Lawsuit News - Michigan Association of Governmental Employees

Lawsuit News

Supreme Court Issues Decision in MAGE 3% Pay Lawsuit
Posted May 31st, 2016

I am disappointed to report that we have received a final ruling from the Supreme Court on our 3% lawsuit. Although MAGE prevailed at the Court of Claims, the State appealed to the Supreme Court. The court concluded that the Civil Service Commission has plenary and absolute authority over the compensation of state employees.

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Appeals court rules in 4% lawsuit
Posted August 16th, 2013

Appeals court: Michigan law requiring state employees to pay 4% to pension plan violates constitution

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Court of Appeals Hears Arguments on 4% Pension Contribution
Posted June 13th, 2013

The Court of Appeals (COA) went back to the 1963 Constitution today to see if a 2011 law asking state employees to contribute four percent of their salary to their pension plan or switch to 401(k) plan was constitutional.

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Judge Rules on 4% Retirement Pay Lawsuit
Posted September 28th, 2012

State employees have won another battle in their fight over benefits with Gov. Rick Snyder and the Legislature. Ingham County Circuit Judge Joyce Draganchuk, in an opinion released today, ruled unconstitutional a 2011 state law that requires state employees who are members of the defined benefit pension plan to put 4% of their pay toward the retirement fund. Judge Draganchuk said Public Act 264 of 2011 infringed on the constitutional authority of the Michigan Civil Service Commission to set compensation for state employees. "By mandating that members contribute 4% of their compensation to the employees' savings fund, the Legislature reduced the compensation of classified civil servants - an act that is within the sphere of authority vested in the Civil Service Commision," Draganchuk said in a 12-page opinion. A 2010 law that required state employees to pay 3% toward retiree health care was earlier declared unconstitutional for the same reason. That Ingham court ruling was upheld on appeal. State officials said this case is different because employees have the option of switching to a 401(k) style retirement plan if they don't want to pay the 4%. But Draganchuk disagreed. "PA 264 requires every member who elects to remain in a defined benefit plan to pay 4%," she said. An appeal is expected.

Lawsuit on the 4% Pay Deduction to Remain in the Defined Benefit Pension System
Posted July 23rd, 2012

Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Joyce Dragenchuck will soon rule on the question of whether it was unconstitutional to force state employees to begin paying 4% of their annual pay to remain in the defined benefit pension plan. The Attorney General argued that HB 4701 was constitutional because it gave employees a choice to remain in the plan or move into the defined contribution plan, which all employees hired in after 1997 are currently enrolled in. The judge's decision will likely be appealed by either party, therefore culmination of this lawsuit remains in the distant future.

3% RAISE LAWSUIT UPDATE
Posted February 21st, 2012

THE SUPREME COURT HEARS CASE BETWEEN MAGE AND THE STATE OVER DENIED RAISES
Posted May 5th, 2016

The Michigan Supreme Court (MSC) heard oral arguments in case No. 147511 brought against the state by MAGE.

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Supreme Court Issues Rulings
Posted July 29th, 2015

Our attorney, Brandon Zuk has informed us that the Supreme Court has issued decisions in the RTW and 4% Cases.

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Supreme Court Issues Order
Posted February 8th, 2016

Long awaited Supreme Court Order arrives on the State's Application for Leave to appeal in MAGE's 3% pay raise lawsuit.

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The Michigan Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments
Posted January 14th, 2015

On Tuesday, January 13 the Michigan Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the Right to Work Case and the 4% Deduction for Pensions.

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News Regarding the 4% Lawsuit
Posted November 17th, 2014

Brandon Zuk, MAGE's legal counsel has informed us that the 4% lawsuit regarding the defined benefit pension will finally be argued in the Supreme Court on January 13, 2015. The Right-to-work lawsuit is also scheduled for that day. Our lawsuit regarding the 3% raise will likely be on the docket shortly after that. Watch here for updates and specifics.

Supreme Court Issues Orders Concerning Lawsuits
Posted January 30th, 2014

THE 3% RAISE, 4% PENSION LAWSUITS & RIGHT TO WORK LAWSUIT On January 29, 2014 the Michigan Supreme Court issued three Orders concerning the above matters.

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3% Lawsuit Update
Posted September 4th, 2013

And the saga continues....We have had some more action regarding our 3% lawsuit that we would like to update you on.

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3% Lawsuit Update
Posted June 24th, 2013

And the saga continues....

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Oral Arguments in the 3% Lawsuit
Posted May 15th, 2013

MAGE Legal Counsel, Brandon Zuk provided the oral argument at the Court of Appeals on Wed., May 8.

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Lawsuit News Reported by President Quattrin
Posted October 1st, 2012

Recent developments in the 3% Pay Raise lawsuit and the Unions 4% Retirement Deduction lawsuit....

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3% Pay Raise Lawsuit Update
Posted September 17th, 2012

MAGE argued our 3% lawsuit in the Court of Claims. The State filed an Interlocutory leave to appeal and lost. The State then appealed to the Court of Appeals and again MAGE prevailed. The state has now appealed to the State Supreme Court, and this appeal is still pending. The case is assigned docket number 144850. MAGE legal counsel predicts MAGE will again prevail and expects this will result in the Supreme Court remanding it back to the Court of Appeals for final disposition. This is likely to take months.

LAWSUIT ON 4% PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS
Posted June 11th, 2012

For those members and non-members who are wondering if MAGE will be filing another lawsuit over the new 4% retirement deductions, the answer is most definitely YES! We have filed! Follow the link to read a copy of the legal complaint filed. MAGE will be making essentially the same arguments as we did in the 3% lawsuit, in that the new retirement bill touches on issues that are outside the Legislature's constitutional authority. The lawsuit will specify that it is for MAGE members only. MAGE is represented in the lawsuit by the law firm of Fraser, Trebilcock Davis, P.C., MAGE attorney Brandon Zuk pictured.