Joyce v. Public Employees Retirement Board

The issue in this case is whether a beneficiary of certain Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) benefits is entitled to interest on the distribution of those benefits. The Public Employees Retirement Board (board) concluded that PERS lacked statutory authority to pay such interest. We agree and affirm the decision of the board.

The relevant facts are undisputed. Leslie Lyle worked for the City of Eugene. As a city worker, he was a member of PERS. On July 12, 2001, while still employed by the city, he died of cancer. He had named his wife, Raginia Lyle, his beneficiary. As the beneficiary,…