Espinosa v. Board of Trustees

ANDREASEN, Justice.

This appeal requires us to interpret Iowa Code chapter 411 (1987). Specifically, we are called upon to determine whether a lump-sum payment for back pay should be included as part of a fire fighter’s “average final compensation” in calculating the fire fighter’s retirement benefits.

I. Background.

Joe Espinosa was a fire fighter for the city of Council Bluffs, Iowa (city). In February 1986, the city paid Espinosa $21,-835.40 in back wages and interest. This payment was part of a stipulated settlement of a dispute between Espinosa and the city over the city’s failure to…