Retired city employees brought action against city, alleging city was in violation of consent judgments as to cost of living adjustments that were required to be paid under collective bargaining agreement.
The Superior Court granted summary judgment to city. Employees appealed.
The Supreme Court held that to extent that city’s enactment of ordinance suspending retired employees’ cost of living adjustments purported to nullify consent judgments, ordinance violated constitutional separation of powers principle.
To extent that city’s enactment of ordinance suspending retired city employees’ cost of living adjustments under collective bargaining agreement purported to nullify consent judgments entered between city and retired city employees in dispute over such adjustments, ordinance violated constitutional separation-of-powers principle; an attempt to skirt a judgment disrupted judicial branch in performance of its duties.