Greene v. Teachers' Retirement System

107 Misc. 2d 508, 435 N.Y.S.2d 455, 1980 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2880
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 10, 1980
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 107 Misc. 2d 508 (Greene v. Teachers' Retirement System) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Greene v. Teachers' Retirement System, 107 Misc. 2d 508, 435 N.Y.S.2d 455, 1980 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2880 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1980).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Albert P. Williams, J.

The plaintiffs move for summary judgment to recover the pension reserve of decedent Mathilda Simon from the defendants. The defendants cross-move for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

This action was commenced to recover money damages in the amount of $59,825, or such other sum as would reflect the total fixed allowance of Mathilda Simon at the time of her death, on the grounds that defendants unlawfully precluded the decedent Mathilda Simon from changing her retirement plan, and that said defendants [509]*509negligently misrepresented and advised the decedent of her pension rights.

Defendants, in their answer, deny the commission of any unlawful acts or negligence and allege that at all times they have acted pursuant to the statutory mandates and in accordance with applicable law. Defendants further allege that plaintiffs failed to set forth facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action and failed to comply with section 50-e of the General Municipal Law in that a notice of claim was not served within 90 days after the alleged claims arose and the complaint should be dismissed as a matter of law.

The following material and relevant facts are not disputed among the parties to this action.

Plaintiff’s decedent, Mathilda Simon, first became employed by the City of New York in 1934 with the Department of Social Services. At that time, she also became a member of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System. She worked during various periods for the Department of Social Services. Decedent joined the Teachers’ Retirement System of the City of New York on February 2, 1970, at which time she had prior accredited service of 16 years, 4 months and 20 days. When she became employed by the Board of Education of the City of New York, she also became a member of the teachers’ retirement system: Membership No. 143179.

By application dated February 4, 1970 decedent elected to become a 20-year pension plan member, that is, she elected to be covered under Plan A. The 20-year pension plan is governed by section B20-41.2 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York (hereinafter Administrative Code).

Section B20-41.2 (subd e, par [1]) of the Administrative Code provides that a contributor to the 20-year pension plan may retire from service upon the completion of 20 years of service, after the attainment of age -55 years. Benefit payments under said Plan A are deferred until such time as the contributor would have completed 25 years of service had he or she remained active in service.

[510]*510On or about February 5, 1970, decedent filed a designation of beneficiary stating that in the event of her death in active service after attaining eligibility for her retirement, the amount payable under Option I of section B20-46.0 of chapter 20 of the Administrative Code would be payable in equal shares to her son Jeffrey Simon and her daughter Ellen N. Sandor.

In response to decedent’s letter dated January 20, 1975 requesting information concerning when she would have achieved 25 years of service with the board of education, the retirement system by Anita Tricarico wrote as follows:

“September 22, 1975
“Based on your service allowance of 16 years, 4 months and 20 days as of March 1, 1970, your total service retirement credit will amount to 21 years, 11 months and 20 days on October 1, 1975.
“You will complete 25 years of city service on October 11, 1978.”
On November 17, 1976 decedent Mathilda Simon executed an application for final service retirement. In said application decedent elected to cancel her Plan A election in order to receive immediate payments of a lesser retirement allowance under the provisions of Plan B; that is, the age 55 pension plan. In said application, decedent further specified her desire to retire from active service effective as of January 31, 1977. At the time of the filing of this application, decedent was over the age of 55 years but had not completed 25 years of New York City service.

The relevant language of the application reads as follows:

“To the Teachers’ Retirement Board:

“In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 20, of the Administrative Code of the City of New York, I hereby make application for retirement from active ser[511]*511vice effective the 31 day of January, 1977 or the date immediately following the day of receipt of this application in the event that the day of receipt is subsequent to the date herein mentioned.

“Your retirement allowance and benefits payable to-your beneficiary will be determined under the selection you make on this application. The effective date of your retirement is the day stated above or the day preceding your death, whichever day occurs first.

“I understand that if I am a participant under Plan A, but have not attained Age 55 or have not completed the required 25 years of New York City service, the payment of my retirement allowance will be deferred until the date on which both requirements are met. However, if I have attained Age 55 but have not completed 25 years of New York City (purchased outside service is not, under law, City service) service, I may before the effective date of my retirement cancel Plan A and receive immediate payment of a reduced retirement allowance under Plan B.”

In addition, decedent checked a box on the application form and subscribed to the following:

“to be used by members who wish to cancel
PLAN A IN ORDER TO RECEIVE AN IMMEDIATE RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE
“Since I am not eligible for the immediate payment of a retirement allowance under Plan A (The 20 Year Pension Plan) I elect to cancel my present Plan A election and to receive an immediate payment of a lesser retirement allowance under the provisions of Plan B (Age 55 Pension Plan).
/s/ Mathilda Simon Signature of Applicant”

Decedent Mathilda Simon also selected the maximum retirement allowance on page three of the application for [512]*512final service retirement. The relevant language of this section of the application reads as follows:

“selection of maximum retirement allowance
Date ....11/17., 1976
“I desire to have the maximum allowance payable during my life without optional modification. This selection will supersede any and all previous selections which may have been filed by me.
[Signature] Mathilda Simon”

Below the box providing for selection of maximum retirement allowance are the instructions which are printed alongside the optional choices. It reads as follows: “consider this matter carefully as no change in optional selection may be made on or after the date on which your retirement allowance begins.”

On page one of the application for final service retirement, paragraph E provides as follows: “E.

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Related

King v. New York City Employees Retirement System
212 F. Supp. 3d 371 (E.D. New York, 2016)
Cannon v. Ulster County Board of Cooperative Educational Services
155 A.D.2d 846 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1989)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
107 Misc. 2d 508, 435 N.Y.S.2d 455, 1980 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2880, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/greene-v-teachers-retirement-system-nysupct-1980.