Palmer v. Municipality of Anchorage, Police & Fire Retirement Board

OPINION

EASTAUGH, Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

The Anchorage Police and Fire Retirement Board denied Geoffrey Palmer occupational disability benefits for heart disease that worsened during his twelve-year tenure as a police officer for the Municipality of Anchorage. Palmer appealed, and the superior court affirmed. Because a board member’s motion to award Palmer benefits did not receive the requisite five votes, we hold that the board correctly rejected Palmer’s claim, even though four board members — a majority of the seven deciding his case— voted for the motion.

We also affirm the board’s decision…