Kiewlen v. Meriden

Summary

The court held that the city violated the pension charter by reducing surviving spouses' health insurance emoluments after their spouses died, because those benefits had to be calculated from the deceased spouse's benefit at the time of death. It upheld the reduction of benefits for retired officers and firefighters who later divorced or lost a spouse because their benefits were tied to the compensation of active employees and could change as dependent status changed. The judgment was therefore reversed in part and remanded for consideration of defenses and relief as to the surviving spouses, while otherwise being affirmed.