Judge orders health benefits restored to 54 retired officers
Updated Feb 24, 2021;
A Rhode Island Superior Court judge has restored full health care benefits to over 50 Woonsocket Police retirees after finding that the city and its budget commission violated the Rhode Island Constitution by indefinitely requiring them to pay deductibles.
Judge Jeffrey Lanphear ruled in favor of officer Glen Hebert who challenged the commission’s authority to unilaterally cut health care benefits for retirees in 2013, the Providence Journal reported.
Edward Roy Jr., who represented the retirees, said that his clients are gratified that the court accepted their arguments. Roy said that places a dollar figure on what retirees are owed and said that it is being evaluated.