Source: http://masscases.com/cases/sjc/312/312mass115.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 08:41:56+00:00

Document:
FREDERICK O. DAVIS & others vs. RETIREMENT BOARD OF THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX.
The provisions of G. L. c. 32, Section 22 (3), related only to the eligibility of employees of a county to join its retirement system established under Sections 20-25, and did not operate to terminate the existing membership therein of a veteran of the World War upon the adoption by that county of Sections 56-60, providing for noncontributory retirement allowances for veterans.
Even if a member of a county retirement system ever had had a right to withdraw from membership, the exercise of such right was barred by his acceptance of the benefits of the system for a period of sixteen years.
A county was not entitled to require contributory payments by an employee on the alleged ground that he was a member of either its original retirement system established under G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 32, Sections 20-25, or of the revised system established under Sections 20-25I appearing in St. 1936, c. 400, Section 1, where it appeared that he was a veteran of the World War and became an employee of the county at a time when the original system was in effect but after Sections 56-60 had become effective in that county, so that he was prevented from becoming a member of the original system by Section 22 (3); and that, upon the subsequent establishment of the revised system, he had not become a member of that system by making the application and waiver required by its Section 21 (1) (c).
Upon a report, without decree, of a suit in equity by a county employee seeking to recover deductions made from his pay on the alleged ground that he was a member of the county retirement system, and to have further deductions enjoined, it was unnecessary to order such an injunction in view of a decision by this court that the plaintiff was not a member of the system and of the consequent unlikelihood that further deductions would be made.
A veteran less than fifty-five years old, who entered the employ of a county on July 19, 1937, was not entitled to the benefits of G. L. (Ter. Ed. c. 32, Sections 56-60, providing for noncontributory retirement allowances for veterans, and became a member of the retirement system in effect in that county under Sections 20-25I, as inserted by St. 1936, c. 400, Section 1, by virtue of Section 21 (1) (a).
BILL IN EQUITY, filed in the Superior Court on May 1, 1941.
The case was reported by Leary, J., and in this court was submitted on briefs.
R. F. Bradford, District Attorney, for the defendants.
RONAN, J. The plaintiffs, employees of Middlesex County and veterans of the World War, allege that they are entitled to the noncontributory retirement benefits for such veterans by virtue of G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 32, Sections 56-60, but that the defendant Howard, the county treasurer, acting under the directions of those defendants who comprise the county retirement board, has made deductions from their compensation on the ground that they are members of the county retirement systems as required by the provisions of said systems. G. L. c. 32, Sections 20-25; G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 32, Sections 20-25I, as inserted by St. 1936, c. 400, Section 1, together with amendments. They seek to enjoin the defendants from making further deductions and for an order requiring the payment to them of the deductions already made. In the Superior Court, the parties agreed upon the facts, and the judge, without entering any decree, reported the case for the determination of this court.
Retirement System, 294 Mass. 577. Williams v. Contributory Retirement Appeal Board, 304 Mass. 601.
A revised county retirement system was established by St. 1936, c. 400, Section 1, (see now G. L. [Ter. Ed.] c. 32, Sections 20-25I, with amendments,) and became effective in Middlesex County on January 1, 1937. Employees of the county on that date who were then "covered by any other pension or retirement law" were not eligible to membership in the revised system unless they made written application for membership and waived all benefits of all such other pension or retirement systems. G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 32, Section 21 (1) (b) (c), as inserted by St. 1936, c. 400, Section 1. These plaintiffs never filed any such application or waiver. They never became members of the revised system. Provision for the continuance of their membership in the original system was made in the revised system by authorizing the retirement board in the revised system to continue to operate, as to such members of the original system who did not elect to become members of the revised system, "such previously existing retirement system in accordance with the provisions of law relative thereto." G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 32, Section 25I. The employment of these six plaintiffs has been continuous since they last became employees, and so has their membership in the original retirement system. There is nothing in Litchfield v. Retirement Board of the County of Middlesex, 303 Mass. 473, that helps this group of plaintiffs because, in that case, none of the plaintiffs, all of whom were appointed court officers prior to January 1, 1937, the effective date in Middlesex County of St. 1936, c. 400, and who at the time of their appointment were eligible to a pension under what is now G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 32, Section 66, ever became a member of either the original or the revised county retirement system.
from the time they last entered the service of the county to receive all the benefits of the original retirement system, and they made no other demands until September 28, 1939, when they objected to any future deductions from their salaries and requested that their names be struck from the membership list of the county systems. If the plaintiffs, as they contend, had the right to withdraw their membership, they having accepted the benefits of the original retirement system for periods varying from sixteen to twenty years, depending upon the respective terms of their employment, and the county having assumed during these years whatever risk attached thereto, the exercise of such a right, if it ever existed, would be barred. Rights must be seasonably asserted and advanced if they are to be relied upon, and this is especially true in matters involving arrangements or contracts for the payment of disability or death benefits of a somewhat similar nature to those provided for in the county retirement systems. Sherman v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. 297 Mass. 330. Belbas v. New York Life Ins. Co. 300 Mass. 471. O'Neil v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. 300 Mass. 477. Woodman v. John Hancock Mutual Life Ins. Co. 300 Mass. 486. Hovhanesian v. New York Life Ins. Co. 310 Mass. 626.
a member of the county retirement system and is entitled to be reimbursed for all the deductions collected from him, together with interest from September 28, 1939, the date of demand for the payment of all deductions made prior thereto, and with interest upon all subsequent deductions from the date of the filing of the bill, with costs. Litchfield v. Retirement Board of the County of Middlesex, 303 Mass. 473. Caswell v. Somerville Retirement System, 306 Mass. 373. As we hold that Foristall is not a member of the county retirement system, it seems hardly likely that any further deductions from his compensation will be made and hence there is no need of an injunction. Decatur v. Auditor of Peabody, 251 Mass. 82. Saugus v. B. Perini & Sons, Inc. 305 Mass. 403.
The remaining plaintiff, Smith, began his employment with the county on July 19, 1937, and thereupon became a member of the county retirement system by virtue of G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 32, Section 21 (1) (a), as inserted by St. 1936, c. 400, Section 1, which requires all such employees, excepting those over fifty-five years of age, who become employees after the revised system became operative, to become members in the said system. We assume, as have the parties, that this plaintiff, as well as all the other plaintiffs, was under fifty-five years of age when he entered the service of the county. The Legislature had previously manifested an intent to abolish noncontributory pensions for future employees. G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 32, Section 60, as amended by St. 1937, c. 102, Section 2, which was in effect when Smith became an employee, provided that a veteran whose employment first began after June 30, 1937, should not be subject to said Sections 56-59, inclusive. The result is not affected by St. 1938, c. 452.
It follows that a final decree is to be entered dismissing the bill as to all the plaintiffs except Foristall, for whom the decree is to provide for the payment of the amounts deducted from his compensation, together with interest and costs.

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