As has been reported in the press and on this blog the Retired Employees Association of Orange County (REAOC) is suing the County of Orange and its Board of Supervisors over changes made by the Board to the limited medical insurance benefits that currently retired former county employees receive. An initial Federal Court hearing and decision found in the County’s favor, but the retired employees are pursuing an appeal.
The REAOC litigation effort is financed by monetary donations made by retirees. Some make those donations by means of authorizing a monthly deduction from their retirement checks. The Orange County Retirement System (OCERS) makes such deductions at the request of the individual retirees.
Apparently the County is worried about this litigation and may enact a policy that would prohibit OCERS from making such payroll deductions on behalf of retirees. Item No. 25 on the Board of Supervisors agenda next Tuesday (September 22) would if enacted attempt to put a stop to the retirement check deduction for litigation, thereby hindering the raising of funds to continue to sue the County on this issue.
The message seems to be that if you fear that you cannot win in a fair fight, then try to disarm your opponent in the middle of the fight. It’s easier to win a fight if your opponent is unarmed and has one hand tied behind their back. Never mind that all the retirees are seeking is their due process legal rights in court.
greedy greedy greedy
Sounds like shrewd legal strategy on the part of the Supervisors, though some might classify it as dirty tricks. Unfortunately from the various highly publicized celebrity trials of the last several years we have learned that the more funds one has for a court fight the greater the likelihood of victory.