Grooms v. State Department of State Treasurer

HUDSON, Judge.

Petitioner appeals from the 23 February 2000 order of the trial court, which affirmed the Final Agency Decision of the Board of Trustees of the Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System (the Board of Trustees) determining that petitioner is not entitled to the Survivor’s Alternate Benefit set forth in subsection (m) of N.C.G.S. § 128-27 (1999). We reverse the order of the trial court.

This case involves a dispute over the correct interpretation of a complex statutory scheme as it applies to a particular set of facts, which facts are not in dispute. For this reason, we first undertake to review the statutory scheme before setting forth the facts of the case.

The statutory scheme at issue is the North Carolina Governmental Employees’ Retirement System (the retirement system) in which members contribute a portion of their monthly salary while employed with the objective that, upon retirement, they will be entitled to receive certain benefits. When a member retires, he is allowed to choose the form in which he will receive his benefits from among seven different options. The default option, commonly referred to as the “maximum allowance” option, allows the member to receive his benefits in a retirement allowance payable throughout his life in monthly installments. See G.S. § 128-27(b) to (bl7). The other six options, set forth in G.S. § 128-27(g), allow a member to choose to receive a reduced monthly allowance upon retirement for the duration of his life, in return for some form of a “survivorship benefit,” which generally entails a continuing monthly allowance after the member’s death paid to a designated survivor for the life of the survivor. The only one of these six options relevant here is “Option two,” which provides a reduced allowance to a retired member for his life, and then a continuing reduced monthly allowance to a designated survivor for the survivor’s life.

Of course, in many cases members do not reach retirement because before they are able to reach retirement they voluntarily quit, they are fired, or they die. The statutory scheme seeks to address each of these three situations in which a member might fail to reach retirement, as well as the results in each situation. If a member’s employment ends for any reason other than for the reasons of retirement or death (i.e., quitting or being fired), he is entitled to a “return” of his total accumulated contributions (and, under certain circumstances, the accumulated interest). See G.S. § 128-27(f). If a member’s employment ends as a result of his “death prior to retirement,” the member’s designated beneficiary (who is chosen by the member upon enrollment in the retirement system in a “Notice of Enrollment” form) has, potentially, two options. The beneficiary will always be entitled to receive a lump sum payment equal to the amount of the member’s accumulated contributions at the time of the member’s death. See id. In the alternative, the beneficiary may elect to receive what is called a “Survivor’s Alternate Benefit” (SAB). This second option is set forth in G.S. § 128-27(m):

(m) Survivor’s Alternate Benefit. — Upon the death of a member in service, the principal beneficiary designated to receive a return of accumulated contributions shall have the right to elect to receive in lieu thereof the reduced retirement allowance provided by Option two of subsection (g) above computed by assuming that the member had retired on the first day of the month following the date of his death, provided that all three of the following conditions apply:

(1) a. The member had attained such age and/or creditable service to be eligible to commence retirement with an early or service retirement allowance, or

b. The member had obtained 20 years of creditable service ....

(2) The member had designated as the principal beneficiary to receive a return of his accumulated contributions one and only one person who is living at the time of his death.

(3) The member had not instructed the Board of Trustees in writing that he did not wish the provisions of this subsection apply.

For the purpose of this benefit, a member is considered to be in service at the date of his death if his death occurs within 180 days from the last day of his actual service. The last day of actual service shall be determined as provided in subsection (1) of this section.

G.S. § 128-27(m). In other words, where a member dies “in service” and satisfies the three requirements in subsection (m), the beneficiary who is entitled to receive a return of accumulated contributions may choose to receive, instead of a lump sum payment of the accumulated contributions, a reduced monthly allowance for life. If the beneficiary chooses the SAB, the situation is treated as if the member had retired (as of the first day of the month following the date on which he, in fact, died) and had chosen Option two of subsection (g) as the form in which he would receive his retirement benefits. Furthermore, for purposes of the SAB, a member is deemed to have died “in service” if he died while he was employed, or within 180 days of his last day of actual employment. As discussed in more detail below, this “180-day clause” in subsection (m) is at the core of the present dispute.

There are two other elements to the retirement system which are relevant here. First, when a retired member who is receiving a monthly retirement allowance dies, a “death benefit” is paid to a designated beneficiary, which benefit is “equal to the excess, if any, of the accumulated contributions of the retiree at the date of retirement [reduced by] the total of the retirement allowances paid prior to the death of the retiree.” G.S. § 128-27(gl). In other words, if a member retires and begins to receive a monthly retirement allowance but dies before the total payments made equal the total amount he actually contributed while employed, a designated beneficiary receives the difference in a lump sum payment. This death benefit has been referred to by the agency as the “guaranteed refund,” apparently to distinguish it from the “death benefit” set forth in G.S. § 128-27(1), which is the final provision relevant to this case. Pursuant to subsection (1), if a member dies while in service or within 180 days of his last day of actual service, a “death benefit” is paid to a designated beneficiary in an amount equal to the member’s yearly salary, with a maximum amount of $20,000.00 (provided the employer has chosen to participate in the Group Life Insurance Plan).

As stated earlier, the facts here are not in dispute. Ronald Robinson (Robinson) was employed by the Wake County Department of Social Services. While Robinson was employed, the beneficiary designated to receive a return of accumulated contributions if he died pursuant to subsection (f), and a death benefit pursuant to subsection (1), was Alfred R. Grooms (petitioner). Robinson retired on 1 March 1998, at which time he had over twenty years of creditable service as a member of the retirement system. Upon retirement, Robinson completed an “Election of Benefits” form. On this form, Robinson elected to receive the “maximum allowance” with no survivorship benefit. On this same form, Robinson also designated petitioner as the beneficiary for the “guaranteed refund” pursuant to subsection (gl). Robinson subsequently died on 12 June 1998, within 180 days of his last day of service.

Following Robinson’s death, the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer, Retirement Systems Division (respondent), without objection, paid petitioner a $20,000.00 “death benefit” pursuant to subsection (1) because Robinson had died within 180 days of his last day of actual service and was therefore considered to have died while in service for purposes of subsection (1). Respondent also acknowledged that petitioner was entitled to the “guaranteed refund” as set forth in subsection (gl). However, respondent denied petitioner’s request to receive the SAB pursuant to subsection (m) in lieu of the “guaranteed refund.” Petitioner challenged respondent’s denial of his request for the SAB, and the dispute came before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). The ALJ concluded that respondent had erroneously denied petitioner the SAB, and recommended that summary judgment be granted in favor of petitioner. Respondent appealed that decision and the Board of Trustees reversed the ALJ and affirmed respondent’s original decision to deny petitioner the SAB. Petitioner appealed from the “Final Agency Decision” to the Wake County Superior Court. The trial court affirmed the decision of the Board of Trustees, and petitioner timely appealed.

On appeal, petitioner contends that the final agency decision was affected by a legal error, namely the misinterpretation of the meaning of the statute. Thus, the appropriate standard of review for this Court is de novo review. See, e.g., Dillingham v. N.C. Dep’t of Human Res., 132 N.C. App. 704, 708, 513 S.E.2d 823, 826 (1999). Pursuant to the fundamental principles of statutory construction, we must first seek to interpret the intent of the legislature, and in seeking to ascertain the legislative intent the language of the statute should be construed contextually. See Powell v. State Retirement System, 3 N.C. App. 39, 41, 164 S.E.2d 80, 81 (1968). In addition, we give consideration to the effect of possible interpretations of the statute, “since a construction that leads to an anomalous or illogical result probably was not intended by the legislature.” Electric Service v. City of Rocky Mount, 20 N.C. App. 347, 348-49, 201 S.E.2d 508, 509, aff’d, 285 N.C. 135, 203 S.E.2d 838 (1974). In construing the meaning of a statute, it is presumed that the legislature acted with care and deliberation. See State v. Benton, 276 N.C. 641, 658, 174 S.E.2d 793, 804 (1970).

Respondent sets forth a number of arguments in support of its interpretation of the statute, all of which essentially address the relationship between subsection (m) and the rest of the statutory scheme. First, respondent notes that subsection (m) expressly states that it provides an alternative to “a return of accumulated contributions,” and that this language correlates precisely with the title of subsection (f) (“Return of Accumulated Contributions”). Similarly, respondent notes that subsection (f) expressly references subsection (m), while subsection (gl) does not. Respondent argues that these links between subsection (f) and subsection (m) reveal that subsection (m) was intended to work in conjunction with subsection (f) only and not with subsection (gl) or any other subsection. Here, there is no dispute that petitioner is entitled to a “death benefit” (the “guaranteed refund”) pursuant to subsection (gl). There is also no dispute that petitioner is not entitled to the benefit provided in subsection (f).¹ Because subsection (m) works only in conjunction with subsection (f) and not with subsection (gl), respondent contends, subsection (m) does not apply to petitioner.

Second, respondent argues that, in a practical sense, once a member retires, there is no longer a discrete sum of money that can accurately be characterized as his “accumulated contributions,” since the funds in a member’s individual annuity savings fund account are transferred from that account to a general annuity reserve fund when the member retires. See N.C.G.S. § 128-30(b)(3) (1999). Third, respondent notes that where a beneficiary chooses the SAB, the reduced allowance to which the beneficiary is entitled is “computed by assuming that the member had retired on the first day of the month following the date of his death.” G.S. § 128-27(m). Respondent contends that the inclusion of a fictitious retirement date for the SAB demonstrates that subsection (m) was intended to apply only to members who had not yet retired, since the only situations in which it would be necessary to establish a fictitious retirement date are situations in which the member did not actually retire prior to his death.

Respondent’s fourth and perhaps strongest argument is that petitioner’s interpretation of the statute would allow petitioner, under these circumstances, to elect a retirement benefit plan that directly contravenes the choice that was actually made by the member upon his retirement. For example, here Robinson elected to receive the maximum allowance and specifically declined Option two or any other survivorship option that would have provided a reduced allowance to himself for life and then to a designated survivor, such as petitioner, for life. Under petitioner’s interpretation of subsection (m), petitioner would be entitled to elect the SAB rather than the benefit provided in subsection (gl), which election would have the effect of treating the situation as if Robinson, upon retirement, had selected Option two and named petitioner as his survivor. Respondent argues that by electing the maximum allowance, it can only be assumed that Robinson affirmatively chose not to leave petitioner such a benefit, and that it would be manifestly unfair to allow the beneficiary to alter the election made by the member himself after the member’s death.

Petitioner likewise sets forth a number of persuasive arguments in his brief. First, petitioner notes that subsection (m) expressly applies where a member who meets the three listed conditions dies while “in service,” and that subsection (m) states: “For the purpose of this benefit, a member is considered to be in service at the date of his death if his death occurs within 180 days from the last day of his actual service.” G.S. § 128-27(m). Thus, petitioner argues, because there is no dispute that Robinson died within 180 days from his last day of service, subsection (m) on its face applies to these facts. Second, petitioner argues that the language in subsection (m) stating I that the SAB is available to the principal beneficiary designated to receive a “return of accumulated contributions” does not, as respondent argues, demonstrate that the SAB was intended to apply only in conjunction with subsection (f). Rather, petitioner argues, subsection (m) was also intended to work in conjunction with subsection (gl) because the beneficiary entitled to receive the benefit in subsection (gl) (equal to the accumulated contributions less the retirement payments made prior to the member’s death) is a “beneficiary designated to receive a return of accumulated contributions” under subsection (m). Finally, petitioner argues that the underlying purpose of the statutory scheme in question is to “give state and local employees and their beneficiaries maximum security,” and that respondent’s position is counter to this policy.

Having considered all of the aforementioned arguments, and having carefully reviewed the statutory scheme in question, we must agree with petitioner’s interpretation. As explained in further detail below, under petitioner’s interpretation of subsection (m), the SAB would be available to the beneficiary of a member who dies within 180 days of leaving his employment for any reason, including retirement. Under respondent’s interpretation of subsection (m), on the other hand, the SAB would only be available to the beneficiary of a member who dies within 180 days of leaving his employment as a result of quitting or being fired, and not as a result of retirement. Thus, respondent is placed in the difficult position of attempting to explain why we should interpret the statutory scheme as providing more preferential treatment to the beneficiary of a member who has quit or has been fired than to the beneficiary of a member who has retired. We believe respondent has failed to provide such an explanation.

The 180-day clause provides that a member will be considered as having been in service at the date of his death if his death occurs within 180 days from the last day of his actual service. Thus, by definition, the 180-day clause only applies where a member’s employment has ended for some reason, and where the member subsequently dies within 180 days. Assuming for the sake of argument that, as respondent contends, subsection (m) does not apply where a member has died after retirement, the 180-day clause would apply only where a member’s employment has ended for some reason other than death or retirement, such as quitting or being fired. According to respondent’s interpretation, then, where a member quits or is fired and dies within 180 days, his subsection (f) beneficiary (entitled to a “return of accumulated contributions”) could elect the SAB (provided the three conditions are met); but, where a member retires, chooses the maximum allowance without a survivorship benefit, and dies within 180 days, his subsection (gl) beneficiary (entitled to the accumulated contributions less the retirement payments already made) could not elect the SAB. In other words, the beneficiary of a member who quits or is fired and then dies within 180 days would be entitled to elect a valuable benefit, while the beneficiary of a member who retires and chooses the maximum allowance and then dies within 180 days would not be entitled to such a benefit. Respondent’s interpretation would thus provide more preferential treatment to the beneficiary of a retirement-eligible member who has quit or has been fired than to the beneficiary of a retirement-eligible member who chooses to retire after many years of service. We believe this result would be both illogical and inequitable, and we therefore decline to adopt respondent’s interpretation.

Furthermore, if the legislature had not intended for subsection (m) to apply where a member retires and then dies within 180 days, such a limitation would easily have been effectuated by inserting a few words into the statute. In the absence of such an express limitation in the statute, we are compelled to assume such a limitation was not intended. Moreover, we believe that this interpretation is consistent with the overall policy of the retirement, disability and death benefit scheme, which “is not to exclude, but to include state employees under an umbrella of protections designed to provide maximum security in their work environment and to afford ‘a measure of freedom from apprehension of old age and disability.’ ” Stanley v. Retirement and Health Benefits Division, 55 N.C. App. 588, 591, 286 S.E.2d 643, 645, disc. review denied, 305 N.C. 587, 292 S.E.2d 571 (1982) (quoting Bridges v. Charlotte, 221 N.C. 472, 477, 20 S.E.2d 825, 829 (1942)). The existence of the 180-day clause in subsection (m), as well as in other subsections of the statute, evidences an intent to provide some leniency under circumstances in which, by an unfortunate and chance sequence of events, a member or a beneficiary is deprived of a valuable benefit by a matter of a few months.²

In response to respondent’s argument that a beneficiary should not be permitted to alter the retirement election made by the member himself after the member’s death, we note that in any case in which a member does not desire for his beneficiary to have the option of electing the SAB, the member may prevent that possibility by instructing the Board of Trustees in writing that he does not wish the provisions of subsection (m) to apply. See G.S. § 128-27(m). We also note that in this case, petitioner’s “Prehearing Statement” indicates that he was prepared to offer evidence to show that Robinson relied upon the interpretation of the statute argued by petitioner in making his retirement payment selection, intending for petitioner to have the option of electing the SAB if Robinson died within 180 days after his retirement.

Finally, we note that respondent has argued that petitioner’s interpretation could lead to “absurd consequences” in certain situations. For example, respondent describes a situation in which a member, while employed, designates A as the subsection (f) beneficiary entitled to a return of accumulated contributions, then retires, chooses Option two, and designates B as the survivor entitled to a reduced monthly allowance for life at the member’s death. Respondent contends that if the member then died within 180 days of his last day of service, under petitioner’s interpretation of the statute A would be entitled to elect the SAB and receive a monthly allowance for life, while at the same time B would be entitled to receive a monthly allowance for life. This scenario indicates that respondent believes petitioner is arguing that he is entitled to the SAB because of his status as Robinson’s subsection (f) beneficiary while Robinson was employed. However, petitioner’s right to choose the SAB as an alternative benefit is not based on petitioner’s status as having been the subsection (f) beneficiary while Robinson was employed. Rather, it is based on petitioner’s status as the subsection (gl) beneficiary who is now entitled to the death benefit under subsection (gl) because the retirement payments made to Robinson before his death were less than his total accumulated contributions. Thus, our holding is that a subsection (gl) beneficiary who has become entitled under the terms of the statute to the death benefit provided in subsection (gl) may choose to elect the SAB alternative in lieu of the lump sum payment provided in subsection (gl) if the retired member dies within 180 days of his last day of actual service, and if the three conditions in subsection (m) are satisfied.

We note that the result of our holding simply allows petitioner to receive the benefit to which he would have been entitled if Robinson had died prior to 1 March 1998 (instead of approximately three months later), or if Robinson had quit or had been fired on 1 March 1998 (instead of retiring). Moreover, we believe allowing petitioner to elect the SAB comports with the overall policy and intent of the statutory retirement scheme which “is not to exclude, but to include state employees under an umbrella of protections designed to provide maximum security in their work environment.” Stanley, 55 N.C. App. at 591, 286 S.E.2d at 645.

Reversed and remanded.

Judge WYNN concurs. Judge TIMMONS-GOODSON dissents.

1 . Subsection (f) addresses only two situations in which a “return of accumulated contributions” may be paid: (1) where a member withdraws from service prior to retirement, in which case the member may receive the return of accumulated contributions; and (2) where a member dies “prior to retirement,” in which case the member’s beneficiary may receive the return of accumulated contributions. Thus, under no circumstances is the “return of accumulated contributions” under subsection (f) available following a member’s retirement. Because Robinson did retire, it is clear that petitioner is not entitled to the benefit provided in subsection (f).

2 . Here, had Robinson died on 1 March 1998 (prior to retirement), petitioner would have been entitled to elect the SAB and thereby receive a monthly payment for life. Contrary to the suggestion of the dissent, petitioner’s interpretation of the 180-day clause serves the very significant purpose of allowing petitioner to elect this valuable benefit even though Robinson died on 12 June 1998 (just over three months later).