Public Employees Retirement Ass'n v. Nichols

We granted certiorari to review the decision of the court of appeals in Nichols v. PERA, 42 Colo. App. 302, 596 P.2d 406 (1979). We now reverse.

The parties stipulated to the facts. William J. Nichols was employed by the City of Colorado Springs at the time of his death in January 1976, and was a member of the Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA). Nichols was survived by his widow, Charlotte Nichols, the respondent in this action, who was the designated beneficiary of Nichols’ PERA account. He was also survived by his eighteen-year-old son, Scott Nichols (Scott). At the time of his…