Crandle v. Connecticut State Employees Retirement Commission

Summary

The court affirmed dismissal of the plaintiffs’ administrative appeal, holding that the retirement commission reasonably interpreted the governing retirement statutes to permit disability benefits to begin on the first day of the month following receipt of an approved application. The court concluded that the commission’s interpretation was sufficiently time-tested because it had been applied in prior adjudicatory decisions and was reasonable in light of the statutory gap, legislative acquiescence, and the treatment of other retirement benefits. The court also held that the commission was not required to prove fair dealing by clear and convincing evidence because the plaintiffs did not allege that it benefited from any fiduciary misconduct.