[brief] Dear [...]:  Pursuant to Rule 2:6-2(b), please accept this letter brief and appendix in support of my appeal in this matter.  TABLE OF CONTENTS  PRELIMINARY STATEMENT .................................................................  2  PROCEDURAL HISTORY ........................................................................  4  STATEMENT OF FACTS .......................................................................  6  LEGAL ARGUMENT .............................................................................  9  THE DECISION OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM SHOULD BE OVERTURNED ..............................................................  9  a) Equitable estoppel ........................................................................... 10 b) Precedent for granting the relief requested based on general equitable considerations ........................................ 11 c) Medical leave in the months before my retirement supports the relief requested ............................................................ 14 d) Penalty imposed by the Board on me for the error of my former employer is too severe .................................................. 14 e) Minimal cost to purchase two months of service credits in this case ($614.72) will not undermine the financial integrity of the [...] fund ............................................................ 16 f) Due process .................................................................................... 17 g) Service time vs. service credit ........................................................ 18 h) Improper use of N.J.S.A. 43:15A-54 .............................................. 18 i) DBP has improperly acted as my adversary in this case ............. 19 CONCLUSION .................................................................................... 19 and 20 ### TABLE OF DECISIONS ON APPEAL | Document Name | Date | Appendix Page Number | |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------|----------------------| | Decision of the [...] ("Board") affirming the Board’s denial of the requests to purchase [...] ([...]) service credit and for an administrative hearing | 8/17/23 | Pa93 to Pa97 | ### APPENDIX | Description | Date | Appendix Page Number | |----------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|----------------------| | Estimate of retirement benefits sent by the [...] ("[...]") to [...] | May 25, 2021 | Pa1 | | Medical Leave Checklist | September 9, 2021 | Pa4 to Pa5 | | Certification of [...] | September 14, 2021 | Pa8 | | Gmail sent by the [...] confirming application for retirement of [...] | November 24, 2021 | Pa11 | | Application for retirement of [...] | November 24, 2021 | Pa12 to Pa13 | | Certification of service and final salary sent by the [...] to [...] | December 9, 2021 | Pa14 to Pa15 | | Quotation of retirement benefits sent by the [...] to [...] | December 28, 2021 | Pa16 to Pa18 | | Emails exchanged between [...], Administrative Specialist, Human Resources Division, [...], and [...] | January 7, 2022 through January 19, 2022 | Pa19 to Pa25 | | Description | Date | Page Numbers | |----------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|--------------| | Letter from the [...] confirming that the Board approved the application of [...] for retirement effective February 1, 2022 | January 19, 2022 | Pa26 | | Gmail from [...], Administrative Specialist, Human Resources Division, [...], to [...] confirming January 31, 2022 exit interview | January 28, 2022 | Pa27 | | Checklist for exit interview of [...] | January 31, 2011 | Pa28 to Pa31 | | Emails from the [...] to [...] concerning benefits | February 2, 2022 and February 3, 2022 | Pa32 to Pa33 | | Statements of earnings and deductions of [...] for pay periods ending 10/8/21 and 2/11/22 | February 18, 2022 | Pa34 to Pa35 | | Statement from the [...] regarding the retirement benefits of [...] | February 28, 2022 | Pa36 | | Emails from [...], Administrative Specialist, Human Resources Division, [...], to [...] regarding health benefits | March 2, 2022 | Pa37 to Pa41 | | Letter from the [...] notifying [...] that a post-retirement audit of her account resulted in the recalculation of her retirement benefits | July 19, 2022 | Pa42 | | Letter from [...], Pensions Benefits Specialist I, [...], to [...] concerning the recalculation of her retirement | July 22, 2022 | Pa43 | | Description | Date | Pages | |----------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|-------------| | Benefits, the reduction of her monthly pension benefit and the loss of her life insurance benefit | | | | Emails exchanged between [...], Pensions Benefits Specialist I, [...], and [...] | August 1, 2022 through August 22, 2022 | Pa44 to Pa60 | | Revised statement from the [...] to [...] concerning her retirement benefits | August 15, 2022 | Pa61 | | Appeal by [...] of the recalculation of her retirement benefits by the [...] | August 18, 2022 | Pa62 to Pa68 | | Memorandum from [...], Administrative Specialist, Human Resources Division, [...], in support of appeal of [...] | December 1, 2022 | Pa69 | | Emails exchanged between [...], Pensions Benefits Specialist I, [...], and [...] regarding the status of her appeal of the recalculation of her retirement benefits | October 18, 2022 and October 19, 2022 | Pa70 to Pa71 | | Denial of appeal by the [...] | October 27, 2022 | Pa72 | | Gmails exchanged between [...] and [...], Administrative Specialist 3, Human Resources Division, [...], concerning appeal of the recalculation of retirement benefits | November 10, 2022 through November 15, 2022 | Pa74 to Pa76 | | Letter from [...] to [...], Esq., [...] Secretary, [...], appealing the October 27, 2022 decision of the [...] | December 9, 2022 | Pa77 to Pa78 | | Email from [...], Esq., [...] Secretary, [...], to [...] advising her that her request to purchase service credits will be considered at the | January 31, 2023 | Pa79 | | Event Description | Date | Pages | |----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|-------| | March 15, 2023 meeting of the Board | | | | Letter from [...], Esq., counsel for [...], to [...], Esq., [...] Secretary, [...], concerning the appeal of the recalculation of the service credits of [...] | April 28, 2023 | Pa80 to Pa87 | | Decision of the Board denying the requests of [...] to purchase [...] service credits and for an administrative hearing | June 5, 2023 | Pa88 to Pa90 | | Appeal of [...] to the June 5, 2023 decision of the [...] denying her requests to purchase [...] service credits and for an administrative hearing | July 5, 2023 | Pa91 to Pa92 | | Final decision of the Board affirming the July 5, 2023 decision of the Board denying the requests of [...] for an administrative hearing and to purchase [...] service credits | August 17, 2023 | Pa93 to Pa97 | | Notice of Appeal | September 26, 2023 | Pa98 to Pa106 | | Amended Notice of Appeal | October 26, 2023 | Pa107 to Pa113 | | Chiappini v. Board of Trustees of [...], 2011 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 2062 (App. Div. 2011) | July 29, 2011 | Pa114 to Pa121 | | In re Evans [...] Enrollment Eligibility, 2018 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1767 (App. Div. 2018) | July 24, 2018 | Pa122 to Pa125 | | Poosikian v. Division of Pension and Benefits, 2021 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 319 (App. Div. 2021) | February 26, 2022 | Pa126 to Pa129 | | Cases/Other Authority | Category | Brief Page Number | |--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|-------------------| | Burkhart v. [...], 158 N.J. Super. 414 (App. Div. 1978) | Case law | 9, 18 | | Chiappini v. Board of Trustees of [...], 2011 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 2062 (App. Div. 2011) | Case law | 14, 15 | | Fasolo v. Board of Trustees of Division of Pensions of New Jersey Treasury, 190 N.J. Super. 573 (App. Div. 1983) | Case law | 15 | | Geller v. Department of the Treasury, 53 N.J. 591 (1969) | Case law | 9, 15, 18, 19 | | Hipsher v. Los Angelis County Employees Retirement Association, 58 Cal. App. 5th 671, 272 Cal. Rptr. 3d 664, 2020 Cal. App. LEXIS 1184, 2020 WL 7350585 (Cal. App. 2020) | Case law | 17 | | Hughes v. [...], 2011 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 195 (Admin. Law 2011) | Case law | 16 | | Indursky v. Board, 137 N.J. Super. 335 (App. Div. 1975) | Case law | 15 | | In re Evans [...] Enrollment Eligibility, 2018 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1767 (App. Div. 2018) | Case law | 12, 13, 14 | | In re Frank, 2007 WL 2005083 (App. Div. 2007) | Case law | 11, 15 | | Middletown Township Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local No. 124 v. Township of Middletown, 162 N.J. 361 (2000) | Case law | 11 | | Krayniak v. Board of Trustees of the Public Employees’ Retirement | Case law | 16 | | Case Name | Source | Type | Pages | |--------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|------------|-------| | System, 412 N.J. Super. 232 (App Div. 2010) | | Case law | 13 and 14 | | Poosikian v. [...], 2021 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 319 (App. Div. 2021) | | Case law | 16 | | Roselle v. [...], 2022 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 933 (Admin. Law 2022) | | Case law | 11 | | Skulski v. Nolan, 68 N.J. 179 (1975) | | Case law | 19 | | Stone v. Township of Old Bridge, 111 N.J. 110 (1988) | | Case law | 11 | | Summer Cottagers’ Association v. Cape May, 19 N.J. 493 (1955) | | Case law | 10, 17, 19 | | N.J.A.C. 17:2-5.1 | Administrative Code | | | | N.J.S.A. 43:15A-7(d) | Statute | | 13 | | N.J.S.A. 43:15A-54 | Statute | | 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, 18 |