Linda Samsom Sues CalPERS Over $1.05 Million Clawback Demand

1 articles · Updated · CalMatters · Sep 10

$1,050,875 is what CalPERS demanded Linda Samsom repay after ruling her post-retirement consulting work for Yolo County violated pension law, prompting her lawsuit in San Francisco Superior Court.
The suit argues CalPERS ignored a three-year statute of limitations and imposed excessive penalties after finding Samsom’s $50-an-hour rate exceeded comparable government pay, even though she earned about $80,000 from the job.
CalPERS said it had not received the complaint and declined comment, but in related cases has argued no limitations period applies because such violations are intentional attempts to game the system.
A second plaintiff, retiree David Dowswell, said CalPERS sent him a $1.064 million bill before restoring his pension in an April settlement that left the statute-of-limitations question unresolved.
The case lands as scrutiny grows over CalPERS audits at the $658 billion fund, with cities and counties seeking clearer rules and lawmakers passing a bill last month to require better audit notice.