NH Group II Members File Lawsuit Against the State of New Hampshire Over Unjust Pension Cuts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Concord, NH 10/31/2024) – Members of the New Hampshire Retirement System, Group II, Tier B have filed a lawsuit against the State of New Hampshire, challenging the unlawful and unfair reduction of pensions for the state’s retired and active Police Officers, Probation/Parole Officers, Corrections Officers, Firefighters, and Nurses. The legal action aims to reverse the legislative changes in 2012 which retroactively affected first responders. Our main goal is to restore the retirement benefits that have been unjustly stripped away, causing distrust between first responders and lawmakers, recruitment and retention challenges, as well as unwarranted and undue hardship for those who have dedicated their lives to protecting and serving New Hampshire’s residents.

In recent years, Group II members-including Police Officers, Probation/Parole Officers, Corrections Officers, Firefighters, and Nurses -have faced significant cuts to their pension benefits. These reductions were imposed unfairly despite these first responders fulfilling their obligations and paying into the retirement system, with the expectation of financial security in their later years.

“This lawsuit represents the culmination of years of effort to correct the wrongs inflicted upon New Hampshire’s first responders-the guardians and caretakers of our communities,” said Seifu Ragassa, President of the NH Group II Retirement Coalition. “We have exhausted legislative channels and have attempted negotiations, but the state continues to turn a blind eye to the plight of its most dedicated public servants. Now, we are taking legal action to ensure fairness and justice.”

Attorneys for the Plaintiffs, William D. Woodbury, James F. Lafrance and Benjamin T. King issued the following joint statement: “The challenged amendments to RSA 100-A revoked rights, privileges and property interests of certain Group II public employees in the New Hampshire Retirement System that all Group II public employees enjoyed before the amendments became law, violating the federal and state constitutional rights of the aggrieved employees.  We look forward to vindicating the constitutional rights of these public employees and restoring the retirement benefits wrongfully taken from them.”

The NH Group II Retirement Coalition has long advocated for restoring these benefits through legislative efforts and public awareness campaigns. Despite some incremental legislative progress, including prior adjustments to the retirement system, the state’s refusal to fully address the situation has left the Coalition with no choice but to pursue legal action.