Andrew Shirvell Gets Unemployment Benefits

By BTL Staff

Originally printed 11/8/2012 (Issue 2045 - Between The Lines News)

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Andrew Shirvell will get a little help paying off the $4.5 million judgment against him for defaming gay University of Michigan Student Body President Chris Armstrong in 2010 and 2011.

Shirvell was working as an Assistant Attorney General under Mike Cox when he began a quest to destroy the reputation of Armstrong. Shirvell started a blog that likened the student to "the devil" and showed up at his home and at school events to degrade him and "his homosexual agenda."

When the Attorney General's office fired Shirvell for misconduct, Shirvell filed for unemployment benefits. He was denied repeatedly in the appeals process, but finally the case landed before Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Paula Manderfield who overturned the previous judgments on Oct. 16, claiming that benefits could not be denied to someone who was expressing their first amendment right to free speech.

According to the court order, the Unemployment Insurance Agency will now have to pay for Shirvell's unemployment benefits.

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