| Date: | 10/05/2021 |
|---|---|
| Organization: | Division of Administrative Law Appeals |
| Docket Number: | CR-21-369 |
In the Matter of Enrollment in Retirement Plus
and 62 individual appeals1
Dated: October 5, 2021
Concerning: all consolidated appeals
Approximately 300 appeals pending before the Division of Administrative Law Appeals (DALA) present disputes over whether members of the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System (MTRS) are entitled to be enrolled in the benefits program known as Retirement Plus. G.L. c. 32, § 5(4). This order will refer to those appeals as the “Retirement Plus appeals.” The purpose of the order is to commence an effort to adjudicate the Retirement Plus appeals in a streamlined and cohesive manner.
The Retirement Plus appeals reflect the following essential background. Participants in Retirement Plus make enlarged retirement contributions of 11% and enjoy advantageous retirement-allowance computations. G.L. c. 32, § 5(4).2 The statute enacting Retirement Plus prescribed three methods by which teachers could become enrolled in the program. Enrollment was automatic and mandatory for individuals hired as teachers on or after July 1, 2001 (kick-off date). Individuals already serving as teachers on the kick-off date received a six-month window, from January to June of 2001, to “elect” to participate. Individuals serving in other retirement systems and transferring into MTRS after the kick-off date received a 180-day election window, the effective start date of which is a matter of contention.3
No statute or regulation defines the method by which a teacher is required to “elect” to participate in Retirement Plus. MTRS has, however, prepared specific, instruction-bearing “election forms” for this purpose. In 2001, MTRS endeavored to mail election forms to all individuals then serving as teachers. Thereafter, MTRS’s practice has been to mail election forms to all individuals transferring into MTRS from other retirement systems.
MTRS has notified various teachers that, according to MTRS’s records, those teachers are not enrolled in Retirement Plus because they failed to sign up by the applicable deadline.The Retirement Plus appeals concern such teachers. They involve some individuals who already were teachers as of the kick-off date, and some who transferred into MTRS from other retirement systems at later dates. The adjudication of the Retirement Plus appeals is underway, primarily through orders to show cause.
In some of the Retirement Plus appeals, the petitioners are represented by counsel affiliated with the Massachusetts Teachers’ Association (MTA). At this juncture, only appeals in which MTA has appeared are being consolidated.
It appears that many Retirement Plus appeals turn on undisputed material facts. It also appears that a small number of analytical issues will be decisive of many Retirement Plus appeals. Accordingly, it may be possible to adjudicate a large number of Retirement Plus appeals through a small number of decisions that (a) set forth the analysis applicable to a particular category of appeals, and (b) identify, without great elaboration, the appeals belonging to that analytical category. Once any appeals are resolved in this fashion, the parties will be free to pursue appellate proceedings in other forums.
Consolidated proceedings of this nature have the potential to resolve a large number of Retirement Plus appeals both fairly and much more efficiently than through only case-by-case filings, hearings, and decisions. These proceedings will require significant assistance and feedback from the parties, and especially from counsel to MTRS and MTA.
For the foregoing reasons, it is hereby ORDERED as follows:
1. The appeals listed in Appendix A (consolidated appeals) are hereby consolidated, subject to the provisions of paragraphs 2-5. From time to time, additional Retirement Plus appeals may be consolidated into these proceedings subject to the same provisions.
2. Future submissions concerning any of the consolidated appeals shall bear the case caption In the Matter of Enrollment in Retirement Plus, No. CR-21-369, and shall note prominently whether the submission concerns “all consolidated appeals” or specific appeals only, identified by docket number(s).
3. DALA will maintain submissions concerning all consolidated appeals in the case file numbered CR-21-369. Submissions relating only to specific appeals will be placed in the case files of those appeals.
4. A notice will be placed in the file of each of the consolidated appeals stating that additional papers relevant to the appeal are filed in the case file numbered CR-21-369. The form of the notice appears in Appendix B.
5. Orders concerning the consolidated appeals will be served by email, subject to reconsideration if any parties establish that they are unable to obtain access to an email account. 801 C.M.R. § 1.01(4)(c).
6. By December 6, 2021, counsel to MTRS and MTA shall submit a joint memorandum addressing the following points:
(a) Appendix C is a list of Retirement Plus appeals (as defined supra). MTRS shall identify in the joint memorandum any additional Retirement Plus appeals of which it is aware. MTRS shall also state whether, in its view, any of the appeals listed in Appendix C is not a Retirement Plus appeal, or has been resolved.
(b) Appendix A, which lists the consolidated appeals, is intended to capture the Retirement Plus appeals in which MTA has appeared. MTA shall identify in the joint memorandum any appeals missing from Appendix A or appearing on it in error.
(c) The parties shall identify in the joint memorandum any other errors appearing in Appendixes A and C.
(d) The involvement of proficient counsel tends to advance a litigant’s ability to obtain a fair and effective adjudication of his or her rights. Special efficiencies are achieved when the same proficient counsel represents
many or all parties sharing common interests in consolidated, multi-party proceedings. All sides to these proceedings—especially the teachers that MTRS and MTA both serve—will therefore benefit if MTA’s counsel is
able to appear on behalf of additional petitioners in additional Retirement Plus appeals. MTA’s counsel shall therefore state in the joint memorandum whether MTA has made efforts to assume representation of such additional petitioners.(e) The parties are invited to propose any additional procedural measures that, in their view, may facilitate the fair and efficient adjudication of the Retirement Plus appeals.
(f) The parties are invited to propose, jointly or separately, analytical “buckets” of Retirement Plus cases that may be decided by a shared legal analysis. For example, it will likely be necessary to divide the Retirement
Plus cases into those involving teachers who were MTRS members as of the kick-off date and those involving teachers who transferred into MTRS at later dates. It also will probably be necessary to sub-divide each the
foregoing categories.
7. A status conference is scheduled for December 13, 2021. It will take place on a videoconferencing platform. In the December 6, 2021 joint memorandum, the parties shall identify the individuals who will appear for them at the conference by names and email addresses.
8. The procedures established in this order are intended to facilitate the “speedy and fair disposition,” G.L. c. 7, § 4H, of numerous pending appeals, consistent with the various statutes and regulations governing DALA proceedings. See G.L. c. 30A; G.L. c. 32, § 16(4); 801 C.M.R. § 1.01. The parties shall lodge prompt objections, in the December 6, 2021 joint memorandum or thereafter, if in their view the procedures employed in these consolidated proceedings abridge the substantive rights of any party.
Division of Administrative Law Appeals
Yakov Malkiel
Administrative Magistrate
Served by email on:
Ashley Walter, Esq. (for the petitioners)
James O’Leary, Esq. (for MTRS)
Copy by email to:
Uyen M. Tran, Esq. (Contributory Retirement Appeals Board)
Amanda Boczanowski, 14-479
Teresa Vidrine, 14-488
Elizabeth Wiseman, 15-219
Laura Dennison, 15-621
Doria Habib, 16-53
Erin Haugh, 16-62
Josh Takis, 16-84
Julie Barkin, 16-229
Tara Veteramo, 17-442
Stephaanie Zuidema, 17-469
Nancy Marley Nunes, 17-559
Emily Fanaras-Chan, 17-619
Jennifer Lyons, 17-683
Alexandre Alvarez, 17-835
James Flynn, 18-12
Gaston Levesque, 18-103
Erin Smith, 18-107
Laura Faherty, 18-127
Eliza Cummings, 18-172
Kerry Gallagher, 18-178
Brett Ordway, 18-189
Jessica Hajjar, 18-197
Kevin Howe, 18-199
Patricia Hale, 18-206
Eric Grasso, 18-209
Laurie Delaney, 18-213
Tammy Bailey, 18-217
Joyce Sioch, 18-249
Susan Labelle, 18-293
Alexandra M. Leonard, 18-381
Michelle Nicholas, 18-474
Kathleen Marble, 18-478
Jocelyn Allan, 18-599
Nadine Kariotis, 18-623
Jeremy Folster, 18-625
Karal Gartsu, 19-82
Lisa Lombardi, 19-95
Joseph Scarbo, 19-107
Jessica Coons, 19-128
Jennifer Kelly, 19-137
Sarah Hickey, 19-142
Julie Derderian, 19-175
John Cross, 19-176
Emily Borek, 19-357
Tracie Tavares, 19-358
Heather Harris-Keddy, 19-408
Julia Tringuk, 19-443
Gabriella Gonzalez, 19-470
Marlee Cassel, 19-479
Jennifer Fioretti, 19-524
Laura Walley, 20-4
Rebecca Powell, 20-8
Keveny Glynn, 20-16
Natalie Thompson, 20-23
Rachel Doring, 20-99
James Graffam, 20-106
Andrew Bernard, 20-127
Peter Alexopoulos, 20-134
Barbara Goydas, 20-177
Meredith Friend, 20-264
Sonya Dugan, 20-266
Cheryl Mantia, 20-280
______________________________________________________________
* I.e., Retirement Plus appeals in which MTA has appeared.
Middlesex, ss. Division of Administrative Law Appeals
<<Petitioner>>
Petitioner, No. <<Docket>>
v. Dated: October 5, 2021
Massachusetts Teachers Retirement
System,
Respondent
NOTICE
Additional submissions concerning this appeal are filed In the Matter of Enrollment in Retirement Plus, No. CR-21-369.
Division of Administrative Law Appeals
Yakov Malkiel
Administrative Magistrate
Amanda Boczanowski, 14-479
Teresa Vidrine, 14-488
Cynthia Minezzi, 14-489
Valter Lourenco, 15-215
Elizabeth Wiseman, 15-219
Barbara Peskin, 15-486
Tory Boepple, 15-586
Laura Dennison, 15-621
Diane Buonopane, 15-649
Doria Habib, 16-53
Erin Haugh, 16-62
David Joseph, 16-71
Jaime Kimenker, 16-76
Josh Takis, 16-84
Molly Curry, 16-113
Julie Barkin, 16-229
Shelley Rego, 16-237
Erica Joyce, 16-292
Christina Todd, 16-391
Emily Fanaras-Chan, 17-36
Emily Holleran, 17-77
Anna Corbett, 17-92
Susanna Scafidi, 17-120
Alyssa Toner, 17-141
Kelly Feurt, 17-207
Derek Brennan, 17-243
Melissa Ogden, 17-264
Nathaniel Turner, 17-292
Steven Mucci, 17-296
Kristen Almquist-Cevallos, 17-299
Rebecca Sacco, 17-302
Kristen Maloney, 17-303
Peter Sheridan, 17-311
Jessica Johnson, 17-312
Dawn Davis, 17-314
Derek Medeiros, 17-321
Eric Hawkes, 17-322
Adam McCusker, 17-323
Jennifer Pignone, 17-324
Lara Taylor, 17-330
Jennifer Lynch, 17-333
Sarah Chase (Graves), 17-336
Eric Gervais, 17-340
Robert Clark, 17-341
Kathleen Martin, 17-343
Stephanie Poh, 17-356
Erica Mellon, 17-357
Kathryn Richerson, 17-359
Matthew Finn, 17-360
Samantha Maio, 17-365
Ingeborg Kuhlka, 17-366
Sandra Nilson, 17-380
Mary Raymond, 17-382
Hope Tripp, 17-384
Kimberly Seaver, 17-386
Cara Maloney, 17-396
Marla Delacruz-Ballard, 17-399
Angela Vandal, 17-403
Rowena Mattson, 17-408
Annie Rutledge, 17-413
Amy Ball, 17-414
Lori Simpson, 17-415
Peter Zopes, 17-417
Jill McCarthy, 17-421
Maura Cordon, 17-425
Sharon Nieves, 17-432
Laura Shay, 17-439
Nicholas Robin, 17-441
Tara Veteramo, 17-442
Christopher Gildea, 17-443
Michelle Heim-Balch, 17-449
Gail Duffy, 17-450
Bonnie Wren-Burgess, 17-451
Lisa Wright, 17-464
Stephaanie Zuidema, 17-469
Megan O’Loughlin, 17-470
Caroline Troy, 17-475
Jeffrey Capuzziello, 17-482
Lauren Hanlon, 17-483
Emma Fog, 17-485
Andrew Garlick, 17-486
Kristen Jensen, 17-489
Maureen Morelli, 17-494
Vanessa Irving Maloney, 17-496
Elizabeth Backer Walkin, 17-503
Shelly Boisvert, 17-508
Victoria Prince, 17-514
Kristina Benecke, 17-515
Noreen D’Andrea, 17-525
Kelley Long, 17-526
Janelle DeMarchant, 17-527
Mary Payne, 17-531
Marybeth O’Brien, 17-532
Kimberley McCormack, 17-533
Kelly McAvoy, 17-534
Karly Ronan, 17-536
Brenda Morrison, 17-537
Mark Mosher, 17-543
John Mathews, 17-545
Dawn Bowler, 17-547
Marla Yanovitch, 17-550
Allison MacDonald, 17-558
Nancy Marley Nunes, 17-559
Katie Lindley Belois, 17-563
Josie D’Elia, 17-575
Barbara Walsh, 17-578
Tara Forrest, 17-583
Anne Murphy, 17-587
Ramon Cosme, 17-591
Timothy Parachojuk, 17-592
Carmela Nazon Guilloteau, 17-596
Kathleen Firlings, 17-597
Kristen Thomas, 17-600
Kevin Benecke, 17-602
Kaitlin Mucciarone, 17-611
Jeffrey Caritey, 17-615
Jillian Middlemiss, 17-616
Emily Fanaras-Chan, 17-619
Joann Severance, 17-620
Robert Zollo, 17-621
Asya Shestopal, 17-622
Joseph Lento, 17-624
Danielle Lambert, 17-626
Margaret Gleason, 17-641
Anna Tarshish, 17-660
Melissa Stellato, 17-669
Kristen Clifford, 17-671
Daniel Georgette, 17-675
Heidi Ousler Lang, 17-676
Kelly Gallant-Hovespian, 17-681
Inna Belenky, 17-682
Jennifer Lyons, 17-683
Lisa Rasanen, 17-685
Debra Price, 17-690
Laurie Berard, 17-691
Jessica Peabody, 17-692
Kristen Grange, 17-696
Derek Morrison, 17-700
Rebecca Imming, 17-701
Shawn Thomas, 17-704
Alyssa Foy, 17-714
Lisa Ryder, 17-717
Jean Poulin, 17-719
Micaela Shea, 17-721
William Gauthier, 17-728
Christine Crocker, 17-735
Laura Cronin, 17-741
Elizabeth Fife, 17-743
Shelby Whalen, 17-744
Karen Stackpole, 17-748
James Walsh, 17-751
Peter Marifone, 17-752
Jacquelyn Connolly, 17-763
Kathleen Robinson, 17-769
Mark Henry, 17-770
Annmarie Fennelly, 17-771
Elise McHugh, 17-772
Reyne Booth, 17-774
Karen Toro, 17-784
Conor Brosnan, 17-788
Jason Hoye, 17-789
Laurie Lawlor, 17-790
Kate Reed, 17-797
Mary Coppinger-Fraser, 17-810
Romona Norris, 17-814
Charlotte Mugnier, 17-833
Alexandre Alvarez, 17-835
Heather Geary, 17-836
Patricia Caron, 17-837
Mark Geoffrey, 17-910
Jean Kirchner, 17-917
Jessie Fournier, 17-919
Eric Murray, 17-920
Michelle Simon, 17-921
Doreen Bashista, 17-922
Melissa Hotchkiss, 17-923
Gabrielle Agron, 17-924
Lisa Meldon, 17-927
Lisa Luongo, 17-954
James Flynn, 18-12
Cara Letendre, 18-30
Debbie Price, 18-32
Michael Keaney, 18-36
JoAnn Orluk, 18-43
Cynthia Paris, 18-44
Sally Nixon, 18-46
Tracy Crowley, 18-47
Chris Warren, 18-51
Anna Wythe, 18-52
Georgina Chavez, 18-59
Gaston Levesque, 18-103
Allyson Cournoyer, 18-104
Francis Friedman, 18-106
Erin Smith, 18-107
Marisol Rivas-Nunez, 18-108
Jennifer Devlin, 18-109
Kristen Feltcherr, 18-113
Jacqui Cohenno, 18-117
Kathleen Marandola, 18-120
Kara Yuen, 18-122
Kara Jagodzinski, 18-123
Laura Faherty, 18-127
Elaine Spearing, 18-128
Carol Crowe, 18-135
Patricia Munzner, 18-138
Bruce Moulthrop, 18-139
Andrea Koenig, 18-141
Anne Pieterse, 18-146
David Clark II, 18-147
Caren Delahunt Baker, 18-148
Dorothy Lorraine Tower, 18-149
Audrey Healey, 18-169
Eliza Cummings, 18-172
Kerry Gallagher, 18-178
Donna Gomes, 18-180
Yusra Khan, 18-181
Ryan Sullivan, 18-187
Brett Ordway, 18-189
Sharon Alwardt, 18-196
Jessica Hajjar, 18-197
Kevin Howe, 18-199
Randi Murray, 18-202
Jaclyn Merullo, 18-205
Patricia Hale, 18-206
Maribeth Lalli, 18-208
Eric Grasso, 18-209
Laurie Delaney, 18-213
Caitlan Hannigan, 18-214
Tammy Bailey, 18-217
Joyce Sioch, 18-249
Kellie Bayramshian, 18-255
Susan Labelle, 18-293
Kathleen Joy Laufer, 18-368
Alexandra M. Leonard, 18-381
Michelle Nicholas, 18-474
Kathleen Marble, 18-478
Rebecca St. Martin, 18-507
Jocelyn Allan, 18-599
Nadine Kariotis, 18-623
Jeremy Folster, 18-625
Eva Moss, 18-643
Timothy Collins, 19-48
Julie Erwin, 19-79
Karal Gartsu, 19-82
Lisa Lombardi, 19-95
Joseph Scarbo, 19-107
Jessica Coons, 19-128
Jennifer Kelly, 19-137
Sarah Hickey, 19-142
Rachel Aldridge, 19-148
Kelly Keaton, 19-158
Julie Derderian, 19-175
John Cross, 19-176
Paula McKeen, 19-179
Kimberly Gasque, 19-184
Anne Smith, 19-199
Brenna Ferrick, 19-223
Karl Michalik, 19-264
Jennifer Pelletier, 19-301
Robert Vandenabeele, 19-317
Emily Trzaskos, 19-324
Lyn O’Neil, 19-331
Emily Borek, 19-357
Tracie Tavares, 19-358
Maureen Trowbridge, 19-359
Robert Teehan, 19-366
Lin Ann Hurchinson, 19-402
Heather Harris-Keddy, 19-408
Samantha Asmar, 19-434
Laurren Haskins, 19-441
Julia Tringuk, 19-443
Jacob Schutz, 19-455
Gabriella Gonzalez, 19-470
Marlee Cassel, 19-479
Treva Tolley, 19-511
Jennifer Fioretti, 19-524
Taylor Mathias, 19-534
Emily Dannen, 19-556
Katelyn Nocella, 19-593
Laura Walley, 20-4
Rebecca Powell, 20-8
Keveny Glynn, 20-16
Natalie Thompson, 20-23
Rachel Doring, 20-99
James Graffam, 20-106
Andrew Bernard, 20-127
Peter Alexopoulos, 20-134
Jennifer Ethier, 20-148
Nicole Pellegrini, 20-161
Nicole Bell, 20-165
Barbara Goydas, 20-177
Donald Shelters, 20-205
Danielle Kemsley, 20-227
Meredith Friend, 20-264
Sonya Dugan, 20-266
Cheryl Mantia, 20-280
Stephanie Bizeur, 20-328
Gina Flanagan, 20-397
Daryn Starkey, 20-402
Tara Boudreau, 20-456
James Lutz Jr., 21-75
Martin Keane, 21-76
William Woodward, 21-79
