Hester v. State ( 2021 )

FILE THIS OPINION WAS FILED
FOR RECORD AT 8 A.M. ON
IN CLERK’S OFFICE MARCH 25, 2021
SUPREME COURT, STATE OF WASHINGTON
MARCH 25, 2021
SUSAN L. CARLSON
SUPREME COURT CLERK
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
GAILIN HESTER, BRETT YACKLIN, )
DOUG CLEVENGER and GREG ULRICH,)
each individually and on behalf of their )
respective marital communities, and on ) No. 98495-6
behalf of all others similarly situated, )
)
Petitioners, )
)
v. ) En Banc
)
STATE OF WASHINGTON; )
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF )
RETIREMENT SYSTEMS; and )
WASHINGTON STATE PATROL, )
)
Respondents. )
) Filed : March 25, 2021
JOHNSON, J.—This case involves a challenge to former RCW
43.43.120(23)(a) (2001), which excluded certain overtime from the calculation of
the monthly pension benefit granted under the Washington State Patrol Retirement
System (WSPRS). Four Washington State troopers (Troopers) hired before the
Hester v. State, No. 98495-6
statute became effective claim that this exclusion of voluntary overtime from the
calculation of their monthly pensions is an unconstitutional impairment of their
contract with the State in violation of article I, section 10 of the United States
Constitution and article I, section 23 of the Washington State Constitution.1 On
cross motions for summary judgment, the trial court ruled that (1) the statute of
limitations was three years and accrued at retirement, (2) there remained issues of
material fact regarding whether the change was offset by comparable benefits, and
(3) the change was reasonable and necessary to serve a legitimate public purpose.
We affirm the trial court’s rulings on the statute of limitations and on comparable
benefits. However, we vacate its legitimate public purpose ruling as premature
given that the issue of comparable benefits remains for trial. We therefore affirm
and remand for additional proceedings.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
The WSPRS was created in 1947 for the benefit of commissioned
Washington State troopers. Chapter 43.43 RCW. This case arises out of a
legislative amendment to the WSPRS enacted in 2001. Specifically, the Troopers
challenge an amendment altering what was included in their “average final salary.”
1
The trial court did not rule on the Troopers’ motion for class certification. The Troopers
are presented as a putative class for purposes of this case.
2
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The amendment excluded certain voluntary overtime pay from the calculation of
the amount of the monthly pension they would receive.
Since its inception, chapter 43.43 RCW has provided a monthly pension for
retired members of WSPRS under statutory definitions. The monthly pension is
calculated by multiplying two percent of the “average final salary” by the number
of years of service. RCW 43.43.260(1)-(2). The definition of “average final salary”
and what is included in that computation has changed over time. The relevant
definition in this case is the “average monthly salary” for a period of two years
leading up to retirement, or any consecutive two-year period of service, whichever
is greater. See RCW 43.43.120(3)(a). 2 But the statute did not originally define what
was included in an employee’s “salary” for the average monthly salary calculation.
Without a definition, the salary simply calculated all salary earned, including all
overtime worked during the relevant two-year period.
The inclusion of all overtime in computing average monthly salary
generated a practice the parties refer to as “pension spiking” or “pension
ballooning.” Appellants’ Corrected Opening Br. at 20, 31; Br. of Resp’ts at 1, 31.
The practice was that a trooper knows their monthly pension will be calculated
2
Engrossed Senate Bill 5143, which contains the legislative amendment at issue in this
case, created two classes of retirees upon its enactment in 2001. One plan governed currently
commissioned troopers and the other governed those joining on or after July 1, 2003. The salary
definition also delineated between those commissioned before July 1, 2001. The Troopers and
the proposed putative class were commissioned before July 1, 2003 and before July 1, 2001, so
the statutory sections pertaining to troopers commissioned after those dates are not discussed.
3
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based on their average monthly salary during two years of service. And with this
knowledge, troopers approaching retirement would work more overtime than
normal during those years, causing an increase in both their average final salary
and the ultimate monthly pension they receive.3
In 2001, the legislature enacted Engrossed Senate Bill 5143, which added a
definition of “salary” that excluded voluntary overtime from the calculation of
average final salary. LAWS of 2001, ch. 329, § 3(23).4 “Voluntary overtime” was
left undefined, but it was generally interpreted as overtime that employees
volunteer for, rather than overtime that is case driven or assigned by a supervisor.
Voluntary overtime hours have mostly been earned through state contracts with
third parties for security services for special events. Under these third-party
contracts, the State is reimbursed for the salary paid, including benefits. The
exclusion of voluntary overtime from the definition of salary resulted in a decrease
3
In 1999, a report by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee found that “[t]he
average WSPRS retiree had an estimated regular salary of $46,977 and an average final
compensation of $57,633, which was 23 percent above the final two-year regular salary. An
estimated 61 percent of that 23 percent was attributable to overtime earnings in the last two years
of employment.” Clerk’s Papers at 389.
4
The legislature redefined “salary” to include voluntary overtime up to 70 hours per year
after July 1, 2017. LAWS of 2017, ch. 181, § 1(21); RCW 43.43.120(21)(a) (“On or after July 1,
2017, salary shall exclude overtime earnings in excess of seventy hours per year in total related
to either RCW 47.46.040 or any voluntary overtime.”). Although the Troopers argue that they
are challenging the 2017 amended definition in addition to the 2001 definition, this case only
addresses the 2001 amendments because that is the only legislative amendment challenged in the
complaint.
4
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of the possible monthly pension benefit retiring employees will receive by
lowering the compensation included in the calculation of their average final salary.
In addition, the legislature made two other changes impacting the Troopers’
pensions in 2001 that the parties discuss as relevant to the unconstitutional
impairment claim. First, the legislature changed the amount employees must
contribute from their salaries to the pension fund throughout their career from
seven percent of their salaries to the greater of two percent or the employer rate.
LAWS of 2001, ch. 329, § 11. Second, it changed the cost of living adjustment
(COLA), which increases the future monthly pension retired employees receive to
account for inflation. The COLA changed from a fixed two percent increase to a
compounding COLA percentage based on the consumer price index with a
maximum increase of three percent, where additional percentages above three
percent are banked to be used if the following years’ increase falls below three
percent. LAWS of 2001, ch. 329, § 4 (codified at RCW 43.43.260(5)).
On November 29, 2017, four retired troopers hired before the 2001 statutory
amendment sued the State of Washington, the Washington State Department of
Retirement Systems (DRS), and the Washington State Patrol. The Troopers argued
that the legislative amendment improperly excluded overtime they had worked
during the final two years of service prior to retirement from their monthly pension
5
Hester v. State, No. 98495-6
calculation.5 They raised four claims, 6 but pertinent to this appeal, the Troopers
argued that the overtime exclusion was an unconstitutional impairment of their
employment contract pursuant to article I, section 23 of the Washington
Constitution and article I, section 10 of the United States Constitution. The
Troopers sought class certification consisting of a class of similarly situated
troopers. Both parties moved for summary judgment prior to the trial court ruling
on class certification.
The State moved for dismissal and summary judgment. It argued that the
claims were time barred by a three-year statute of limitations for unwritten
contracts and that the statute of limitations accrued at the time the legislative
amendment was enacted in 2001. The Troopers cross moved for summary
judgment on the statute of limitations, contending that a six-year period for written
contracts applied and that the statute of limitations accrued on retirement. The
Troopers also argued that a new limitations period begins every time an impaired
monthly benefit is paid (the continual accrual rule).
The trial court granted in part and denied in part each parties’ motion for
summary judgment. It concluded that a three-year statute of limitations for
5
Each of the named troopers worked voluntary overtime hours, and some worked
substantial amounts of this type of overtime. For example, Greg Ulrich claimed he worked 300
voluntary overtime hours during the two-year period used to calculate his average final salary.
6
The Troopers also claimed that the overtime exclusion was a breach of contract and a
violation of the wage rebate act (ch. 49.52 RCW).
6
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unwritten contracts applied and that the limitations period accrued at retirement. 7
The court also concluded that the continual accrual rule did not apply to the
Troopers’ claims. As a result, the court dismissed the claims of one of the named
troopers, Brett Yacklin, because he had retired more than three years before the
suit was filed. But it allowed the other three named troopers’ claims to move
forward because they had retired less than three years before the suit.
Both parties also moved for summary judgment on the merits. The Troopers
argued that their contract with the State was impaired by the overtime exclusion
because that exclusion lowered the average final salary used to calculate their
monthly pension. They also contended that the overtime exclusion was not
reasonable and necessary to serve a legitimate public purpose and that a lowered
contribution rate and increased COLA percentage were not comparable benefits.
The State countered in its motion for summary judgment that the legislature added
a definition of salary for the purpose of limiting pension spiking by taking away
troopers’ ability and incentive to control an increase in their pensions through
working voluntary overtime. The State argued that the prevention of pension
spiking was a legitimate public purpose necessary to protect the retirement fund’s
integrity, and that the lowered contribution rate and increased COLA adjustment
7
The court also concluded that laches did not bar any of the claims made within the
applicable statute of limitations. Neither party challenges that ruling.
7
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were comparable benefits. The trial court granted the State’s motion for summary
judgment in part, concluding that the State had shown that the overtime exclusion
was reasonable and necessary to serve a legitimate public purpose. But it also
denied summary judgment to both parties by deciding that there were issues of
material fact as to whether the amendments provided comparable benefits.
The Troopers moved the superior court to certify the summary judgment
order for an immediate discretionary review. On February 4, 2019, the superior
court granted the motion, certified the order for discretionary review, and stayed
further proceedings pending a decision on any motion for discretionary review.
Troopers were then granted discretionary review in Division One of the Court of
Appeals, and we granted a subsequent motion to transfer review to this court.
ANALYSIS
Standard of Review
We review summary judgment de novo. Wash. Educ. Ass’n v. Dep’t of Ret.
Sys., 181 Wn.2d 233, 241, 332 P.3d 439 (2014) (WEA). The trial court order
presents only legal issues, which involve application of the constitutionality of the
statutory amendment at issue here. Constitutional issues are questions of law,
which we review de novo. Lenander v. Dep’t of Ret. Sys., 186 Wn.2d 393, 403,
377 P.3d 199 (2016).
8
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Statute of Limitations
Both parties dispute the trial court’s ruling that pension impairment claims
have a statute of limitations that accrues upon retirement and lasts for a period of
three years. We have previously addressed and resolved this issue as applied in
pension impairment claims and have held that these types of claims are subject to a
three-year statute of limitations period, which accrues upon retirement. Noah v.
State, 112 Wn.2d 841, 843, 846, 774 P.2d 516 (1989). Noah involved a similar
dispute claiming a breach of a pension contract based on the legislature’s exclusion
of unused vacation pay in the computation of employees’ “average final salary.” In
that case, since the claims all involved plaintiffs who had retired more than three
years prior to the lawsuit, the trial court had dismissed the claims by applying a
three-year statute of limitations, which we affirmed. We held that the right the
complainant was seeking to establish—using accrued vacation pay in calculating
retirement benefits—was statutorily based. Therefore, even though we recognized
that pension rights cases have some characteristics of a contract and are
characterized as contractual in nature, the public retirement statute in and of itself
did not constitute a complete contract in writing. Noah, 112 Wn.2d at 844-46.8
8
In analyzing the appropriate limitations period for pension impairment claims, Noah
relied on the statute of limitation periods for contracts claims, which have a period that depends
on whether the contract is in writing. RCW 4.16.080(3) (three-year statute of limitations for “an
action upon a contract or liability, express or implied, which is not in writing”), .040(1) (six-year
statute of limitations for “[a]n action upon a contract in writing”).
9
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Other cases have affirmed this rule. WEA, 181 Wn.2d at 248 (“It is well
settled that retirees are subject to a three-year statute of limitations for actions
alleging a breach of pension contracts.”); see also Bowles v. Dep’t of Ret. Sys., 121
Wn.2d 52, 78-79, 847 P.2d 440 (1993). Therefore, the trial court applied these
holdings in ruling that a three-year statute of limitations period applied accruing
upon retirement to the Troopers’ claims.
The parties argue that the trial court’s decision to follow the settled law on
the statute of limitations is incorrect, but none of their arguments are persuasive
and they would require overruling these prior cases. The Troopers argue the trial
court erred by deciding that the continual accrual theory did not apply to these
claims. Appellants’ Corrected Opening Br. at 40. Our cases have not applied the
continual accrual theory to pension impairment claims, but the Troopers primarily
point to California case law to support their argument. Abbott v. City of Los
Angeles, 50 Cal. 2d 438, 462, 326 P.2d 484 (1958); Appellants’ Corrected Opening
Br. at 41-43. The reasoning underlying this theory is that the State impairs and
breaches the employees’ contract rights each time it pays them less than they were
owed. The Troopers argue that this theory is further supported by the law applied
to installment contracts, where each payment is a new obligation and thus breach
of that payment begins a new limitations period. Appellants’ Corrected Opening
Br. at 43.
10
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Applying this theory would cut against the purpose of a statute of
limitations. Retirees could bring a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a
future amendment to the pension system as long as they were receiving a monthly
payment. Although we found California cases persuasive in our seminal pension
case, Bakenhus v. City of Seattle, 48 Wn.2d 695, 296 P.2d 536 (1956), the analogy
to installment contracts is unpersuasive. While Bakenhus relied on a contracts
theory to analyze pension impairment claims, we also recognized that the use of a
contracts analysis in pension cases may “not be flawless in a purely legalistic
sense.” Bakenhus, 48 Wn.2d at 701. Moreover, applying the continual accrual rule
would be contrary to our previous holdings that pension contract claims accrue at
retirement alone and are subject to a three-year statute of limitations, as we held in
Noah.
Second, the Troopers claim that a six-year statute of limitations applies to
their claims because the statute is a contract in writing. RCW 4.16.040(1). But no
support exists for this argument. Again, in Noah, we reasoned that in some cases a
statute may be treated as a contract in writing when there is legislative intent to
create contract rights and where the statute is a complete written contract. We
concluded that the statute governing “Plan 1” of the Public Employees’ Retirement
System (PERS 1) was not one of them and that the claim was subject to a three-
year statute of limitations period. We reasoned that the statute governing PERS 1
11
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was similar to an unwritten contract because the inclusion of unused vacation pay
in the average final salary was an administrative interpretation not contained in the
statute and the statute did not show legislative intent to create a complete contract.
Noah, 112 Wn.2d at 845-46.
Here, the Troopers attempt to distinguish Noah by arguing that the WSPRS,
unlike the PERS 1 statute at issue in Noah, has all the elements of a written
contract. Appellants’ Corrected Opening Br. at 45-47. But this case is similar to
Noah in that the inclusion of overtime was not expressly in the pension statute. The
Troopers have not presented any statutory section supporting a complete contract,
and we find none. Nor does any legislative intent show that the statute was
intended to be a complete contract in writing.
The State also complains that the trial court incorrectly decided that the
statute of limitations period accrues at retirement. Because of the length of time
between the statutory amendment and the suit, the State urges us to conclude that
the statute of limitations accrues at the legislative amendment, 2001 in this case.
Br. of Resp’ts at 16-26. If we agreed with the State, all of the Troopers’ claims
would be barred given that the suit was initiated 17 years after the 2001
amendment.
But we have consistently recognized that pension impairment claims accrue
at the date of retirement rather than at enactment of legislation. Starting with
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Bakenhus, we recognized that no injury occurs until retirement. 48 Wn.2d at 696-
97 (while the statute of limitations was not at issue in Bakenhus, the claim was
brought after retirement and 13 years after a legislative amendment). Similarly in
WEA, we considered a pension impairment claim brought by a class based on an
amendment and repeal to COLA adjustments for PERS 1 and the Teachers’
Retirement System Plan 1. The legislative amendment was enacted 16 years before
the lawsuit was initiated, and while we concluded that the amendment was not an
unconstitutional impairment, we first noted that certain members of the class
would have been allowed to move forward based on an accrual date at retirement
and a statute of limitations period of three years. WEA, 181 Wn.2d at 248-251. The
State counters that claims accrue at retirement only in cases involving a challenge
to a DRS interpretation and that a legislative amendment should establish the time
the claim exists. Br. of Resp’ts at 20-23. But, as noted, we have previously
considered claims occurring more than three years after the date of a legislative
amendment. The State further argues that the discovery rule as applied in contracts
cases supports its claim because retirees have notice of the impact of a legislative
amendment before retirement. Br. of Resp’ts at 23-26. But, as occurred in this
case, no breach occurs until retirement because the statutory computation is not
applied before retirement.
13
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The State does not provide any persuasive reasons to abandon our previous
cases. We affirm the trial court’s ruling on the statute of limitations, which applied
the settled law that these claims accrue at retirement and are subject to a three-year
statute of limitations. We affirm the trial court on these rulings.
Comparable Benefits and Legitimate Public Purpose
The Troopers next argue that they are entitled to summary judgment on the
merits regarding their underlying claim that the State unconstitutionally impaired
their pension contracts in violation of article I, section 23 of the Washington
Constitution and article I, section 10 of the United States Constitution.9 In this type
of claim, we have held the state and federal contracts provisions are interpreted in
the same manner. WEA, 181 Wn.2d at 242.
We considered the extent to which pension contracts may create enforceable
contractual rights in Bakenhus, 48 Wn.2d at 698-701. Bakenhus considered
whether a city’s amendment that decreased the amount of pension benefits
received by a retired police officer was an impairment of the police officer’s
contract with the city. We concluded that pensions are similar to “deferred
compensation for services rendered” and thus the police officer had a vested
9
Article I, section 23 of the Washington Constitution provides that “[n]o . . . law
impairing the obligations of contracts shall ever be passed,” and article I, section 10 of the
United States Constitution similarly provides that “[n]o State shall . . . pass any . . . Law
impairing the Obligation of Contracts.”
14
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contractual right to the previous method of calculating his monthly pension.
Bakenhus, 48 Wn.2d at 698. We found persuasive California cases holding that any
modification of pension benefits must be for the purpose of ensuring the continued
flexibility and integrity of the pension system, otherwise they are invalid. We also
noted that to be valid, any impairment must create and provide “‘comparable new
advantages.’” Bakenhus, 48 Wn.2d at 702 (quoting Allen v. City of Long Beach, 45
Cal. 2d 128, 131, 287 P.2d 765 (1955)). We found that because the decrease in
pension benefits was not reasonable or necessary to maintain the flexibility or
integrity of the pension system and because it provided no comparable benefit, the
city had impaired the officer’s contract and the statutory revisions could not be
constitutionally applied in those circumstances.
While Bakenhus is our seminal case analyzing pension impairment claims,
we have since clarified that its principles operate within a broader context for
claims of impairment of other public contracts. As an analytical tool, we ask, “(1)
whether a contractual relationship exists, (2) whether the legislation substantially
impairs the contractual relationship, and (3) if there is substantial impairment,
whether the impairment is reasonable and necessary to serve a legitimate public
purpose.” WEA, 181 Wn.2d at 243. But the requirements of flexibility, integrity,
and comparable benefits recognized in Bakenhus strongly inform this analysis in
pension impairment cases, and, in particular, the application of the substantial
15
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impairment prong. More specifically, for an impairment to be unconstitutional, no
comparable benefits must exist. This is based on a theory of mutual assent; assent
to a legislative modification negatively impacting pension benefits is presumed if
that legislation also provides a comparable or greater benefit. Thus, there is “no
contract impairment so long as those disadvantageous modifications were
accompanied by comparable new advantages.” WEA, 181 Wn.2d at 249.
Here, the trial court’s summary judgment order was twofold: (1) there
remained issues of material fact about whether the amendment provided benefits
comparable to the exclusion of certain overtime pay and (2) there were no issues of
material fact that the overtime exclusion was reasonable and necessary to serve a
legitimate public purpose.
The parties do not dispute that a limited contract right to the inclusion of
voluntary overtime had vested for the first prong of the test. Under the second
prong, as previously mentioned, substantial impairment is measured by the extent
to which the legislation provides comparable benefits.
The trial court does not explicitly mention the substantial impairment prong
in its ruling. Instead, the trial court’s order denied summary judgment on whether
the amendment provided comparable benefits, concluding that genuine issues of
material fact existed based on the expert calculations filed. The parties provided
detailed and conflicting expert declarations regarding whether the amendment
16
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provided benefits comparable to the inclusion of overtime in the calculation of
average final salary. The experts disagree on the method of calculating these
alleged benefits over the length of retirement and the assumptions made in those
calculations. We agree with the trial court that these are factual disputes requiring
resolution at trial. We therefore affirm that part of the trial court’s ruling and
reiterate that comparable benefits is a part of the substantial impairment analysis,
which remains an issue for trial.
As to the third prong, we vacate the trial court’s ruling that the overtime
exclusion was reasonable and necessary to serve the legitimate public purpose of
preventing pension spiking. We have concluded since Bakenhus that pension
benefits might be modified where the purpose of maintaining the flexibility and
integrity of the pension system is threatened, and we have analyzed this issue
within the substantial impairment prong. Lenander, 186 Wn.2d at 415. Even when
a modification is justified by a legitimate purpose, our cases have concluded that
“the modifications must be accompanied by corresponding benefits.” Wash. Fed’n
of State Emps. v. State, 98 Wn.2d 677, 689, 658 P.2d 634 (1983) (emphasis added).
The Troopers argue that the exclusion of overtime could not have advanced
a legitimate public purpose because the investments that fund their pensions were
overfunded at the time of the amendment and therefore the financial integrity of
the fund was not threatened. Appellants’ Corrected Opening Br. at 30. But because
17
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legitimate public purpose is tied to the issues of substantial impairment and
comparable benefits, and because we affirm the trial court’s ruling that genuine
issues of material fact remain regarding whether the benefits provided by the
amendment were equal to or more advantageous than the inclusion of overtime, it
was premature to rule on the issue of legitimate public purpose where the question
of comparable benefits remains an issue for trial. Therefore, we vacate the trial
court’s ruling on that issue.
CONCLUSION
We affirm the trial court’s ruling that the statute of limitations accrues on
retirement and lasts for three years. We also affirm its ruling that there are genuine
issues of material fact as to whether the amendment provided benefits equal to or
more advantageous than the overtime exclusion. But we vacate the trial court’s
ruling that the overtime exclusion was reasonable and necessary to serve a
legitimate public purpose. A decision on that third prong of the public contracts
analysis was premature without knowing the existence and financial extent of the
impairment and the value of new financial benefits created. We therefore remand
for trial.
18
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WE CONCUR:
19
Hester v. State, No. 98495-6 (González, C.J., concurring in part and dissenting in part)
No. 98495-6
GONZÁLEZ, C.J. (concurring in part and dissenting in part) — I concur with
the majority that the statute of limitations for the claims brought in this case is
three years and accrues at the time of retirement. I also agree that there are
material questions of fact concerning comparable benefits that preclude summary
judgment on the issue. However, I disagree with the majority’s analytical
approach to determine whether there was a legitimate public purpose to the
statutory change to this pension system. The majority is wrong about how the
legitimate public purpose factor fits into our overall framework for analyzing
public contract impairment in the context of public pension plans.
The Bakenhus decision remains the “driving force” when analyzing the
constitutionality of changes to a public pension system. Wash. Educ. Ass’n v.
Dep’t of Ret. Sys., 181 Wn.2d 212, 223, 332 P.3d 428 (2014) (WEA II) (citing
Bakenhus v. City of Seattle, 48 Wn.2d 695, 296 P.2d 536 (1956)). Relevant to this
case, Bakenhus requires that any change must be made for a legitimate purpose and
that any disadvantageous changes must be offset by comparable new advantages.
1
Hester v. State, No. 98495-6 (González, C.J., concurring in part and dissenting in part)
Bakenhus, 48 Wn.2d at 701-03 (citing Allen v. City of Long Beach, 45 Cal. 2d 128,
130, 287 P.2d 765 (1955)). These are the two main controverted principles that the
trial court considered on cross motions for summary judgment, and the parties
agree that both principles must be satisfied for the State to prevail.
We consider these principles within the broader framework for analyzing
public contract impairment in general. Wash. Educ. Ass’n v. Dep’t of Ret. Sys.,
181 Wn.2d 233, 244, 332 P.3d 439 (2014) (WEA I). Under the Carlstrom test we
ask, “(1) Does a contractual relationship exist, (2) does the legislation substantially
impair the contractual relationship, and (3) if there is substantial impairment, is the
impairment reasonable and necessary to serve a legitimate public purpose?”
Lenander v. Dep’t of Ret. Sys., 186 Wn.2d 393, 414, 377 P.3d 199 (2016) (citing
WEA I, 181 Wn.2d at 243); Carlstrom v. State, 103 Wn.2d 391, 394-96, 694 P.2d 1(1985). Specifically, the Bakenhus principles inform the analysis of whether there
is substantial impairment under prong two. Lenander, 186 Wn.2d at 414-15.
Bakenhus established two independent principles. First, the court
recognized the necessity of allowing the legislature to make reasonable changes to
pension plans for the purpose of keeping the pension system flexible and
maintaining its integrity. Bakenhus, 48 Wn.2d at 701 (quoting Allen, 45 Cal. 2d at
131). To be sustained as “reasonable,” the changes “‘must bear some material
2
Hester v. State, No. 98495-6 (González, C.J., concurring in part and dissenting in part)
relation to the theory of a pension system and its successful operation, and changes
in a pension plan which result in disadvantage to employees should be
accompanied by comparable new advantages.’” Id. at 702 (quoting Allen, 45 Cal.
2d at 131).
These two independent inquiries of legitimate purpose and comparable new
benefits are the issues before us. As to the first, the trial court held “that there was
sufficient and necessary, reasonable, legitimate purpose for the amendment.” 2
Verbatim Tr. from Recorded Proceedings (VRP) at 61. To determine whether the
changes to the pension system were made for the legitimate purpose of ensuring
flexibility and integrity of the pension system, we ask if the changes “‘bear some
material relation to the theory of a pension system and its successful operation.’”
Bakenhus, 48 Wn.2d at 702 (quoting Allen, 45 Cal. 2d at 131). In this case, the
answer is yes, and thus, unlike the majority, I would affirm on that point.
Since its inception in 1947, the Washington State Patrol Retirement System
(WSPRS) calculated an employee’s monthly pension amount as a percentage of
their average final salary multiplied by the number of years of service. LAWS of
1947, ch. 250, § 15. The term “salary” was not defined in the original statute, and
for many years in practice all overtime, including voluntary overtime, was included
in the calculation. In 2001, the legislature defined “salary” in a way that excluded
3
Hester v. State, No. 98495-6 (González, C.J., concurring in part and dissenting in part)
voluntary overtime. LAWS OF 2001, ch. 329, § 3(23) (currently codified as RCW
43.43.120(21)(a)). This was an appropriate and legitimate use of legislative power.
Fundamental to the operation of a pension system is the calculation of monthly
benefits based on a predictable definition of what is included. A performance audit
by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee found that many employees
were working more voluntary overtime than usual in their last two years of service
in order to increase the amount of their average final salary, thus increasing their
monthly pension amounts. This process, known as “pension spiking” frustrates the
system’s ability to predict future obligations. Furthermore, the practice allows
some employees to increase their potential pension more than others. Availability
of voluntary overtime is not equal across the state and even where it was available
it was sometimes assigned in violation of Washington State Patrol policy. And the
practice has created public outrage in other states, creating a real risk of
undermining public confidence. The effects of pension spiking on predictability,
equity, and public confidence all support the conclusion that the changes “‘bear
some material relation to the theory of a pension system and its successful
operation.’” Bakenhus, 48 Wn.2d at 702 (quoting Allen, 45 Cal. 2d at 131). Thus
I would affirm the trial court’s ruling on this issue.
4
Hester v. State, No. 98495-6 (González, C.J., concurring in part and dissenting in part)
Having established that the changes were made for a legitimate purpose, the
court must also decide whether disadvantageous changes were offset by
comparable new advantages. I agree with the majority that material issues of fact
remain. Majority at 16-17. Both sides presented competent evidence that
suggested the new benefits did, or did not, offset any legitimate expectation held
by the officers. Thus, I would affirm the trial court on this issue as well.
The majority seems to agree that both Bakenhus factors are properly
considered under prong two of the Carlstrom test. Majority at 17 (“We have
concluded since Bakenhus that pension benefits might be modified where the
purpose of maintaining the flexibility and integrity of the pension system is
threatened, and we have analyzed this issue within the substantial impairment
prong.” (citing Lenander, 186 Wn.2d at 415)). The majority concludes it was
“premature to rule on the issue of legitimate public purpose” when the issue of
comparable benefits has yet to be decided. Id. at 18. But this confuses the test for
legitimate purpose from Bakenhus with the justification prong of the Carlstrom
test.
Properly understood, the third prong of the Carlstrom analysis is a balancing
test used when the State substantially impairs a contract. It asks whether the
substantial impairment was “‘nevertheless justified as a reasonable and necessary
5
Hester v. State, No. 98495-6 (González, C.J., concurring in part and dissenting in part)
exercise of the State’s sovereign power’” and attempts to “strike[] a balance
between the inherent police power of the state and the legitimate expectations of
those who enter into contracts with the state.” Tyrpak v. Daniels, 124 Wn.2d 146,
156, 874 P.2d 1374 (1994) (quoting Cont’l Ill. Nat’l Bank & Tr. Co. v.
Washington, 696 F.2d 692, 697 (9th Cir. 1983), and citing U.S. Tr. Co. v. New
Jersey, 431 U.S. 1, 23-24, 97 S. Ct. 1505, 52 L. Ed. 2d 92 (1977)). Thus, where
Bakenhus asks whether changes to a pension system were motivated by a
legitimate purpose, the third prong of the Carlstrom test asks whether
disadvantageous changes were reasonable and necessary to effectuate that purpose.
We have never reached this stage of the Carlstrom analysis in a public pension
case.
In the case before us, the parties agree that the State must show that the
changes were both made for a legitimate purpose and accompanied by comparable
new advantages. These two independent factors from Bakenhus are properly
considered under the second prong of Carlstrom to determine if the contractual
relationship was substantially impaired. But whether there was a legitimate
purpose is a separate question in the public pension analysis. It can and should be
reached independently of the question of comparable new advantages. The State
6
Hester v. State, No. 98495-6 (González, C.J., concurring in part and dissenting in part)
has met its burden of establishing that the changes were motivated by a legitimate
purpose, thus I would affirm the trial court on that issue. 1
There may be a time when we are presented with a case where the State
makes changes to a pension system that are not offset by comparable new
advantages but argues that the changes were nevertheless reasonable and necessary
to effectuate the legitimate purpose that motivated the changes in the first place.
However, this is not that case.2 I would wait until the issue is properly before the
court before speculating on the answer.3
With these observations I concur in part and dissent in part.
1
The majority notes the troopers’ argument that the pension plan was overfunded at the time of
the changes and therefore “the financial integrity of the fund was not threatened.” Majority at 17
(citing Appellants’ Corrected Opening Br. at 30). While this argument may be relevant under
prong three of the Carlstrom analysis, it is of no matter here. Under the threshold legitimate
purpose analysis discussed above, the State need show only that the changes “‘bear some
material relation to the theory of a pension system and its successful operation.’” Bakenhus, 48
Wn.2d at 701 (quoting Allen, 45 Cal. 2d at 131). The State has made that showing in this case.
2
“The State is not asking this Court to . . . rule that the Legislature did not need to provide
comparable advantages to offset the voluntary overtime exclusion.” Br. of Resp’ts at 36.
3
I note that in a similar case, the California Supreme Court held that a change without
comparable advantages could be sustained if providing comparable advantages would undermine
the legitimate purpose that motivated the change. Alameda County Deputy Sheriff’s Ass’n v.
Alameda County Emps.’ Ret. Ass’n, 9 Cal. 5th 1032, 470 P.3d 85, 266 Cal. Rptr. 3d 381 (2020).
This is not properly before us.
7
Hester v. State, No. 98495-6 (González, C.J., concurring in part and dissenting in part)
8