Neenah teachers sue to restore early retirement benefits cut after Act 10

Bruce Vielmetti:

A group of veteran Neenah teachers has sued to restore early retirement benefits that could amount to $170,000 each.

The suit was expected since February, when the School Board denied a group of teachers' demand to restore them to the original early retirement deal eliminated last year after Act 10.

The named plaintiffs are six "distinguished teachers," but the suit, filed Monday in Winnebago County Circuit Court, seeks to represent a class including more than 250 teachers who had been eligible to participate in the former early retirement plan.

Their attorney, Charles Hertel, said Neenah Joint School District administrators used the plan for years to recruit teachers, and to induce them to accept lower-than-market salaries. Many teachers' retirement planning was based on the expectations of the later payouts, he said.

The lawsuit asserts four claims: that the district must be held to promises on which teachers relied, that cutting the plan amounts to unjust enrichment for the district and negligent misrepresentation and strict responsibility.

The suit seeks compensatory damages, costs and enforcement of the retirement plan.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at April 26, 2013 1:41 AM
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