{
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  "name": "DOROTHY M. FAULKENBURY, on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated, Plaintiff v. TEACHERS' AND STATE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF NORTH CAROLINA, a corporation; BOARD OF TRUSTEES TEACHERS' AND STATE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF NORTH CAROLINA, a body politic and corporate; DENNIS DUCKER, Director of the Retirement Systems Division and Deputy Treasurer of the State of North Carolina (in his official capacity); HARLAN E. BOYLES, Treasurer of the State of North Carolina and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System of North Carolina, (in his official capacity); and STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, Defendants; WILLIAM H. WOODARD, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, Plaintiff v. NORTH CAROLINA LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM, a corporation; BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE NORTH CAROLINA LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM, a body politic and corporate; DENNIS DUCKER, Director of the Retirement Systems Division and Deputy Treasurer of the State of North Carolina (in his official capacity); HARLAN E. BOYLES, Treasurer of the State of North Carolina and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the North Carolina Governmental Employees' Retirement System (in his official capacity); and STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, Defendants; BONNIE G. PEELE, on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated, Plaintiff v. TEACHERS' AND STATE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF NORTH CAROLINA, a corporation; BOARD OF TRUSTEES TEACHERS' AND STATE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF NORTH CAROLINA, a body politic and corporate; DENNIS DUCKER, Director of the Retirement Systems Division and Deputy Treasurer of the State of North Carolina (in his official capacity); HARLAN E. BOYLES, Treasurer of the State of North Carolina and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System of North Carolina, (in his official capacity); and STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, Defendants; RALPH R. HAILEY, JR., on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, Plaintiff v. TEACHERS' AND STATE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF NORTH CAROLINA, a corporation; BOARD OF TRUSTEES TEACHERS' AND STATE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF NORTH CAROLINA, a body politic and corporate; DENNIS DUCKER, Director of the Retirement Systems Division and Deputy Treasurer of the State of North Carolina (in his official capacity); HARLAN E. BOYLES, Treasurer of the State of North Carolina and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System of North Carolina, (in his official capacity); and STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, Defendants",
  "name_abbreviation": "Faulkenbury v. Teachers' & State Employees' Retirement System of North Carolina",
  "decision_date": "1999-02-02",
  "docket_number": "No. COA97-1365",
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      "DOROTHY M. FAULKENBURY, on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated, Plaintiff v. TEACHERS\u2019 AND STATE EMPLOYEES\u2019 RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF NORTH CAROLINA, a corporation; BOARD OF TRUSTEES TEACHERS\u2019 AND STATE EMPLOYEES\u2019 RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF NORTH CAROLINA, a body politic and corporate; DENNIS DUCKER, Director of the Retirement Systems Division and Deputy Treasurer of the State of North Carolina (in his official capacity); HARLAN E. BOYLES, Treasurer of the State of North Carolina and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Teachers\u2019 and State Employees\u2019 Retirement System of North Carolina, (in his official capacity); and STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, Defendants WILLIAM H. WOODARD, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, Plaintiff v. NORTH CAROLINA LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES\u2019 RETIREMENT SYSTEM, a corporation; BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE NORTH CAROLINA LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES\u2019 RETIREMENT SYSTEM, a body politic and corporate; DENNIS DUCKER, Director of the Retirement Systems Division and Deputy Treasurer of the State of North Carolina (in his official capacity); HARLAN E. BOYLES, Treasurer of the State of North Carolina and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the North Carolina Governmental Employees\u2019 Retirement System (in his official capacity); and STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, Defendants BONNIE G. PEELE, on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated, Plaintiff v. TEACHERS\u2019 AND STATE EMPLOYEES\u2019 RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF NORTH CAROLINA, a corporation; BOARD OF TRUSTEES TEACHERS\u2019 AND STATE EMPLOYEES\u2019 RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF NORTH CAROLINA, a body politic and corporate; DENNIS DUCKER, Director of the Retirement Systems Division and Deputy Treasurer of the State of North Carolina (in his official capacity); HARLAN E. BOYLES, Treasurer of the State of North Carolina and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Teachers\u2019 and State Employees\u2019 Retirement System of North Carolina, (in his official capacity); and STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, Defendants RALPH R. HAILEY, JR., on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, Plaintiff v. TEACHERS\u2019 AND STATE EMPLOYEES\u2019 RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF NORTH CAROLINA, a corporation; BOARD OF TRUSTEES TEACHERS\u2019 AND STATE EMPLOYEES\u2019 RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF NORTH CAROLINA, a body politic and corporate; DENNIS DUCKER, Director of the Retirement Systems Division and Deputy Treasurer of the State of North Carolina (in his official capacity); HARLAN E. BOYLES, Treasurer of the State of North Carolina and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Teachers\u2019 and State Employees\u2019 Retirement System of North Carolina, (in his official capacity); and STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, Defendants"
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      {
        "text": "WALKER, Judge.\nThis case involves four consolidated cases appealed from two decisions of the trial court on remedial questions following a judgment for the plaintiffs on liability. (Plaintiff Hailey\u2019s case was consolidated with the three original actions and certified as a class action on 28 July 1997). On 21 July 1995, the trial court entered judgment for the plaintiffs and concluded they were entitled to receive additional disability benefits. This judgment was affirmed by our Supreme Court in Faulkenbury v. Teachers\u2019 and State Employees\u2019 Ret. Sys. of North Carolina, 345 N.C. 683, 483 S.E.2d 422 (1997). These cases, certified as class actions, challenged the way disability benefits were calculated under the Teachers\u2019 and State Employees\u2019 Retirement System of North Carolina and the North Carolina Local Governmental Employees\u2019 Retirement System. The Supreme Court noted that members of the class were:\n[A]ll persons who were receiving disability benefits in a lesser amount than they would have received had the law not been changed; persons who retired on service retirement who could have retired on disability retirement at higher rates if the law had not been changed; all living heirs, beneficiaries, or personal representatives of any estate of one who was receiving less as a disability retiree than he would have received if the law had not been changed; and who had not selected a designated survivor beneficiary; and all living heirs, beneficiaries, or personal representatives of the estate of a deceased survivor beneficiary who was receiving benefits pursuant to the election of an option by a deceased disability retiree.\nId. at 698, 483 S.E.2d at 431.\nThus, the plaintiffs include all class members who had been employed for more than five years as of 1 July 1982 and whose retirement and disability benefits were vested under either the Teachers\u2019 and State Employees\u2019 Retirement System of North Carolina or the North Carolina Local Governmental Employees\u2019 Retirement System.\nOn 1 July 1982, the method of calculating disability benefit payments was changed so that the plaintiffs received less in disability payments than they would have received had they retired for disability prior to that date. All of the plaintiffs became disabled after 1 July 1982 and received benefits which were reduced from what they would have received if there had been no change in the law on 1 July 1982. Plaintiff Woodard died after the commencement of this action and his widow was substituted as a plaintiff.\nIn its decision, the Supreme Court held that the change in calculation of the plaintiffs\u2019 disability benefits by the retirement systems impaired their contractual rights. Id. at 694, 483 S.E.2d at 429. According to the decision in Faulkenbury, the additional disability payments owed to the plaintiffs were to be determined by applying N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 128-32 and N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 135-10 which have virtually identical provisions as follows:\nShould any change or error in the records result in any member or beneficiary receiving from the Retirement System more or less than he would have been entitled to receive had the records been correct, the Board of Trustees shall correct such error, and as far as practicable, shall adjust the payment in such a manner that the actuarial equivalent of the benefit to which such member or beneficiary was correctly entitled shall be paid.\nN.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 128-32 (1995) (local government employees); N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 135-10 (1997) (state government employees).\nThe trial court held in its 21 July 1995 judgment that it \u201cretainfed] jurisdiction ... to decide at a second trial, if necessary, the issues of specific amounts of underpayments, interest and actuarial interest due to each class member. ...\u201d\nIn addressing this matter, the Supreme Court stated that the relevant statute sections showed it was the intent of the General Assembly that \u201cif there was an underpayment of a pension compensation, it would be paid at the actuarial value.\u201d Faulkenbury, 345 N.C. at 695, 483 S.E.2d at 430. Regarding the payment of interest on underpayments, the Supreme Court stated that if the state or local governments possessed sovereign immunity, it was waived by N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 135-1(2), which defines actuarial equivalent as a \u201cbenefit of equal value when computed upon the basis of such mortality tables as shall be adopted by the Board of Trustees, and regular interest.\u201d Id. at 696, 482 S.E.2d at 430 (quoting N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 135-1(2) (1995)). Further, the Court noted that N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 128-21(2) defines actuarial equivalent as a \u201cbenefit of equal value when computed at regular interest upon the basis of such mortality tables as shall be adopted by the Board of Trustees.\u201d Id. (quoting N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 128-21(2) (1995)). Also, the Supreme Court held that these sections require regular interest at four percent (4%) to be included in the actuarial value so the plaintiffs are entitled to the actuarial value of underpayments including interest. Id.\nThus, pursuant to Faulkenbury, the plaintiffs who were presently receiving disability benefits were entitled to pursue claims for underpayments for the three years before these actions were commenced. Faulkenbury, 345 N.C. at 695-96, 483 S.E.2d at 429-30. Further, in determining that plaintiffs were entitled to regular interest on the underpayments, the Court stated the following in addressing the defendants\u2019 argument:\nThe defendants say that allowing recompense under all these sections gives the plaintiffs double recovery. They say that the payment of underpayments at their actuarial equivalent will fully compensate the plaintiffs and that the plaintiffs should not be paid interest. We disagree.\nIn allowing interest, the court was following the definition of actuarial equivalent prescribed by N.C.G.S. \u00a7 128-21(2) and N.C.G.S. \u00a7 135-1(2). There is no double recovery.\nId.\nIn its decision, the Supreme Court remanded the case to the trial court for a determination of the additional disability benefits due the plaintiffs.\nAt the hearing in the trial court, the evidence consisted of the deposition testimony of the parties\u2019 respective actuarial experts. The plaintiffs offered the deposition testimony of their expert, Robert G. Sanford Jr. (Sanford), along with various exhibits in support of his calculations. The defendants offered the deposition testimony of their expert, Donald M. Overholser (Overholser). In arriving at his conclusion of the additional disability benefits due the plaintiffs, Sanford utilized a calculation of actuarial equivalent which required the inclusion of a mortality factor. The defendants\u2019 expert, Overholser, calculated the additional disability benefits without the application of a mortality factor.\nOn 25 August 1997, the trial court found that Sanford\u2019s \u201ccalculations and methodology are in accord with the statutory definition of actuarial equivalent and contain the correct calculation and methodology for calculating pension underpayments\u201d due the plaintiffs. The trial court then ordered that the additional disability benefits due the plaintiffs be \u201ccalculated by application of the statutory definition of actuarial equivalent\u201d based on a mortality factor as testified to by Sanford. On 24 October 1997, another hearing was held after which the trial court entered an order upholding the plaintiffs\u2019 claim for judgment interest and denied the defendants\u2019 motion for a stay of the order of 25 August 1997.\nOn appeal, where the facts are not at issue, a de novo standard of review is applied in determining whether an error of law exists. Ayers v. Bd. of Adjust. for Town of Robersonville, 113 N.C. App. 528, 530, 439 S.E.2d 199, 201, disc. review denied, 336 N.C. 71, 445 S.E.2d 28 (1994); Capricorn Equity Corp. v. Town of Chapel Hill, 334 N.C. 132, 431 S.E.2d 183 (1993). \u201cAny error made in interpreting a statute is an error of law.\u201d Savings & Loan League v. Credit Union Comm., 302 N.C. 458, 464, 276 S.E.2d 404, 409 (1981).\nOn appeal, the defendants contend that the trial court erred as a matter of law in requiring the payment of additional disability benefits based on a mortality factor because it mistakenly interpreted the statutes governing the retirement system and the Supreme Court\u2019s decision in Faulkenbury. The defendants further contend that the use of a mortality factor is not relevant in the calculation of additional disability benefits owed to the plaintiffs or their survivors as there is no risk of such benefits being forfeited. On the other hand, the plaintiffs contend that both N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 128-32 and \u00a7 135-10 require that the actuarial equivalent based on a mortality factor be used to calculate the amount of additional disability benefits to be paid as determined by the decision in Faulkenbury. Furthermore, the plaintiffs argue that since they faced the risk of dying before having received the additional disability benefits, the use of a mortality factor is relevant in making the calculations.\nThe plaintiffs\u2019 expert, Sanford, testified that he is employed as a consulting actuary with ADP Benefit Services in Richmond, Virginia, where he has 20 years of experience in the design, financing, management, and administration of employee benefit programs. Sanford noted that he had been contacted by the plaintiffs\u2019 counsel and informed \u201cthat there had been a decision that a group of retirees were entitled to be caught up\u201d and paid \u201cpast underpaid retirement benefits.\u201d He stated that he was \u201chired to perform the calculation of the amount needed to make up for those past benefits.\u201d In his approach to this case, Sanford stated that he reviewed the statutes applicable to the retirement systems in Chapters 135 and 128 and the Supreme Court\u2019s decision in Faulkenbury, all of which were furnished to him by the plaintiffs\u2019 counsel. He explained why his approach included a mortality factor in his calculations in addition to the regular interest.\nOn direct examination, he testified:\nQ. In your- opinion what is missing from a calculation made . . . using only the four percent interest component?\nA. This plan\u2019s definition defines two components in computing the actuarial equivalent. One is the regular interest and the other is the prescribed mortality tables. ...\nSanford then gave an explanation of \u201cactuarial equivalent\u201d as follows:\nThe Actuarial Equivalent of a benefit is the amount of money that a benefit is \u2018worth\u2019 at a given date based on a stated mortality table and interest rate. If the Actuarial Equivalent of a benefit is determined at the beginning of the benefit payout period, it is determined by discounting the future benefit payments for both interest and mortality, i.e. the probability that the person will survive to receive each future benefit [payment]. If the Actuarial Equivalent of a benefit is determined at the end of a payment period, the reverse is true. The \u2018accumulated\u2019 Actuarial Equivalent must accumulate prior benefits with interest over the past time period and also for the inverse of mortality, or the \u2018benefit of survivorship.\u2019\nFurther, on direct examination, Sanford was asked to illustrate the actuarial equivalent with a hypothetical where a person\u2019s benefit is incorrect at age 50 and corrected at age 55:\nQ. If you will, illustrate for us . . . what it is you are talking about when you say actuarial equivalent with reference, say to a person 50 years old and, say, for over a period of five years. Illustrate . . . with reference to that person where the benefit is incorrect at age 50 and is corrected \u2014 when that person reaches the age of 55.\nA. We are dealing with a single benefit of $1,000 that was payable at age 50. And we are going to accumulate that for mortality and 4 percent interest. The interest accumulation would \u2014 just using simple interest on the original amount, would accumulate $40 every year.. . .\nThe reflection of the mortality component requires that you select \u2014 you construct what we call a life table based on these mortality rates. You start with one person in your life table at age 50 . . . let\u2019s assume that every year the chance of dying is 1 percent. At age 51, we are down to .99 of a person, .98,.97,. . . .\nThe actuarial equivalent of the $1,000 is your original $1,000 plus your $200 interest divided by the .95. There is a 5 percent chance of dying over the five year period.\nQ. And so the bottom line answer to the equation you have on the bottom there, then, would give you the actuarial equivalent of what that person should have gotten over that five year period.\nA. Yes.\nOn cross-examination, Sanford was questioned further about how he defined the \u201cbenefit of survivorship.\u201d\nQ. And what do you mean by the benefit of survivorship?\nA. The benefit of survivorship is this mortality factor we went through here where you \u2014 it is basically the probability of having died from the time those payments were made until the present time.\nQ. What is the benefit of survivorship in this instance?\nA. . . . [I]t is a calculation that, I believe is called for under the plan, that in addition to the interest component of actuarial equivalent it prescribes that mortality be reflected in the calculation.\nQ. Well, why would you reflect the benefit of survivorship if whether the person lives doesn\u2019t make any difference?\nA. Because the plan definition calls for it.\nIn referring to his hypothetical of an incorrect benefit being paid to a person at age 50, but corrected at age 55, Sanford testified as follows:\nQ. And why is that \u2014 can you tell us simply why that is the value of it?\nA. The interest component is just a simple accumulation on the $1,000 for five years. The mortality component \u2014 it shows here that the probability of dying in that five year period is 5 percent. And that is the survivorship piece that gets added on.\nQ. And the significance there is that some people die and do not receive their money?\nA. Right. The concept is, you know, a little bit like you are accumulating a retirement fund and everybody is setting aside money, but some people will not live to ever receive anything. And part of the funding for the people who do survive will come from the money that is forfeited by the people that die in the meantime. That is, you know, somewhat of an idea of this benefit of survivorship.\nIn summary, Sanford testified that his approach of using a mortality factor was based on the usual assumption of a risk that benefits would not be paid to a survivor of a member and thus would be forfeited. While the plaintiffs argue that they faced the risk of dying before having received the additional disability benefits, Sanford stated that he included the benefit of survivorship in his calculations because he understood the plan called for it. He admitted his calculations were based on benefits not being paid to a survivor of a member.\nThe defendants\u2019 expert, Overholser, testified that he is employed at Buck Consultants where he is the principal consulting actuary and works primarily with governmental retirement systems. He serves as director of the public employees\u2019 retirement system consulting practice for the firm and is a member of both task forces that worked with the governmental accounting standards board in setting their standards for public pension plans. He is also the chairman of the subcommittee on public retirement systems of the Academy of Actuaries. In addition, he currently serves as the actuary for the statewide retirement systems in South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama, as well as for the teachers\u2019 retirement system in Kentucky, and has served as actuary for the retirement systems in North Carolina since 1985.\nOverholser explained that he examined the same information as Sanford, including the Faulkenbury decision, relevant statutes, and mortality tables. On direct examination he was asked:\nQ. [W]hat is an actuarial equivalent or what is it supposed to be?\nA. It is a payment of equivalent value. Mr. Sanford in his testimony gave a definition of actuarial equivalent, which I would say is pretty accurate. It is just converting one stream of payments into another stream of payments so that they are equivalent when taking into account the time value of money and the chance or probability that a person will receive payment or a series of payments.\nIn all actuarial calculations that deal with equivalency, three factors are considered: the benefits to be paid, the time value of money factor, and the survivorship factor are always combined and you get a value on that basis. Doing this you can always equate streams of payments. This is kind of what the concept of actuarial equivalent is.\nIn his capacity as a consulting actuary for this State\u2019s retirement systems, he stated that actuarial equivalent factors were regularly used.\nQ. And when would they use them?\nA. When members retire, if they elect an optional form of benefit which is the actuarial equivalent of their basic benefit, the factors are used to convert the regular allowance into the optional allowance, into the actuarial equivalent of the optional allowance.\nQ. [W]ould that be, for example, if someone retired at age 65 and then instead of taking the maximum benefit he chose to take a smaller benefit so that his wife could have a benefit after his death? Is that when you use this calculation?\nA. The kind you just described is a joint survivor benefit or a sur-vivorship benefit where you leave a benefit to a survivor after your death.\nOverholser then testified that he disagreed with the calculations by Sanford. He explained his disagreement in the following manner:\nI disagree with the calculations in the context of the . . . decision of the court in this case.\nThese factors and this calculation would be appropriate if we were only going to make payments to the members who have survived until the present time. These calculations build in a sur-vivorship factor when there is really no contingency risk or forfeiture of the benefits.\nAccording to the court ruling, not only the people who survive would be entitled to payment, but also the people who have died since they received the payments and before the present time. So there is really no risk of forfeiture; hence there is no sur-vivorship value involved. Hence the mortality or survivor factor would not be involved in these calculations.\nOverholser was further asked to explain how he interpreted the language of the retirement statutes to his determination that a mortality factor is not relevant in the calculation of additional disability benefits here.\nQ. And how would you relate the language in the statutory provision about the mortality tables to your opinion that no calculation for mortality should be included?\nA. Well, in calculating actuarial equivalency, you apply a mortality table if it is relevant to the calculation, in particular if there is a benefit of survivorship involved. If there is no benefit of sur-vivorship, you do not introduce the mortality element. . .. Where there is an element of risk of forfeiture involved, . . . you do reflect the mortality. . . .\nThere is nothing at all contradictory in not using mortality here because it doesn\u2019t enter into an actuarial equivalent calculation when there is no element of forfeiture or risk.\nQ. Are you aware of any experience or any instance in which mortality tables are used to calculate an actuarial equivalent when the risk of mortality does not prevent payment.\nA. I am not.\nIn summary, Overholser explained that to include a mortality factor in the calculation when there was no risk of losing benefits would be to create \u201cvalue out of nothing.\u201d He stated Sanford\u2019s calculations would be correct if you have to survive to get the benefit, and those who do survive would get a \u201cwindfall, a benefit of survivorship, because [they] profit from the forfeiture of benefits by the people who have died in the interim.\u201d However, Overholser concluded that since the Court had ordered that the additional disability benefits be paid \u201cto people who have died ... there is no benefit of survivorship] from forfeiture.\u201d\nTherefore, it is apparent from the testimony of Sanford and Overholser that the foundation of the mortality factor used in the calculation of a retroactive benefit is premised on whether that benefit is forfeited by a member who does not survive to the time of payment and whether that payment which is forfeited is paid to those members who have survived from the original group.\nBlack\u2019s Law Dictionary defines mortality tables as, \u201cA means of ascertaining the probable number of years any man or woman of a given age and of ordinary health will live.\u201d Black\u2019s Law Dictionary, 1009 (6th ed. 1991). \u201cA mortality table should only be used for the purpose it is meant to fulfill.\u201d Vinson & Elkins v. Commissioner, 99 T.C. 9, 53 (1992), affirmed, 7 F. 3d 1235 (1993) (explaining the determination of which mortality table was to be used in determining pre-retirement death benefits versus post-retirement annuities). The key factor in determining when to apply a mortality factor is whether or not survivorship is a risk factor in the calculation of benefits to be paid. As Sanford explained in his testimony, the benefit of surviv-orship is \u201cthe probability of having died from the time those payments were made until the present time\u201d with those payments being forfeited.\nWithin the retirement statutes a mortality factor is relevant, as Overholser pointed out, when, for example, an employee retires, instead of taking the maximum benefit, he chooses to take a smaller benefit so that his beneficiary can have a larger benefit after the employee\u2019s death. In this example, the life expectancy of the employee determines the amount of the benefit because it affects the likelihood that the benefit will continue to a certain point. The use of mortality tables may be ignored if a forfeiture of compensation does not occur at death. William H. Schmidt, Limitations on Contributions and Benefits, C529 A.L.I.-A.B.A. 137 (1990) (explaining the use of mortality tables in determining the actuarial equivalence of a defined benefit plan). \u201c[I]t is a well settled rule of statutory construction that, where a literal interpretation of the language of a statute would contravene the manifest purpose of the statute, the reason and purpose of the law will be given effect and the strict letter thereof disregarded.\u201d Matter of Banks, 295 N.C. 236, 240, 244 S.E.2d 386, 389 (1978).\nThe plaintiffs argue they faced the risk of dying while awaiting the underpayments while Sanford\u2019s calculations were based on the risk of forfeiting these payments by members who had died. Our retirement statutes do not recognize the risk asserted by the plaintiffs and included in Sanford\u2019s calculations. Since there is no forfeiture of payments by deceased members, there are no other risks associated with these underpayments.\nWe have carefully reviewed all relevant statutes and the decision in Faulkenbury including the option elections for retirees and we find no authority which mandates the calculation of additional disability benefits as contended by the plaintiffs.\nThe trial court construed the Supreme Court\u2019s decision in Faulkenbury to mandate the use of a mortality factor in computing the actuarial equivalent of the additional disability benefits. We do not construe our retirement statutes and the decision in Faulkenbury to mandate such a construction. The trial court erred as a matter of law in ordering that the additional disability benefits due plaintiffs be calculated according to the plaintiffs\u2019 expert.\nNext, the defendants contend that the trial court erred in allowing the plaintiffs to collect post-judgment interest on their retroactive benefits. The trial court awarded post-judgment interest at the legal rate of eight percent (8%), as set by N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 24-1 (1991), in addition to the regular interest of four percent (4%) required under the retirement statutes.\nThe plaintiffs contend that they should be granted post-judgment interest pursuant to our Supreme Court\u2019s decision in Smith v. State, 289 N.C. 303, 222 S.E.2d 412 (1976). In that decision, the Supreme Court held that when the State enters into a contract, it implicitly agrees to be sued for damages. The Court further held that when the State is sued for damages, it will \u201coccupy the same position as any other litigant.\u201d Id. at 320, 222 S.E.2d at 424. Therefore, the plaintiffs argue that if the State is to be treated like \u201cany other litigant,\u201d that means it should be required to pay post-judgment interest. However, the defendants contend that despite the holding in Smith, the State is not required to pay post-judgment interest unless there is statutory authority requiring it to do so.\nOur Courts have held that the State is not required to pay interest on its obligations unless it is required to do so by contract or by statute. Stanley v. Retirement and Health Benefits Division, 66 N.C. App. 122, 123, 310 S.E.2d 637, 638, disc. review denied, 310 N.C. 626, 315 S.E.2d 692 (1984); Davidson & Jones, Inc. v. N.C. Dept. of Administration, 69 N.C. App. 563, 570, 317 S.E.2d 718, 723, affirmed in part and reversed in part, 315 N.C. 144, 337 S.E.2d 463 (1985); Yancey v. Highway Commission, 222 N.C. 106, 109, 22 S.E.2d 256, 259 (1942). This has been the long established rule in this State. The decision in Smith did not change this rule. In Smith, the issue of whether to allow post-judgment interest was not before the Court. Instead, that case dealt with the issue of whether a plaintiff could sue the State in a breach of contract action. Smith, 289 N.C. at 320, 222 S.E.2d at 424. The decisions by our appellate courts since Smith confirm this point. See Stanley, 66 N.C. App. at 123, 310 S.E.2d at 638; See Davidson & Jones, Inc., 69 N.C. App. at 570, 317 S.E.2d at 723.\nUnder our retirement statutes, N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 135-1(2) and \u00a7 128-21(2), regular interest is to be included in the payment of retroactive retirement benefits. Statutes that allow recovery against the State are to be strictly construed. Myers v. Dept. of Crime Control, 67 N.C. App. 553, 555, 313 S.E.2d 276, 277 (1984). In Myers, this Court held that the plaintiff was not entitled to post-judgment interest on an award of damages under the State Tort Claims Act. Id. This Court, following the reasoning in Yancey, stated that post-judgment interest is not collectible against the State without authorization by the General Assembly or unless the State has agreed to do so. Id. The Court further noted that interest can be assessed at the legal rate on recovery of workers\u2019 compensation benefits because N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 97-86.2 provided that such interest was to be awarded. Id. at 555-56, 313 S.E.2d at 277. However, N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 24-1 et seq., which allows for post-judgment interest, contains no provision for the allowance of such interest to be awarded against the State. The General Assembly has not authorized the allowance of post-judgment interest against the State but has provided that all retirement benefits shall include regular interest of four percent (4%). Therefore, post-judgment interest should not have been awarded against the defendants.\nIn conclusion, the order of the trial court is reversed and the case is remanded for a determination of additional disability benefits owed to the plaintiffs consistent with this opinion.\nReversed and remanded.\nJudges LEWIS and MARTIN, John C., concur.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "WALKER, Judge."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "G. Eugene Boyce and Marvin Schiller for plaintiffs-appellees.",
      "Attorney General Michael F. Easley, by Senior Deputy Attorney General Edwin M. Speas, Jr., Special Deputy Attorney General Norma S. Harrell, and Special Deputy Attorney General Alexander McC. Peters, for defendants-appellants."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "DOROTHY M. FAULKENBURY, on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated, Plaintiff v. TEACHERS\u2019 AND STATE EMPLOYEES\u2019 RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF NORTH CAROLINA, a corporation; BOARD OF TRUSTEES TEACHERS\u2019 AND STATE EMPLOYEES\u2019 RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF NORTH CAROLINA, a body politic and corporate; DENNIS DUCKER, Director of the Retirement Systems Division and Deputy Treasurer of the State of North Carolina (in his official capacity); HARLAN E. BOYLES, Treasurer of the State of North Carolina and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Teachers\u2019 and State Employees\u2019 Retirement System of North Carolina, (in his official capacity); and STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, Defendants WILLIAM H. WOODARD, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, Plaintiff v. NORTH CAROLINA LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES\u2019 RETIREMENT SYSTEM, a corporation; BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE NORTH CAROLINA LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES\u2019 RETIREMENT SYSTEM, a body politic and corporate; DENNIS DUCKER, Director of the Retirement Systems Division and Deputy Treasurer of the State of North Carolina (in his official capacity); HARLAN E. BOYLES, Treasurer of the State of North Carolina and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the North Carolina Governmental Employees\u2019 Retirement System (in his official capacity); and STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, Defendants BONNIE G. PEELE, on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated, Plaintiff v. TEACHERS\u2019 AND STATE EMPLOYEES\u2019 RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF NORTH CAROLINA, a corporation; BOARD OF TRUSTEES TEACHERS\u2019 AND STATE EMPLOYEES\u2019 RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF NORTH CAROLINA, a body politic and corporate; DENNIS DUCKER, Director of the Retirement Systems Division and Deputy Treasurer of the State of North Carolina (in his official capacity); HARLAN E. BOYLES, Treasurer of the State of North Carolina and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Teachers\u2019 and State Employees\u2019 Retirement System of North Carolina, (in his official capacity); and STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, Defendants RALPH R. HAILEY, JR., on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, Plaintiff v. TEACHERS\u2019 AND STATE EMPLOYEES\u2019 RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF NORTH CAROLINA, a corporation; BOARD OF TRUSTEES TEACHERS\u2019 AND STATE EMPLOYEES\u2019 RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF NORTH CAROLINA, a body politic and corporate; DENNIS DUCKER, Director of the Retirement Systems Division and Deputy Treasurer of the State of North Carolina (in his official capacity); HARLAN E. BOYLES, Treasurer of the State of North Carolina and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Teachers\u2019 and State Employees\u2019 Retirement System of North Carolina, (in his official capacity); and STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, Defendants\nNo. COA97-1365\n(Filed 2 February 1999)\n1. Pensions and Retirement\u2014 State disability benefits \u2014 calculation \u2014 mortality factor\nThe trial court erred as a matter of law in ordering that the additional disability benefits due plaintiffs under Faulkenbury v. Teachers' and State Employees\u2019 Ret, Sys. of North Carolina, 345 N.C. 683, be calculated according to plaintiffs\u2019 expert where the trial court construed the Supreme Court\u2019s decision as mandating the use of a mortality factor in computing the actuarial equivalent of additional disability benefits. While plaintiffs argue that they faced the risk of dying while awaiting the underpayments, there is no forfeiture of payments by deceased members and the retirement statutes and the Faulkenbury decision do not mandate use of a mortality factor in computing the actuarial equivalent.\n2. Pensions and Retirement\u2014 State disability benefits\u2014 retroactive payments \u2014 interest\nThe trial court erred by allowing plaintiffs (State and local employees) to collect post-judgment interest on retroactive disability benefits. The State of North Carolina is not required to pay interest on its obligations unless it is required to do so by contract or by statute; here, the General Assembly has not authorized the allowance of post-judgment interest but has provided that all retirement benefits shall include regular interest at 4%.\nAppeal by defendants from judgments entered 25 August 1997 and 24 October 1997 by Judge Narley L. Cashwell in Wake County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 19 August 1998.\nG. Eugene Boyce and Marvin Schiller for plaintiffs-appellees.\nAttorney General Michael F. Easley, by Senior Deputy Attorney General Edwin M. Speas, Jr., Special Deputy Attorney General Norma S. Harrell, and Special Deputy Attorney General Alexander McC. Peters, for defendants-appellants."
  },
  "file_name": "0137-01",
  "first_page_order": 171,
  "last_page_order": 184
}
