Ashley Dunning, Jennifer Meeker Noted for Win in Closely Watched Public Pensions Case

A Nossaman team led by Ashley Dunning was featured in the Daily Journal (subscription required) for its decisive victory for clients, the Sonoma County Employees’ Retirement Association and its Retirement Administrator. Ashley teamed up with Jennifer Meeker, who focuses her practice on appellate advocacy on behalf of Nossaman's clients. The victory occurred on December 12, 2019, when the California Court of Appeal for the First Appellate District handed down a unanimous decision in Luke v. County of Sonoma, Sonoma County Employees’ Retirement Association, et al., which affirmed the superior court’s determination that plaintiff’s challenge to the payment of increased public employee pension benefits the County of Sonoma granted in or about 2002 was barred by the statute of limitations (Case No. A155286, certified for partial publication).

The decision in Luke affirms the accrual of actions challenging once-in-time official acts of public agencies as they apply to public retirement benefits.