DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Gregory A. Adams signed an order Thursday granting final approval of a $117.5 million class action settlement and dismissing a lawsuit filed by teachers and school system employees alleging they were shortchanged on pension funding.

“This case has been my life for 10 years,” John Salter of the Barnes Law Group said after the order was signed. He represents lead plaintiffs Elaine Gold, Amy Jacobson Shaye and others. He said it was 10 years ago almost to the day that they came to his office and asked him to look at their retirement pension contributions. “Elaine and Amy have watched my kids grow up,” he said.