Parties in pension lawsuit return to court
By The Associated Press
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) _ The legal battle over the state’s 2011 public pension system overhaul is moving forward in court, even as some plaintiffs are agreeing to settle.
Lawyers for the public employees and retirees who are suing and the state’s attorneys returned to court Thursday in Providence for pre-trial motions.
Both the retirees and the state requested a summary judgment, with the retirees stating they have contractual rights to cost of living increases and the state arguing that they don’t.
The judge didn’t immediately rule.
The coalition representing several groups of retirees overwhelmingly accepted a proposed settlement Monday.
Lawyers for both sides say they’re continuing to prepare for the April 20 trial and couldn’t discuss the settlement because of a court confidentiality order.
The settlement wasn’t mentioned during the morning hearing.
(C) The Associated Press 2015
