Lab
retirees to file appeal
The
Independent Aug. 4, 2011
A Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory retiree group expects to file a legal
appeal by Monday in hopes of overturning a judge's ruling that they are not
entitled to return to University of California medical insurance programs.
The group, called UC Livermore Lab Retirees Group, represents some but not all
Laboratory retirees. It is separate from the retiree association that is
still affiliated with the Laboratory, although many retirees are members of
both organizations.
Laboratory retirees were removed from UC medical coverage in 2008 when a new
contractor took over management of the Laboratory for the National Nuclear
Security Administration, which is part of the U.S. Department of Energy.
The new contractor, Lawrence Livermore National Security, offers medical
insurance that is consistent with industrial standards, which the retirees find
more complicated, less reliable and in many cases more expensive than the
university programs they formerly belonged to.
The retirees filed suit against the University a year ago on the grounds that there
was at least an implied contract to continue them in the medical benefits
programs that were still being offered to retirees from the UC campuses.
In May of this year, Judge Frank Roesch of Superior Court in Oakland ruled in
the University's favor, finding that the retirees' attorneys had failed to
demonstrate any contractual commitment to continue the relationship.
The retirees have raised about $26,000 to support the appeal, according to Joe
Requa, head of the group. In the past, he has estimated that the appeal
might take about a year, and the group needs to raise about $50,000 more to
continue the legal process, he said.
The appeal has to be filed by Monday, August 8, if the retirees are to have a
chance of benefiting from a case now before the California Supreme Court.
That case has to do with preserving Orange County employee medical benefits in
the face of budget cuts. If a Supreme Court ruling favors the
county employees, the Livermore retirees' appeal may be strengthened, the
group's attorneys believe.
After Monday, August 8, Roesch's decision would be final and the Orange County decision would have no impact.