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After his supervisor told other employees about his HIV status, “Darius” felt compelled to leave his job. He was then denied unemployment benefits by the Employment Development Department (EDD) because they assumed Darius had quit his job without good cause. Making matters worse, without proof of income, Darius was no longer eligible for rental assistance and faced being evicted from his apartment.

Darius contacted ALRP for help, and Insurance Attorney Lynnette Baclig began working closely with ALRP Volunteer Attorney Michael Ferrari to prepare Darius for a hearing before the EDD.

Volunteer Attorney Michael Ferrari

Together, they were able to successfully show that Darius had left his job for good cause reasons, and the administrative law judge ordered EDD to provide him unemployment benefits. Darius now qualifies for his rental assistance and, as a result, remains safely in his home.