{ "id": 3716726, "name": "LEONARD RUTKA, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CICERO POLICE PENSION BOARD, Defendant-Appellee", "name_abbreviation": "Rutka v. Board of Trustees of Cicero Police Pension Board", "decision_date": "2010-11-24", "docket_number": "No. 1\u201410\u20140298", "first_page": "563", "last_page": "568", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "405 Ill. App. 3d 563" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "232 Ill. 2d 546", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3619419 ], "year": 2009, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "552", "parenthetical": "the best evidence of legislative intent is the language used in the statute itself, which must be given its plain and ordinary meaning" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/232/0546-01" ] }, { "cite": "281 Ill. App. 3d 841", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 150237 ], "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "851" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/281/0841-01" ] }, { "cite": "322 Ill. App. 3d 316", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 126371 ], "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "324" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/322/0316-01" ] }, { "cite": "342 Ill. App. 3d 227", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3472448 ], "weight": 4, "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "231" }, { "page": "231-32" }, { "page": "231" }, { "page": "231" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/342/0227-01" ] }, { "cite": "389 Ill. App. 3d 381", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 4284912 ], "weight": 6, "year": 2009, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "383" }, { "page": "383" }, { "page": "384" }, { "page": "384" }, { "page": "384-87" }, { "page": "383-84" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/389/0381-01" ] }, { "cite": "226 Ill. 2d 485", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3610828 ], "year": 2007, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "504" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/226/0485-01" ] }, { "cite": "207 Ill. 2d 590", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 974985 ], "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "593", "parenthetical": "applying a de nova standard to the jurisdiction issue" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/207/0590-01" ] }, { "cite": "232 Ill. 2d 302", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3619273 ], "year": 2009, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "308-09" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/232/0302-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 509, "char_count": 12841, "ocr_confidence": 0.758, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.03580807328026e-08, "percentile": 0.10862042536070636 }, "sha256": "138bfc33971f04bcc75895c5e48197fe83a6a139190c6b60949ef94cc5e12030", "simhash": "1:8ba93de247251a5c", "word_count": 2078 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T15:12:02.087067+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "LEONARD RUTKA, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CICERO POLICE PENSION BOARD, Defendant-Appellee." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JUSTICE NEVILLE\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nLeonard Rutka, a police officer with the Cicero police department, requested that the Cicero Police Pension Board (Pension Board) recalculate his pension benefits. Following a hearing, the Pension Board denied Rutka\u2019s request to recalculate his pension benefits, finding that it lacked jurisdiction because Rutka\u2019s request was not filed within 35 days of its prior final decision as required by section 3 \u2014 103 of the Administrative Review Law. 735 ILCS 5/3 \u2014 103 (West 2002). Rutka appeals from the order of the trial court, which upheld the Pension Board\u2019s decision.\nRutka presents two issues for our review: (1) whether the Pension Board had jurisdiction on January 27, 2009, to reconsider its January 10, 2005, decision to recalculate his pension benefits; and (2) whether the Pension Board had jurisdiction to change his creditable service years from 25 to 24 years of service. We find that a final decision was made to approve Rutka\u2019s pension benefits on February 18, 1999, and that no complaint was filed within 35 days of that decision, so the Pension Board did not have jurisdiction on January 10, 2005, to recalculate Rutka\u2019s pension. Therefore, we affirm the trial court\u2019s order finding that the Pension Board\u2019s February 18, 1999, calculation of Rutka\u2019s benefits and years of creditable service was proper.\nBACKGROUND\nThe facts material to the disposition of this case are not in dispute. Rutka became an officer with the Cicero police department on February 1, 1974. On April 29, 1997, he was appointed to the position of \u201cDeputy Superintendent.\u201d On March 2, 1998, his appointment as deputy superintendent was terminated and he assumed the rank of \u201cLieutenant.\u201d\nOn February 9, 1999, Rutka entered into a settlement agreement and Release with the Town of Cicero regarding a complaint he filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging age discrimination. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Rutka agreed to \u201cvoluntarily retire from his position as Lieutenant\u201d as of February 9, 1999. Rutka also received a lump-sum payment of $30,095.35, equal to the amount of his salary between January 11, 1999, through June 30, 1999. Rutka\u2019s pension benefits were approved during a Pension Board meeting on February 18, 1999, and his pension benefits were calculated at $65,759.38 based upon the rank of lieutenant. That same day, Rutka\u2019s benefits were recalculated based upon the combined rank of deputy superintendent and lieutenant at $68,759.38, pursuant to section 3 \u2014 111 of the Illinois Pension Code (Code) (40 ILCS 5/3\u2014 111(a) (West 2002)). Rutka immediately started receiving his pension benefits.\nApproximately six years later, on January 10, 2005, the Pension Board\u2019s minutes indicate that Rutka submitted correspondence to the Pension Board requesting that his salary be recalculated to reflect a base salary of $76,040.64, based upon the rank of deputy superintendent instead of a base salary based upon the combined rank of deputy superintendent and lieutenant. The Pension Board voted to recalculate Rutka\u2019s pension pursuant to his request, but the pension benefits voted upon and approved by the Pension Board, during the vote on Rutka\u2019s request for modification, were never paid to Rutka.\nOn July 6, 2007, Rutka sent a letter to the Pension Board requesting a hearing before the Pension Board to recalculate his pension benefits based upon the salary rate of a deputy superintendent. A hearing on Rutka\u2019s request was held on October 10, 2008, and on January 27, 2009, the Pension Board entered a decision and order denying Rutka\u2019s request for modification. The Pension Board held: (1) that it lost jurisdiction 35 days after its February 18, 1999, final decision on payment of benefit, and (2) that Rutka was not entitled to creditable service for the period of time represented in the lump-sum amount pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement.\nOn March 6, 2009, Rutka filed a complaint in the trial court for administrative review of the Pension Board\u2019s January 27, 2009, decision denying his request for modification of his pension benefits. The trial court held that the Pension Board\u2019s 1999 decision was proper and that the Pension Board was estopped from changing Rutka\u2019s creditable service from 25 years to 24 years. Rutka filed the instant appeal on January 28, 2010.\nANALYSIS\nStandard of Review\nIn this case, we must determine whether the Pension Board had jurisdiction on January 10, 2005, to modify its prior decision entered on February 18, 1999. Because this jurisdictional issue presents a question of law, our review is de nova. Blount v. Stroud, 232 Ill. 2d 302, 308-09 (2009), citing In re A.H., 207 Ill. 2d 590, 593 (2003) (applying a de nova standard to the jurisdiction issue). Finally, we review the decision of the administrative agency rather than the decision of the circuit court. Wade v. City of North Chicago Police Pension Board, 226 Ill. 2d 485, 504 (2007).\nJurisdiction\nOn appeal, Rutka argues that the Pension Board lacked jurisdiction on January 27, 2009, to reconsider its January 10, 2005, decision to recalculate his pension. However, before reaching this issue, we must determine whether the Pension Board\u2019s February 18, 1999, decision on Rutka\u2019s pension benefits was final and whether the Pension Board had jurisdiction to recalculate Rutka\u2019s pension benefits on January 10, 2005.\nThe Cicero Pension Board is governed by article 3 of the Code, which regulates and establishes the powers of police pension boards in municipalities such as Cicero whose populations are between 5,000 and 500,000 inhabitants. 40 ILCS 5/3 \u2014 148 (West 2006). Pursuant to section 3 \u2014 148 of the Code, \u201c \u2018[t]he provisions of the Administrative Review Law, and all amendments and modifications thereof and rules adopted pursuant thereto, shall apply to and govern all proceedings for the judicial review of final administrative decisions of the retirement board provided for under this [ajrticle.\u2019 \u201d Kosakowski v. Board of Trustees of the City of Calumet City Police Pension Fund, 389 Ill. App. 3d 381, 383 (2009), quoting 40 ILCS 5/3 \u2014 148 (West 2006).\nSection 3 \u2014 103 of the Administrative Review Law provides, in pertinent part, that \u201c[ejvery action to review a final administrative decision shall be commenced by the filing of a complaint and the issuance of summons within 35 days from the date that a copy of the decision sought to be reviewed was served upon the party affected by the decision.\u201d 735 ILCS 5/3 \u2014 103 (West 2002); Kosakowski, 389 Ill. App. 3d at 383. Therefore, the Pension Board, an administrative agency, lacks jurisdiction to reconsider its final decisions after the expiration of the 35-day period. Kosakowski, 389 Ill. App. 3d at 384, citing Sola v. Roselle Police Pension Board, 342 Ill. App. 3d 227, 231 (2003).\nThe record establishes that Rutka and the Town of Cicero entered into a settlement agreement and Rutka agreed to voluntarily retire effective February 9, 1999. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, on February 18, 1999, the Pension Board made a decision to approve Rutka\u2019s pension benefits pursuant to section 3 \u2014 111 of the Pension Code, which provides in pertinent part:\n\u201c(a) A police officer age 50 or more with 20 or more years of creditable service *** shall receive a pension of \u00bd of the salary attached to the rank held by the officer on the police force for one year immediately prior to retirement or, beginning July 1, 1987 for persons terminating service on or after that date, the salary attached to the rank held on the last day of service or one year prior to the last day, whichever is greater.\u201d 40 ILCS 5/3 \u2014 111(a) (West 2002).\nRutka\u2019s salary was calculated at $65,759.38 based upon his rank as lieutenant at the time of retirement with 25 years of service. That same day, Rutka\u2019s salary was recalculated based upon a combined rank of deputy superintendent and lieutenant at $68,759.38 with 25 years of service. In addition, Rutka executed and swore in a Police Pension Trust Fund document that the pension benefits calculations were true and correct, and he immediately began receiving his benefits.\nThe Administrative Review Law defines an administrative decision as \u201cany decision, order or determination of any administrative agency rendered in a particular case, which affects the legal rights, duties or privileges of parties and which terminates the proceedings before the administrative agency.\u201d 735 ILCS 5/3 \u2014 101 (West 2002). \u201c \u2018 \u201cA final and binding decision by an administrative agency requires, at the very least, that the agency has taken some definitive action with regard to the application before it and that the applicant has been informed of the action.\u201d \u2019 \u201d (Emphasis in original.) Sola, 342 Ill. App. 3d at 231-32, quoting Key Outdoor, Inc. v. Department of Transportation, 322 Ill. App. 3d 316, 324 (2001), quoting Illinois Wood Energy Partners, L.P. v. County of Cook, 281 Ill. App. 3d 841, 851 (1995). On February 18, 1999, the Pension Board took definitive action which affected Rutka\u2019s legal rights when he was awarded and received pension benefits based upon 25 years of service and the decision terminated the proceedings before the Pension Board. Therefore, the Pension Board\u2019s February 18, 1999, decision approving Rutka\u2019s pension benefits was a final decision. See Kosakowski, 389 111. App. 3d at 384 (the board issued its final decision when it awarded the plaintiff a disability pension and calculated his monthly benefits).\nSection 3 \u2014 103 requires a party seeking administrative review of a final Pension Board decision to file a complaint and issue a summons within 35 days after the Pension Board makes its final decision. 735 ILCS 5/3 \u2014 103 (West 1998). The record is clear that neither Rutka nor the Pension Board filed a complaint or issued a summons within 35 days after the Pension Board approved Rutka\u2019s benefits as required by section 3 \u2014 103. 735 ILCS 5/3 \u2014 103 (West 1998). Therefore, because a final decision was made to approve Rutka\u2019s pension benefits on February 18, 1999, and no complaint was filed in the circuit court within 35 days of that decision, the Pension Board did not have jurisdiction on January 10, 2005, or on January 27, 2009, to recalculate Rutka\u2019s pension. Kosakowski, 389 Ill. App. 3d at 384, citing Sola, 342 Ill. App. 3d at 231.\nRutka also argues that the Pension Board made an \u201cerror\u201d when it combined his salary as deputy superintendent with his salary as lieutenant to calculate his pension, and that the error could be corrected by invoking section 3 \u2014 144.2 of the Pension Code. Both Rutka and the Pension Board rely upon the Kosakowski court\u2019s interpretation of section 3 \u2014 144.2 to support their positions. Section 3 \u2014 144.2 gives the Pension Board the authority to modify pension benefits based upon an \u201coverpayment, due to fraud, misrepresentation or error, of any pension or benefit granted under\u201d the Pension Code. (Emphasis added.) 40 ILCS 5/3 \u2014 144.2 (West 2006). In Kosakowski, the court interpreted section 3 \u2014 144.2 because of an appeal by the Pension Board challenging an alleged overpayment to one of its pensioners. Kosakowski, 389 Ill. App. 3d at 384-87. This case does not involve an \u201coverpayment\u201d of pension benefits but an underpayment of benefits. Therefore, Rutka\u2019s reliance on Kosakowski is misplaced. If the legislature intended for section 3 \u2014 144.2 to apply to the underpayment of pension benefits, it would have included that language. See Roselle Police Pension Board v. Village of Roselle, 232 Ill. 2d 546, 552 (2009) (the best evidence of legislative intent is the language used in the statute itself, which must be given its plain and ordinary meaning). Accordingly, we hold that the legislature did not intend for section 3 \u2014 144.2 of the Pension Code to be used to correct alleged underpayments of pension benefits.\nCONCLUSION\nWe find that the Pension Board had no jurisdiction on January 10, 2005, or on January 27, 2009, to recalculate Rutka\u2019s pension benefits, because no administrative review action was filed within 35 days after the Pension Board entered its final decision on February 18, 1999. Kosakowski, 389 Ill. App. 3d at 383-84, citing Sola, 342 Ill. App. 3d at 231. Therefore, we affirm the trial court\u2019s order finding that the Pension Board\u2019s February 18, 1999, calculation of Rutka\u2019s benefits and years of creditable service was proper.\nAffirmed.\nQUINN, EJ., and STEELE, J., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "JUSTICE NEVILLE" } ], "attorneys": [ "Law Offices of Jerome F. Marconi, of Chicago (Jerome F. Marconi, of counsel), for appellant.", "Atwell & Atwell Law Offices, of Aurora (Charles H. Atwell, of counsel), for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "LEONARD RUTKA, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CICERO POLICE PENSION BOARD, Defendant-Appellee.\nFirst District (3rd Division)\nNo. 1\u201410\u20140298\nOpinion filed November 24, 2010.\nLaw Offices of Jerome F. Marconi, of Chicago (Jerome F. Marconi, of counsel), for appellant.\nAtwell & Atwell Law Offices, of Aurora (Charles H. Atwell, of counsel), for appellee." }, "file_name": "0563-01", "first_page_order": 579, "last_page_order": 584 }