Court Finds Georgia Lacks Jurisdiction Over Oregon Widow In Teachers Retirement Benefit Suit

The Court of Appeals of Georgia has reversed a lower court’s decision in a closely watched case, ruling that the State of Georgia does not have personal jurisdiction over an Oregon widow whom the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia (TRS) sued to recover mistakenly overpaid retirement benefits.

The ruling, issued by the Second Division, means that the trial court erred in denying the motion to dismiss filed by Saundra Becker, the widow of a former Georgia Southern University employee.

This decision effectively ends the Georgia lawsuit filed by TRS to recoup $59,351.71 that was electronically deposited into the couple’s joint bank account following her husband’s death.

The Heart of the Dispute

The case, Becker v. Teachers Retirement System of Georgia , centered on whether Becker—a lo