Pension reform lawsuit to go to trial in April

THE PENSION reform lawsuit will go to trial April 20, the R.I. Supreme Court ordered Thursday. The order follows a hearing last week before Supreme Court Justice Francis X. Flaherty, who referred the request to the full Supreme Court. / COURTESY ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
THE PENSION reform lawsuit will go to trial April 20, the R.I. Supreme Court ordered Thursday. The order follows a hearing last week before Supreme Court Justice Francis X. Flaherty, who referred the request to the full Supreme Court. / COURTESY ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

(Updated 3:45 p.m. and 10:15 a.m.) PROVIDENCE – The pension reform lawsuit will go to trial April 20, the state Supreme Court ordered Thursday, rejecting an appeal from public employee groups which had sought a nine-month delay.
The lawsuit consists of nine consolidated cases challenging the state’s pension reform actions, which reduced pension benefits for public employees and retirees, including teachers, state and municipal employees, firefighters and police.
The employee groups argue that the pension changes and benefit cuts approved by the General Assembly in 2009 and 2010, and the comprehensive retirement system overhaul that followed in 2011, are unconstitutional.
Representatives of the employee groups had sought more time to prepare for what is expected to be a jury trial. They had appealed the decision of Superior Court Associate Justice Sarah Taft-Carter, who had rejected a request to delay the trial until January 2016. A spokesman for the plaintiff groups could not be reached Thursday afternoon.
Marie Aberger, spokeswoman for Gov. Gina M. Raimondo, said, “We are disappointed by today’s ruling, but we believe the state has a strong case and that ultimately we will prevail in court.”
The changes to state pensions were set in motion by then-state treasurer Raimondo, who argued they were financially unsustainable.
A settlement agreement reached through mediation, and announced a year ago, failed when it did not get the necessary approval of all of the employee groups. The majority of police officers and retirees rejected the proposal, ending the agreement. Court-ordered mediation that followed failed soon afterward.
The Supreme Court order Thursday followed a hearing last week before Supreme Court Justice Francis X. Flaherty, who listened to the arguments then referred the matter to the full Supreme Court.

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