Feds sue Cook County over service member’s pension

The federal government has sued Cook County and a county pension fund, alleging they broke U.S. law over an employee’s pension contributions as she served in the Army reserve.

The lawsuit was filed in Chicago on behalf of Army Reserve Capt. Latoya Hayward. It says the Chicago woman began working for the county’s Stroger Hospital in 2008. She began a two-year tour of duty in 2009.

After she returned to work, Hayward alleges the pension fund told her she couldn’t make pension payments for a 90-day period. She also alleges fund officials said her contributions for the two-year period of her service would be subject to a 3 percent interest fee.

A spokeswoman says county board President Toni Preckwinkle’s office will investigate the matter and “resolve the issue accordingly.”