Franklin County Court grants preliminary injunction in STRS Board lawsuit
COLUMBUS, Ohio - A Franklin County Court of Common Pleas judge has granted a preliminary injunction in the case of the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) lawsuit, according to a news release.
Judge Carl Aveni granted the injunction on Wednesday, which will prevent any changes to the composition of the STRS system while the case is being litigated.
The lawsuit was initiated by members of the Ohio Education Association (OEA), the Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) and the Ohio Conference of the American Association of University Professors (OC AAUP).
The lawsuit challenges an alleged unconstitutional provision in the state budget that the lawsuit claims strips educators of their voice on the STRS Board.
A joint statement was issued on Wednesday by OEA President Jeff Wensing, OFT President Melissa Cropper and OC AAUP Executive Director Sara Kilpatrick, stating:
"We are thankful for Judge Aveni's ruling to grant a preliminary injunction. This determination confirms what retired and active members of STRS have known since June: this is an unconstitutional power grab by the legislature. Educators, just like all other public employees in Ohio, deserve a meaningful voice in our pension plan."
