and get involved in that,” said Barton.
As for their fight in state court, there’s no set timeline for how long the stay will be in place.
Harvey Barton, who represents over 200 retirees, tells News 25 that specially appointed Chancery Judge Breland Hilburn sent an email around 5 o’clock last night to cancel this morning’s scheduled hearing where they were planning to call for Hilburn to recuse himself.
The reason given for the stay was to avoid duplicating efforts and litigation in state and federal courts. “The judge said there’s a stay issue because of the pending class certification in federal court, which we’re not a part of but very soon we will be entering an appearance there to fight that process. We certainly do not intend for there to be a class certification without there being a fight. Right now, there’s no fight in the federal court system. So, we’ll go over and get involved in that,” said Barton.
As for their fight in state court, there’s no set timeline for how long the stay will be in place.
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