capitolfax.com/2017/10/12/facing-the-pension-music/
Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » Facing the pension music
capitolfax.com
* Not to diminish the problem with Illinois’ pension debt, but this is an apples to oranges comparison from the Illinois Policy Institute’s news service…
On Wednesday, October 11, 2017, Clint <Clint@krislovlaw.com> wrote:
This morning we addressed a number of issues of importance
1-the 2013 reconciliation for the second half of the year. This is nearly completed, but still not final.
Should be completed within days, but refunds are likely only for medicare participants and not very large, even with 5% interest. There are a number of reasons for this, relating I think, to the using up of most people’s deductibles during the first part of the year.
2-the notices to go out with the 2013-2 reconciliation checks.
We are fighting with the city over what should go into the envelopes. The reason here is that letter will go out to everyone who was a healthcare participant during 2013, and we have not been able to communicate about our case with anyone who is not in our database. Our database only has about 500 participants, while there are22,000 retirees, most of whom know nothing about the case, have not contributed, and are under the impression that the retiree healthcare plan will end at theend of 2017. The city’s proposed version of the notice letter describes the end of the2013 korshak audit and reconciliation without telling them about the case still pending. Since the notice letter is a joint letter from the City, the Funds, and from Class Counsel, we will not approve any notice that we think is deceptive. More important, perhaps, we’ve identified that since the letter will be one-page two-sided, there is still room for a one page notice letter inserted by class counsel without increasing the city’s mailing costs, but reaching and informing nearly everyone.
We are to negotiate this directly with the City’s attorney and report back to judge cohen on October 24, 2017 at 830 am.
3-2018 coverage and terms.
The bulk of our time concerned our preliminary injunction request to order the Funds to provide coverage for their annuitants for 2018. Per the existing decisions that we’ve appealed, both Judge Cohen and the Appellate Court view the Funds, all four of them, as having primary responsibility obligation to actually provide coverage for their annuitants,(and subsidize them, albeit at the 1983 and 1985 statutory subisidy levels).
The Funds disavow any such obligation, but we’re pushing the judge to follow through with his past declarations that he will not tolerate the city and funds defendants just leaving the retirees in the lurch on this for 2018, and we’ve also told him that you all need time to evaluate your options and make plans.
The short story is that everyone is to report back to judge cohen on October 24, 2017 at 8:30 a.m.
The following were the positions of the city and Funds-
Note--=>we do not agree with any of these, and the judge seems to be somewhat with us on this issue.
The City intends to “offer” (not sponsor) an unsubsidized Blue Cross plan within two weeks—we’ll see what that provides.
Korshak and window retirees by 8/23/1989 remain on the city’s 55% plan for life (but no longer subsidized)
Post-8/23/1989 retirees would be on the Blue Cross plan, not subsidized by the funds.
The Municipal and Laborers Funds disavow any obligation, but they are talking internally and with each other, and must report back to the court.
Police and Fire, while disavowing any obligation, have both arguably approved Medicare Supplement plans brought by their respective unions
Note-Most of this leaves those of you who are not Medicare covered, essentially stuck with the blue cross plan with rates not yet known.
Judge Cohen seems to agree with us that your coverage should not lapse while waiting for the Supreme Court to rule on our petition.
We’ll see.
We’re fighting for you.
Happy to answer any questions.
Thanks to those who showed up this morning.
The turnout, especially by coreclass 3a people-whose city employment did not qualify them for Medicare, is most important.
Finally, this would be another nice time for contributions.
Clint
Clint Krislov
Krislov & Associates, Ltd.
Civic Opera Building, Suite 1300-Note new suite number!
20 North Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
T.312-606-0500
Facsimile: 312-739-1098
Email: clint@krislovlaw.com
Website: www.krislovlaw.com
krislovlaw.com
Krislov Law is a Chicago based law firm which advocates tirelessly for their clients in high stakes litigation on behalf of investors, consumers and taxpayers,and is dedicated to protecting consumer, investor and taxpayer rights in class action matters.
On Wednesday, September 27, 2017, Clint <Clint@krislovlaw.com> wrote:
At yesterday’s hearing, the judge only wanted to hear about the city’s progress in reconciling the last half of 2013 for everyone, and the predicted time frame for the 2014 -2016 reconciliation for the Korshak and windows retirees.
According to the city, the 2013 audit is nearly done, with small refunds to medicare participants only. We’ll see what it looks like when I get our report from the auditor.
As to the 2014-16 audit and reconciliation, the city thinks that there is a greater likelihood for the 2016 year being a refund, but this is still only for people who retired by 8/23/1989.
It looks like the audit and reconciliation for all years (but just for the 8/23/1989 retirees) should be completed over the next twelve months.
That still leaves our core group of class 3, 3a and 4 as unreconciled, and without assurance of what plans will be available in 2018 .
When I tried to raise other issues at this hearing, the judge chewed me out and told me to raise it by written motion,
Which we will do.
The next hearing is set for October 11 at 10am; but we will be preparing some motions to force the issues about coverage by the Funds and communications by the city.
Our plan is to get these in sooner rather than later, and push to get a ruling on the 11th.
Clint Krislov
Krislov & Associates, Ltd.
Civic Opera Building, Suite 1300
20 North Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Telephone: 312-606-0500
Facsimile: 312-739-1098
Website: www.krislovlaw.com
Email: clint@krislovlaw.com
krislovlaw.com
Krislov Law is a Chicago based law firm which advocates tirelessly for their clients in high stakes litigation on behalf of investors, consumers and taxpayers,and is dedicated to protecting consumer, investor and taxpayer rights in class action matters.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/commentary/sd-utbg-public-pensions-funding-20170914-story.html
Why full funding of pensions is a waste of money
sandiegouniontribune.com
Full funding of public pensions require significant, unnecessary expense to employees, employers, and taxpayers.
On Friday, September 15, 2017, Clint <Clint@krislovlaw.com> wrote:
Judge Cohen was furious with the City’s claim that it will take about 19 weeks for each year 2014, 2015 and 2016 to complete each audit, and that one cannot be started until the preceding year is completed.
He chewed the city out for its slow reconciliation;
rejected the city’s submission that it will take 19 weeks for each year , one after the other, (i.e., more than a year to complete 2014-2016) to get the audit and reconciliation done for each year;
and
was bothered as well by the Funds’ lack of concrete responses about the plans for 2018.
He ordered everyone back on 9/26 at 10:00AM, to report on both, or he will order a full hearing on the city’s actions. We’ll see.
He also ordered the Funds (although not the City) to copy us with all communications sent to participants regarding retiree healthcare.
You can let us know if you receive anything from any of them, including the City.
The main focus is still on our pending petition with the Illinois Supreme Court, which we filed on September 7.
So the City and Funds’ responses should be due September 28.
We’ll likely want to reply; we’ll keep you posted.
We continue to believe that the most compelling group of you are the class 3a people whose City work did not qualify them for medicare coverage,
And we are considering taking another shot at asking for an injunction against the City or Funds adversely changing the existing plan during the litigation.
This popped up because the Municipal and Laborers Funds’ attorneys said that their funds were not required to provide coverage, municipal was especially noncommittal.
I reminded Judge Cohen about his declaring that it is the funds’ who have primary obligation to provide healthcare coverage to annuitants, and they appear to be disavowing any such obligation.
We may file something on this before the 26th.
Those of you who are in the class 3a and don’t qualify for medicare might want to show up for the September 26 hearing.
Happy to answer any questions,
Contributions to the war chest are absolutely needed.
I know that you are suffering, but carrying this battle has socked our finances as well.
Regards,
Clint Krislov
Krislov & Associates, Ltd.
Civic Opera Building, Suite 1300
20 North Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Telephone: 312-606-0500
Facsimile: 312-739-1098
Website: www.krislovlaw.com
Email: clint@krislovlaw.com
krislovlaw.com
Krislov Law is a Chicago based law firm which advocates tirelessly for their clients in high stakes litigation on behalf of investors, consumers and taxpayers,and is dedicated to protecting consumer, investor and taxpayer rights in class action matters.
Law Enforcement Today published another of my articles. Take a look... www.lawenforcementtoday.com/personal-reflections-officer-bernie-domagala/
Personal Reflections of Officer Bernie Domagala
lawenforcementtoday.com
Three days ago Officer Bernie Domagala passed away as a result of injuries he suffered July 14, 1988. That’s right 29 years ago.
www.illinoispolicy.org/rauner-signs-police-pension-reform-ending-double-dipping-introducing-401k-...
Rauner signs police pension reform ending double dipping, introducing 401(k) plans
illinoispolicy.org
The new law is a step toward more fairness within Illinois’ police pension system, while offering certain police officers more control over their retirements.
www.kentucky.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/tom-eblen/article170170862.html
Making workers pay for politicians’ mistakes isn’t the only way to fix pensions
kentucky.com
As Kentucky lawmakers prepare for a special session on pension reform, discussions must be about more than cutting benefits. Additional funding, more transparency needed to restore pension funds to health.
Received today and forwarded from Phil Cline
"We Need Your Help"
- Ray Hunt, President
Houston Police Officers Association
To Our Brother & Sister Officers:
As you know the City of Houston is in the midst of a catastrophe like we have never seen before. The scope of the damage will not be determined for weeks, maybe longer. We have already lost so much including Sgt. Steve Perez, a 34-year veteran of the Houston PD, who drowned in his car trying to get to work at 4 am in the morning on Sunday, August 27th.
So many of you have reached out to ask how you can help and we are very grateful. Right now sending money to assist those officers who lost their homes and/or vehicles is the most helpful for us. We ask that you send donations to "Assist the Officer, Inc." a 501 (C)3 charity established 30 years ago in Houston to provide aid to law enforcement people during these kinds of disasters. (www.assisttheofficer.com). There is a link on the site for Harvey Relief.
I can assure you that 100% of whatever you send will go directly to Houston-area law enforcement people who have suffered severe losses from the floods. Upon request we will be happy to provide you with a complete report on donations and expenditures if you need it.
We will keep you updated on the situation as it progresses and please accept our heartfelt thanks for whatever you can do to help us. If you have suffered a loss in this terrible incident, please just send your prayers.
Make your check out to: Assist the Officer, Inc. . Indicate on the check that the donation is for "Hurricane Harvey Relief for Law Enforcement"
Mail your check to 1600 State Street, Houston, TX 77007
Thank you and God bless.
Ray Hunt, President
Houston Police Officers’ Union
Assist the Officer, Houston, Texas
assisttheofficer.com
Assist The Officer is a non-profit organization providing short-term, immediate need financial assistance for officers critically injured or disabled in the line of duty. Assist The Officer symbolizes the appreciation for every officer’s dedicated service and commitment to the safety of citizens.
FirstResponderPensionFacts shared National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO)'s post.
PLEASE HELP OFFICERS HIT BY TEXAS HURRICANE AND FLOODING! bit.ly/2x6rDjc
FirstResponderPensionFacts shared a link.
Chicago TIFs take nearly $500M in yearly tax revenues away from other local governments
illinoispolicy.org
Since 2006, Chicago Public Schools has been deprived of $2.5 billion in property tax revenue that has been diverted to Chicago TIF districts.
capitolfax.com/2017/08/22/harvey-pension-fund-on-the-verge-of-default-or-bankruptcy/
capitolfax.com
In an unprecedented ruling, an appellate court declared the city of Harvey so severely neglected its firefighters’ pension fund that it was on the verge of insolvency — meaning there might not be any money for retirees or firefighters on the job there today.
This is questionable so please keep that in mind Always consider the source of the article chicagocitywire.com/stories/511130434-projection-chicago-s-police-pension-fund-will-be-broke-in-2021
Projection: Chicago's police pension fund will be broke in 2021
chicagocitywire.com
Without a taxpayer bailout, Chicago’s police pension fund won’t have enough money to pay benefits to retirees in 2021, according to a projection by Local Government Information Services (LGIS), which publishes Chicago City Wire.
Very interesting information. capitolfax.com/2017/08/14/whos-bailing-out-whom-these-county-numbers-might-surprise-you/
capitolfax.com
* Sen. Tom Cullerton asked the Legislative Research Unit for some county-by-county data on how much money counties are getting back from the state compared to what residents put in.
From: Clint <Clint@krislovlaw.com>
Sent: Thu, Aug 10, 2017 8:23 am
Subject: retiree update-wednesday's hearing before judge cohen
Dear Retirees,
Wednesday’s hearing was a pretty frustrating experience.
We presented five issues, on which we felt fairly confident.
1. Our renewed motion for Class Certification
2. The judge’s choice of orders to enter for the March hearing at which he ordered audit and reconciliation of the 2013 to 2016 years.
3. The City’s assertion that he lacks jurisdiction over the post-2013 reconciliations.
4. The Funds’ report on the actions to fulfil their obligations to provide healthcare coverage for the annuitants for 2018.
5. The City’s report on the progress in the audit and reconciliation process.
After about two hours of hearing, attended by perhaps 40 of you,
Judge Cohen finally ruled that he instead has no jurisdiction over the post-2013 reconciliations, yet he has set September 14 as the next status for the city to report on the 2014-2016 reconciliation process timetable.
Denied class certification again, preferring to await rulings on the merits if the Supreme Court takes our appeal.
The transcript should be out by the end of the week, we hope, and we’ll post it.
But I do not believe that we can expect judge cohen to follow through on actually ordering the city or the Funds to comply with any of their obligations, unless he is ordered to do so by the appellate court.
Accordingly, we will put our efforts into our Petition to the Illinois Supreme Court, which is due September 7, and we may try to get the class certification and jurisdiction issues up there as well.
It will be a challenging but important month ahead. Your contributions are invited and welcome.
Finally, after I presented to the Firefighters union last week seeking their assistance, they instead have sent their counsel to intervene in our case. As I advised their lawyer, if they are here to help, we welcome them. But their actual purpose remains to be seen.
Clint Krislov
Krislov & Associates, Ltd.
Civic Opera Building, Suite 1300-Note new suite number!
20 North Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
T.312-606-0500
Facsimile: 312-739-1098
Email: clint@krislovlaw.com
Website: www.krislovlaw.com
krislovlaw.com
Krislov Law is a Chicago based law firm which advocates tirelessly for their clients in high stakes litigation on behalf of investors, consumers and taxpayers,and is dedicated to protecting consumer, investor and taxpayer rights in class action matters.
www.investmentnews.com/article/20170808/FREE/170809933/as-longevity-stalls-corporations-enjoy-a-w...
As longevity stalls, corporations enjoy a windfall on pensions, benefits
investmentnews.com
Firms are cutting the estimates of what they'll have to pay retirees, and in some cases, it adds up to billions.
Bad News
Sent: Mon, Aug 7, 2017 5:44 pm
Subject: Retiree Update- underwood v city appellate court denial of petition for rehearing.pdf
Dear Retirees,
I’m very sorry to report that the Appellate court has denied our petition for rehearing.
So we have 35 days from august 3, 2017 to file our petition.(Due: October 7, 2017)
We’re working on it right now.
Your contributions are appreciated.
Clint
Clint Krislov
Krislov & Associates, Ltd.
Civic Opera Building, Suite 1300
20 North Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Telephone: 312-606-0500
Facsimile: 312-739-1098
Website: www.krislovlaw.com
Email: clint@krislovlaw.com
On Tuesday, August 1, 2017, Michalene <Michalene@krislovlaw.com> wrote:
From: Clint
Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2017 1:13 PM
Subject: Retiree Update-New Hearing Date is Next Wednesday August 9, 2017 at 10:00 am; Judge Cohen room 2308-we are also adding a renewed motion for class certification, which we filed for August 4, but will be addressed as well on august 9.
We did our best to contact everyone when we heard that Judge Cohen was ill yesterday, and had to reset the hearing.
It’s been set now for AUGUST 9, 2017 at 10:00 AM.
We’re adding as well our re-renewed motion to certify the case as a class case for classes 3, 3a and 4. That will be presented on the 9th as well.
We welcome any questions in the meantime, and hope the FOP and Firemen come through this week.
Your calls to your unions for help may have some influence as well.
Happy to answer any questions.
Contributions always welcome.
Clint
Clint Krislov
Krislov & Associates, Ltd.
Civic Opera Building, Suite 1300
20 North Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Telephone: 312-606-0500
Facsimile: 312-739-1098
Website: www.krislovlaw.com
Email: clint@krislovlaw.com
