Scores of laid-off USX Steel workers filled the benches and lined the walls of a federal courtroom Wednesday to hear closing arguments in their case against USX Steel.
The arguments conclude a three-week trial over how much money should be paid to 25 laid-off workers. U.S. District Judge Bruce Jenkins' ruling on damages owed the workers will be used as a yardstick to determine how much money should be paid to the other hundreds laid off.Jenkins ruled last year that USX Steel illegally idled its Geneva plant to avoid paying benefits to an aging work force. Instead, USX laid off hundreds of workers.
The 24 steel workers represent all classes of the laid-off workers. However, Jenkins' ruling is only another turn of the screw in the lengthy litigation. Attorneys for both sides have said they plan to appeal an unfavorable decision to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Attorneys for USX will appeal Jenkins' earlier conclusion that USX broke the law.