County of Alameda v. Board of Retirement

*904Opinion

EAGLESON, J.

In this case, we are called upon to determine the appropriate standard of review to be applied by the superior court when a county seeks a writ of mandate (Code Civ. Proc., § 1094.5) to review a decision of its retirement board granting a service-connected disability pension to a deputy sheriif.

We conclude that the independent judgment test applies. When a local government entity is required to contribute to an employee benefit fund of the type involved here (Gov. Code, § 31450 et seq.), an administrative award of those benefits warrants such review under Interstate Brands…