SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon public employee retirees have filed suit in an effort to block public release later this month of their individual pension benefits.
The Oregonian reports (http://bit.ly/vkkaTh ) the lawsuit was filed Friday in Marion County Circuit Court. Portland lawyer Greg Hartman filed on behalf of seven retirees and seeks to make the suit a class action. The retirees are angered that the Oregon Public Employees System reached a legal settlement with two newspapers to release the names and monthly benefits of some 110,000 retirees on Nov. 21.
The newspapers are The Oregonian and The Statesman-Journal.
Kathleen Beaufait of Oregon PERS Retirees says many retirees fear release of the data could increase their vulnerability to identity theft. Others see it as an invasion of privacy.
The newspapers demanded the records to shine a light on state spending.
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Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com
