Disabled California Officers Denied Class Status in CalPERS Suit

A group of former California police officers and firefighters who said they purchased additional coverage under the state’s retirement system but were denied those benefits because they became disabled and retired early must bring individual claims against the plan, a state appellate court said Thursday.

The officers alleged they purchased additional years-of-service credit through a California Employees’ Retirement System program but were disabled on the job and took “industrial disability retirement” before turning 50. Under that program, CalPERS pays an allowance of 50% of their final compensation but no additional income from the years-of-service credit they had purchased.

The officers ...