[Vision2020] Settlement Reached in UI retirees' Lawsuit

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the Lewiston Tribune.

 

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Settlement reached in UI retirees' lawsuit

July 8, 2010, 2:56 pm

 

MOSCOW - Second District Judge Jeff Brudie brought a long-running dispute
between the University of Idaho and scores of its former employees to a
close this afternoon when he approved a proposed settlement between the
parties.

 

More than 250 UI retirees filed a class-action lawsuit after the university
decreased early retirement benefits they thought were guaranteed for life.
As part of cost-cutting actions in 2007, the UI required the retirees to pay
part of their health insurance premiums and reduced their life insurance
benefits.

 

Second District Judge John R. Stegner sided with the UI in a summary
judgment last year when both sides agreed to forgo a trial. The retirees
failed in a bid to get Stegner to reconsider his ruling, but filed an appeal
with the Idaho Supreme Court.

 

But when a settlement proposal emerged last month, the case was remanded to
the 2nd District. Brudie presided at today's hearing because Stegner
voluntarily recused himself from the final step in the litigation.

 

The settlement stipulates that increases to premium co-payments be held to
10 percent or less per year, and that life insurance benefits not drop below
$10,000.

 

The settlement does allow the university to modify the terms of the
settlement in the future, but only if it declares a financial emergency. It
also absolves the retirees from paying the UI's $94,000 in court costs.

 

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

 

Tom Hansen

Moscow, Idaho

 

"Corporations are an oppressed minority forced to move headquarters from
state to state in search of friendlier tax codes--sometimes being forced to
live just off our shores in tiny mailboxes." 

 

- John Oliver, The Daily Show

 

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