Viles v. Vermont State Colleges

Plaintiff Perry Viles appeals from a decision of the Caledonia Superior Court holding that defendant, Vermont State Colleges, is not obligated by its employee benefits policies to provide health insurance coverage to plaintiff’s wife. We hold that the applicable section of defendant’s employee handbook is ambiguous and must, therefore, be construed to provide the benefits plaintiff seeks. We reverse.

After employment with Lyndon State College for over ten years, most recently as special assistant to the president, plaintiff retired in 1993. At the time he retired, plaintiff was over 60 years…