Joseph Clifford v. Gina Raimondo, in her capacity as Governor of the State of Rhode Island Rhode Island Public Employees' Retiree Coalition v. Gina Raimondo, in her capacity as Governor of the State of Rhode Island

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In these consolidated matters, the plaintiffs appeal a Superior Court justice's approval of a class action for settlement purposes only. The plaintiffs, all state and municipal employees, alleged that the settlement violated their constitutional rights in denying them their retirement benefits. They contended that the trial justice's certification of the class was improper and that the settlement was not fair, reasonable, and adequate. The Supreme Court first held that the trial justice did not abuse her discretion in certifying the class in accordance with Rule 23(a) of the Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure, because the requirements of numerosity, commonality, typicality, and adequacy of representation were all met. Next, the Court determined that the trial justice did not abuse her discretion in certifying the class pursuant to Rule 23(b)(2), because the plaintiffs sought mainly equitable relief, and any money damages would be merely incidental. The Court also held that the trial justice's division of the class into subclasses was not improper. Finally, the Court concluded that the trial justice did not abuse her discretion in finding that the settlement was procedurally fair. In addition, the Court affirmed the trial justice's determination that the settlement was substantively fair, reasonable, and adequate, acknowledging that the trial justice conducted an exhaustive review of the factors necessary to ascertain the fairness of the settlement and did not overlook any of the objectors' concerns. Thus, the Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the Superior Court.