The State Universities Annuitants Association last week announced its intention to become the sixth group to file a lawsuit challenge against changes in state pension plans made by legislators last year.
SUAA, after hiring Chicago law firm Maduff and Maduff, said it planned to file its challenge in Champaign County, using plaintiffs who reside within the county.
So far, two of the statewide lawsuits have been filed in Cook County and three in Sangamon County.
“The fiscal impact on this community alone is monumental,” said a news release on the SUAA website. “In addition, the plaintiffs are representative of all who are currently contributing to the State Universities Retirement System and those, of course, who are now beneficiaries.”
The release also noted the need for the individual suit, “considering that the State Universities Retirement System has certain distinctions that sets this system apart from the others.”
The planned lawsuit will file complaints under the pensions clause and the contracts clause in the Illinois Constitution. Because SURS participants were compelled to make an irrevocable election in the years 1999-2001, a claim will be made as a violation under contract law.
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