Retired Colorado Firefighters Sue District Over Health Insurance Fund

A class-action lawsuit filed last year by a retired firefighter and the wife of another retired firefighter against the West Metro Fire Protection District, is now up to seventy-four plaintiffs.  Tim O’Hayre and Ruth Brienza filed suit claiming the district improperly terminated a retiree health trust fund that firefighters had paid into during their tenure on the department.

The trust fund was intended to help retirees defray the cost of health insurance. In 2015, the district determined that the program was underfunded and would be phased out by 2017. When the trust was liquidated it had approximately $1.8 million remaining. The funds were distributed to the current firefighters, and none went to retired members.

The 74 plaintiffs have filed suit as a class action in Jefferson County District Court.