Ex-wife won’t get pension of deceased cop, rules court in reversal

Terrie Morgan-Besecker

The Times Leader

A state appellate court has reversed a Luzerne County judge’s ruling that ordered Wilkes-Barre city to continue paying pension benefits to the ex-wife of a police officer after the officer died. Shirley L. Kenney filed suit against the city last year after the pension board cut off the $546.43 monthly benefit she had been receiving as part of a divorce settlement with her husband, Bernard Kenney.

Bernard Kenney had been employed as a police officer until his retirement in 1992. He and his wife divorced in 2000. A divorce settlement reached in 2003 awarded Shirley Kenney 50 percent of Bernard’s monthly pension payment. The city ceased payments to Shirley Kenney after Bernard died in December 2006. The decision was based on the city’s pension ordinance, which does not provide for survivor benefits to ex-spouses.

Source: http://www.timesleader.com/news/Ex-wife_won_rsquo_t_get_pension_of_deceased_cop__rules_court_in_reversal_02-04-2010.html