Bell Atlantic Cash Balance Plan v. U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

MEMORANDUM OPINION

ELLIS, District Judge.

The threshold jurisdictional issue presented in this declaratory judgment action is whether plaintiffs have “jumped the gun” in petitioning for a declaration of non-discrimination before the defendant-agency has completed its investigation and assessment of certain discrimination charges. Put more succinctly, the question here is one of ripeness, namely, whether there exists an “actual case or controversy” fit for federal adjudication.

I

Plaintiffs, Bell Atlantic Cash Balance Plan, Bell Atlantic Corporation, and five other Bell Atlantic corporate entities…