Opinion ID: 2634607
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: The Relief Sought is Prospective and Injunctive

Text: {31} In oral argument before this Court, Gill conceded that under an Ex parte Young theory of relief, he could only seek an injunction to require payment of future retirement benefits, not retroactive damages for past benefits. This is an important distinction, both to the law and to the viability of Gill's claim. Nonetheless, PERB characterizes Gill's claim as a direct raid on the state's treasury, and argues that monetary relief of any kind is not available under the Ex parte Young doctrine. We acknowledge that even injunctive relief may have some impact upon the state treasury. Under the leading precedent, however, the pertinent inquiry is not whether the relief will require the incidental payment of state funds, but whether the relief will remedy future rather than past wrongs. See Elephant Butte, 160 F.3d at 611. {32} Ex parte Young actions for prospective relief have been allowed, even when such an award would have a substantial ancillary effect on the state treasury. ANR Pipeline, 150 F.3d at 1189; see Pennhurst State Sch. & Hosp. v. Halderman, 465 U.S. 89, 96, 104 S.Ct. 900, 79 L.Ed.2d 67 (1984) (citing Ex parte Young ). For example, in a case involving the denial of supplemental social security income benefits, the Tenth Circuit disallowed retroactive monetary reimbursement for federal benefits withheld by the state, but held that recipients could seek prospective injunctive relief against future withholdings. Johns v. Stewart, 57 F.3d 1544, 1553-55 (10th Cir.1995). Although courts should be circumspect regarding requests for monetary relief in an Ex parte Young action, relief that serves to directly bring about an end to a present violation of federal law is not barred by the Eleventh Amendment even though accompanied by a substantial ancillary effect on the state treasury. Harris, 264 F.3d at 1291 (quoting Papasan v. Allain, 478 U.S. 265, 278, 106 S.Ct. 2932, 92 L.Ed.2d 209 (1986)). {33} We also disagree that Gill's claim is a raid on the state treasury. The Volunteer Firefighter's Retirement Fund (VFRF), which PERB oversees, and from which it would pay Gill's claim, is segregated from the state general fund and from all other state retirement funds. See NMSA 1978, § 10-11A-3 (1997) (forming a separate retirement fund allocated on a static basis). Furthermore, unlike other PERA funds, the VFRF is not appropriated on an actuarial basis. VFRF's appropriation in any subsequent year will remain unchanged, regardless of whether PERB is forced to provide Gill with benefits. In fact, the state is prohibited from reclaiming any surplus funds in the VFRF at the end of the fiscal year. See Section 10-11A-3(B) (1983), and 2002 supp. comment on Appropriations; cf. NMSA 1978, § 21-8-5 (1953), and 2000 supp. comment on Appropriations (providing that unexpended university funds shall revert to the general fund). {34} We conclude, therefore, that Gill is seeking permissible prospective, injunctive relief that would only have an ancillary effect on the state treasury. He is asking the court to enjoin future violations of the ADEA. If compliance with federal law also brings some financial benefit to Gill, that hardly constitutes an impermissible raid on the state treasury, such that we would turn a blind eye to Gill's predicament and New Mexico's constitutional obligation to comply with federal law. Speaking very recently, the United States Supreme Court reinforced the prospective versus retrospective relief distinction, The Eleventh Amendment confirms the sovereign status of the States by shielding them from suits by individuals absent their consent. To ensure the enforcement of federal law, however, the Eleventh Amendment permits suits for prospective injunctive relief against state officials acting in violation of federal law. This standard allows courts to order prospective relief, as well as measures ancillary to appropriate prospective relief. Federal courts may not award retrospective relief, for instance money damages or its equivalent, if the State invokes its immunity. Frew, ___ U.S. at ___, 124 S.Ct. at 903 (citations omitted).