Opinion ID: 2570481
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the trial court's resolution

Text: The trial court said: The disagreement between the District and Plaintiffs centers on the interpretation of the PA. Before 1989, employees who opted out of a group insurance plan received $166.68 in cash. Now the PA states that employees hired after 1989 who opt out of the group insurance plan will only receive in cash the difference between a single low option plan and $166.68. Therefore, a question remains whether the insurance plan fringe benefit is to be construed as part of an employee's total salary and thus when part of that salary is not used for insurance premiums it should be paid back to the employee or whether only the difference between the cost of a single low-option health insurance plan and $166.68 is considered part of an employee's compensation and therefore, when part of that compensation is not used toward insurance premiums, an employee is entitled to it. Because this case's predominate issue involves the interpretation of the PA and because the parties have agreed to arbitration and the District has moved for arbitration, the Court concludes that arbitration is the proper forum for Plaintiffs' complaint. Therefore, the Court remands Plaintiffs case against USD to arbitration as this Court favors arbitration. [Citations omitted.]