Robinson v. Board of Retirement

Appeal from denial of mandamus to compel county board of retirement to grant to petitioner, the widow of Stanley W. Robinson, safety member of the sheriff’s department, a special death benefit provided by section 31781, Government Code. Section 31780 prescribes the normal death benefit for the survivors of one who dies while in the service (and under certain other conditions). Section 31787 provided at the time of death of Robinson: “In addition to the death benefit provided for in Section 31781, if such member was a safety member survived by a spouse or unmarried child under the age of 18…