Germano v. Winnebago County, Ill.

• Position: Germano v. Winnebago County, Ill., 403 F.3d 926 - Brief Article

U.S. Appeals Court

RETIREMENT BENEFITS

Germano v. Winnebago County, Ill., 403 F.3d 926 (7th Cir. 2005). A retired county sheriff's deputy brought a [section] 1983 class action against a county, alleging that the county's act of setting up a separate employee benefit plan for retired deputies which charged higher premiums than for active deputies, constituted a due process violation. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the county and the retired deputy appealed. The appeals court affirmed, finding that the deputy had a protected liberty interest under a state...