THE BENEFIT TO AN EMPLOYER OF INCLUDING BOTH A RELEASE AND A COVENANT NOT TO SUE IN A SEPARATION OR SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH AN EMPLOYEE
ERISA class actions have been plaguing corporate America for more than a decade. There is no universally accepted application of the pleading standards for ERISA fee and performance cases, which
A recently filed lawsuit is a good reminder that self-insured health plan fiduciaries have a fiduciary duty to ensure that their health plans are being administered according to the plan’s terms and in compliance with law, while defraying the reasonable expenses of administering the plan. In discharging this responsibility, plan fiduciaries must oversee any party
Recent Decision Places Spotlight on Coordination Between DOL and Plaintiffs’ Firms
Defending ERISA claims against an enterprising plaintiffs’ bar is challenging enough. That task becomes even more challenging when the Department of Labor (“DOL”) is working behind the scenes to support private-sector litigants. For example, the DOL has the power to issue subpoenas for documents
Citing resistance from health and welfare plan service providers, the DOL updated its 2021 cybersecurity guidance to clarify that it “generally applies to all employee benefit plans, including health and welfare plans.” This clarification is the only material change in the update. Despite that, the update serves as a useful impetus for employers to survey
Earlier this year, current and former participants of two ERISA-governed health plans filed complaints alleging the same novel legal theory: that plan fiduciaries violated ERISA by mismanaging the plan’s prescription drug benefits. In both complaints, plaintiffs alleged that the mismanagement was caused in part by the plans paying excessive and unreasonable fees to their respective
Effective January 1, 2024, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement 2.0 Act (“SECURE 2.0”) allows employers to make matching contributions under defined contribution plans based on employees’ qualified student loan payments. Although student loan matching contribution programs could provide a significant new benefit for employees with student loan obligations, few employers have amended their
Believe it or not, the due date for annual Form 5500 filings is once again approaching. As a reminder, Forms 5500 are due by the last day of the seventh month following the end of the plan year. A 2½ month extension will automatically be granted upon filing a Form 5558. For calendar year plans,
Imagine you’re a plan administrator who receives an angry letter from an out-of-network provider. The letter explains that before treating a plan participant, the provider called to confirm the participant’s eligibility for out-of-network coverage and to authorize treatments at certain rates under the plan. Now that treatment has been rendered, the provider is demanding payment
In a previous blog post, we provided an overview concerning whether plan service provider agreements may be required to be disclosed to participants under Section 104(b)(4) of ERISA. A recent district court decision in California puts a renewed spotlight on this issue for employers and plan administrators who may receive these types of document
Potentially signaling a new wave of litigation, AT&T Inc. and AT&T Services, Inc. (AT&T) were hit with a class-action lawsuit on March 11, 2024 filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts relating to the 2023 transfer of $8 billion of their pension liabilities – covering approximately 96,000 participants in AT&T’s pension plan
