Trapp v. City of Burbank Firefighters’ Pension Fund

Plaintiff, a former firefighter for the City of Burbank, filed a complaint for administrative review alleging that his pension benefits were improperly terminated following his guilty plea to various federal crimes. The trial court affirmed the decision and plaintiff appealed, arguing that the Board of Trustees of the Burbank Firefighters’ Pension Fund lacked jurisdiction to conduct an evidentiary hearing and to enter an administrative decision. The appellate court affirmed both the judgment of the trial court and the decision of the Board, finding that the pension board did not lack jurisdiction to divest plaintiff of his pension benefits following his conviction for possession of child pornography because it was a service-related felony, even though the conviction itself occurred after plaintiff’s retirement. (LAMPKIN and VAN TINE, concurring)