In a big win for Chattanooga Mayor Andrew Berke’s administration, a federal court judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by four retired police officers and firefighters that challenged the city’s decision to reduce the cost-of-living adjustments to their pensions.
U.S. District Court Judge Curtis Collier granted the city’s motion for summary judgment in a decision issued Tuesday.
Mayor Berke praised the ruling, saying it preserved his pension reform plan. “Last year, the Fire and Police Pension was reformed to ensure the longterm fiscal health of the city and meet our obligations to first responders,” he said in a statement. “We are excited this solution was validated by the court today, ensuring the city will be able to continue to provide competitive benefits for our police and firefighters for years to come.”