The trial was previously set to begin on March 3, 2025 at the Gaston County Courthouse in Gastonia, North Carolina.  However, Defendants filed a second motion for summary judgement and a motion to decertify the class. Both motions were denied by the Court. Defendants appealed the Court’s denial of their motion to decertify the class to the North Carolina Supreme Court and the trial Court has halted further proceedings until the Supreme Court can rule on the matter. The North Carolina Supreme Court had already determined that Class Members have a contractually vested right in their retirement health plan in its opinion in March of 2022. The remaining issues that were to be tried are whether that contract was substantially impaired when the State of the North Carolina reduced the benefits for vested retirees and, if so, the resulting damages. This page be updated when a new trial date has been scheduled.