Opinion ID: 3053286
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Henderson I and the 1978 Consent Decree

Text: In 1974, four female PERS members filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon against 1 Certain PERS members may opt to receive a lump-sum payment rather than monthly allowances. Or. Rev. Stat. § 238.315. EBNER v. OREGON 13123 the State of Oregon and the Board (“Henderson I”). The Henderson I plaintiffs alleged that the Board’s practice of using two sets of life expectancy tables, one for men and another for women, in calculating refund annuities for retired PERS members constituted sex discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The challenged practice resulted in lower monthly refund annuities for female PERS members, who were actuarially shown to live longer than their male counterparts. The district court issued an order holding that the use of sex-segregated life expectancy tables violated Title VII, but staying any injunctive relief pending appeal. While the Henderson I appeal was pending, the United States Supreme Court ruled in City of Los Angeles Dep’t of Water and Power v. Manhart, 435 U.S. 702 (1978), that Title VII’s prohibitions on sex-based discrimination applied to employee benefit plans. Following Manhart, the parties agreed to a settlement. Thus, the district court vacated its order and judgment and entered a consent decree on September 20, 1978. The consent decree provided:
1976 is set aside and this judgment is entered in lieu of it.
its the use of sex-segregated life expectancy tables in calculating “refund annuity” retirement allowances of employee members of the Oregon Public Employee Retirement System.
is permanently enjoined and restrained from the use of sex-segregated life expectancy tables in calculating “refund annuity” retirement allow- 13124 EBNER v. OREGON ance prospectively only for members retiring effective July 1, 1978, and thereafter, shall provide a monthly “refund annuity” retirement allowance to female members retiring after that date which is identical to the “refund annuity” retirement allowance males of the same age and amount received prior to that date. Defendant shall have no obligation to recalculate “refund annuity” retirement allowances to female mem- bers already retired or retiring before July 1, 1978. 4. Plaintiffs shall have and recover against defendants costs and counsel fees in the total amount of $7,000.00. The Henderson I consent decree remains in effect today.