Court Opinion

ID: 5534037
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-10 18:16:11.056783+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:34:39.454495
License: Public Domain

OPINION OF THE COURT
Memorandum.
The order of the Appellate Division should be modified, with costs to defendant, in accordance with this memorandum, and, as so modified, affirmed.
For the reasons stated by the Appellate Division, plaintiff was not unconstitutionally denied vested pension rights by legislation which created an additional, optional pension plan. Plaintiff could have remained in the existing plan without any of his rights being impaired. It was his decision not to do so that caused the alleged change in his rights. Instead of dismissing the complaint in this declaratory judgment action, however, the Appellate Division should have declared the rights of the parties. Accordingly, the order of that court should be modified to declare the challenged legislation constitutional.
*1021Chief Judge Cooke and Judges Jasen, Gabrielli, Jones, Wachtler, Fuchsberg and Meyer concur in memorandum.
Order modified, etc.