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<p class=MsoNormal>Courtesy of today’s (July 8, 2010) Moscow-Pullman
Daily News.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>University of Idaho's retirees lawsuit settlement could get
go ahead today<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Deal with university needs judge's final approval<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>By Holly Bowen Daily News staff writer<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>The University of Idaho and a group of its retirees who have
sparred for two years over altered medical and life insurance benefits will
meet in court again today for what representatives of both parties hope will be
the final time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Second District Judge Jeff Brudie will consider a proposed
settlement between the two groups at 2 p.m. today at the Latah County Courthouse
in Moscow. Judge John Stegner, who had previously ruled in the UI's favor in
the case, voluntarily recused himself from the settlement proceedings June 2,
according to court records.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>The 268 former UI employees filed a class-action lawsuit
against the university after it followed the recommendations of a 2007
cost-cutting task force and changed their medical and life insurance benefits.
The former employees had retired after accepting early retirement buyout
agreements from the UI in 1998 and 2002, respectively.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>The tentative settlement states the UI will not increase the
retirees' health insurance premiums by more than 10 percent per year, and their
life insurance benefits will not drop below the current $10,000 each. The
retirees and their representatives will also be excused from paying the UI's
court and attorney fees totaling about $100,000, if Brudie approves the
settlement.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>The Idaho State Board of Education would have to declare a
financial emergency before it or the UI could modify the terms of the
agreement, the proposed settlement states.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>The settlement terms restrict both parties and their
attorneys - Ron Landeck for the retirees and Bruce Rubin for the UI - from
publicly commenting on the settlement outside of a press release.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>A press release, printed on UI letterhead and on file at the
Latah County Courthouse, had already been written on Wednesday as if assuming
Brudie will approve the settlement today. The release includes two direct
quotes in support of the settlement that as of Wednesday afternoon were not
attributed to specific people.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>"According to (blank space), one of the class
representatives, 'This has not been an easy decision to make. However, we are
convinced that, under all the circumstances, it is the best for both retirees
and the university to bring this case to a mutually acceptable conclusion,'
" one quote states.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>The other direct quote in the release states,
"University spokesperson (blank space) joined in praising the settlement.
'The university values the contributions of all its retirees and is pleased
that the litigation has been brought to an ending everyone supports.' "<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>It is unclear who made either statement, but the settlement
won't be official until it receives Brudie's stamp of approval.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Retiree representatives Wileen Anderson, Joyce Presby,
Arthur Smith and Harvey Neese sent a letter to their peers explaining they are
seeking approval of the settlement because they "lack adequate resources
to pursue the matter further" and cannot be sure an appeals court would
overturn Stegner's decision.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Seeya round town, Moscow.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Tom Hansen<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Mosdow, Idaho<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist
expects it to change and the Realist adjusts his sails." <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>- Unknown <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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