Pension & Benefits Reporter Index-Summary

EARLY RETIREMENT

– Anheuser-Busch ERISA class action (E.D. Mo.), 1640
– Early Retiree Reinsurance Program

– – Applications received, 831; more than 4000, 2022; nearly 3000 organizations, 2233; nearly 3600 accepted, 2391
– – Draft application, 1286
– – Fiduciary duty, 1341
– – Guidance, BNA Insights, 1236
– – Most firms may apply, 1285; HHS accepting applications, 1529; approvals announced, 1975
– – Starts, 1106
– – Technology contract, 1826

– Hearst-Argyle TV (W.D. Ark.), 1890
– Honeywell erroneous benefit statement (D. Md.), 1568
– N.Y. teachers, 915
– Sheet metal workers disqualifying employment

– – Lee suit (E.D. Mich.), 2794
– – Lynch suit (W.D.N.Y.), 2796
– – Wildeboer suit (E.D. Ky.), 582

– Windstream, no fiduciary breach (8th Cir.), 842

EBSA

See EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (EBSA)

ECONOMIC GROWTH AND TAX RELIEF RECONCILIATION ACT (EGTRRA)

– Guidance before deadline, 689; issued by IRS, 770

EGTRRA

See ECONOMIC GROWTH AND TAX RELIEF RECONCILIATION ACT (EGTRRA)

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (EBSA)

– Advisory panel meeting, 511
– Enforcement process reviewed, 2123
– Labor Dep't information collection, 980
– Outlook 2010, 172
– Recoveries for FY 2009, 463
– Regulatory initiatives, 1958; semiannual agenda, 2763

EMPLOYEE PLANS COMPLIANCE RESOLUTION SYSTEM (EPCRS)

– Expansion correction program sought, 452

EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLANS (ESOPs)

– Antioch ESOP

– – Fiduciary breach alleged (N.D. Ill.), 1987
– – Law firm sued (S.D. Ohio), 1986

– Average age of ESOP, survey, 1818
– Burns & McDonnell ESOP (W.D. Mo.), 2104
– Disposition of property, PLR from IRS, 1462
– Effect on retirement, BNA Insights, 2456
– ERISA

– – GreatBanc Trust unregistered shares (N.D. Ill.), 2501
– – Northwest Tool & Die business choices (W.D. Mich.), 1433
– – Tharaldson Motels amendment challenge (D.N.D.), 522
– – U.S. Sugar settlement (S.D. Fla.), 58
– – U.S. Trust, inflated stock claims (N.D. N.Y.), 1303
– – Westra Construction, trustee sued (E.D. Wis.), 531

– Fiduciary duty

– – Capitol Mercury stock valuation (S.D.N.Y.), 2505
– – Contemporary Flooring ESOP, fiduciary breach claim against trustee (E.D. Mo.), 324
– – Employee Ownership Holding ESOP consent judgments (E.D. Cal.), 578
– – Kirk Corp. inadequate security (Bankr. N.D. Ill.), 2036
– – Tribune Co., no equitable relief (N.D. Ill.), 1833

– Incentives

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 5207

– Independent compensation committees, prevalence, 602
– Multi-step transaction involving merger and transfers of stock, IRS PLR, 352
– Nestle Purina, denial of deduct for contributions (8th Cir.), 366; (U.S., rev den), 2245
– North Star settlement (N.D. Cal.), 1053
– Overpayment of benefits, repayment required (N.D. Ill.), 227
– Red Dot Corp. (W.D. Wash.), 2247
– Regulatory project, IRS considers, 1459
– Retroactive revocation of qualification by IRS (T.C.), 1739
– Summary of company stock litigation, BNA Insights, 1446

EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLANS (ESPPs)

– Final rules from IRS, BNA Insights, 644

EMPLOYER STOCK

See FIDUCIARY DUTY

ENFORCEMENT POLICY

– Backdating

See STOCK OPTIONS

– Clawbacks, SEC enforcement activity, 1816
– Collaboration between practitioners and IRS, 347
– Compliance, burden shift by Labor Dep't, 298
– Daily penalty for underfunding, Labor Dep't rule, 445
– Delegation orders from IRS, 2083
– Determination letters

– – Filing extension, 101
– – Procedures revision, 42; interim plan amendments, difficulties for IRS, 345; procedure change urged, 1340; no timeline, 1409; ACT report, 1552; targets for change, 2313

– Employment tax audits

– – Fringe benefits, IRS policy, 298
– – Letters from IRS, 252

– Forfeitures and qualified non-elective contributions, 1919
– 403(b) plans, prototype and volume submitter plans, IRS opinion letter program, 396
– Guidance plan from Treasury and IRS, 2681
– HIPAA

See HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT (HIPAA)

– Interim retirement plan amendments, IRS policy, 194
– Monetary and other penalties, IRS policy, 1622
– Phone forums, 1718
– Priority guidance list, IRS, 1140; comments, 1410
– Proactive approach for employers, 1027
– Regulatory agenda from Labor Dep't, 1136
– Regulatory agenda from Treasury, 1027
– Remedial amendments, recommendations, 504
– Review of guidance, 1626; 1626
– Seminar planned by EBSA, 519
– Simplified employee pensions for seasonal employees, 452
– Small businesses, IRS protection of workers, 350
– Tax shelters, penalty moratorium, 503
– Technical advice requests, IRS procedures update, 42
– Termination of plans

See TERMINATION OF PLANS

– Work plan from IRS, 1264

EPCRS

See EMPLOYEE PLANS COMPLIANCE RESOLUTION SYSTEM (EPCRS)

ERISA

– Abbot Labs workers' losses, monetary relief, DOL amicus brief (N.D. Ill.), 273; cost not shown as motivating factor in transfer, 1050
– Accidental death policy contract breach suit preempted (S.D. Ohio), 583
– Advisory panel schedule, 1817; 2327
– Airport Hospitality, violations by administrator, penalties (DOL OALJ), 233
– Allstate agent's state law claim over insurance purchase (M.D. Fla.), 227
– Anti-cutback rule

– – Annuity benefits (N.D. Ill.), 1160
– – Cincinnati Ventilating worker's suit (E.D. Ky.), 1055
– – Collectively bargained welfare plan, improper benefit cuts (3rd Cir.), 364
– – Law firm, no violation (D.D.C.), 701

– Attorneys' fees

– – Advest workers suit over vesting rules, fee award (N.D. Ohio), 223
– – Limits opposed, 705
– – “Prevailing parties,” attorneys' fee limits (U.S., rev grant), 219; (oral arg), 1047; success on merits, 1294
– – Success on the merits rule, BNA Insights, 1617

– Bank of N.Y. alleged contract breach (2nd Cir.), 1436
– Barstow Truck Parts (C.D. Cal.), 2707
– Blood factor claims preempted (D. Md.), 1607
– BNA ERISA: The Law and the Code, 48
– Bone cancer treatment denial (S.D. Ohio), 230
– Boston Scientific settlement (D. Mass.), 1889
– Budco Group disclosure violation (C.D. Cal.), 1362
– Cash balance plans

– – Avnet settlement (D. Ariz.), 926
– – Bank of America asset transfer from §401(k) (W.D.N.C.), 842; suit may proceed, 1932
– – Exxon “normal retirement age” (U.S., rev den), 476
– – S.C. Johnson class action certification (E.D. Wis.), 478; backloading, 793

– Chiropractors suit against BCBS (N.D. Ill.), 1221
– CIGNA, alleged violation of notice requirements (U.S., brief filed), 1298; (rev grant), 1538; attorneys comment, 1876; (briefs filed), 2397; acting solicitor gen., 2549; (oral arg), 2637; BNA Insights, 2709
– Claims procedure violation (M.D.N.C.), 1227
– COBRA

See COBRA

– Colo., automatic enrollment for non-ERISA plans, 614
– Concert Health benefit denial letters (N.D. Ill.), 1604
– Contingency fees (E.D.N.C.), 1571
– Dentists' underpayment claim (11th Cir.), 17
– Designation of beneficiary, formal procedure (4th Cir.), 2191
– Disability benefits

– – Class action dismissed (S.D.N.Y.), 2100
– – Exhaustion requirement (U.S., rev den), 2648
– – Statutes of limitations, proof of claim (S.D. W.Va.), 640

– Discovery, standard of review (10th Cir.), 2033
– Discretionary clauses

– – Arbitrary and capricious review standard (10th Cir.), 16; (U.S., rev den), 1214
– – Ban, Analysis & Perspective, 377; predictions of court action, 1001; Mont. ban upheld (U.S., rev den), 1214
– – CIGNA suit dismissal (D.N.J.), 2703

– E-mail notice adequacy (N.D. Ill.), 1878
– Early retirement, Anheuser-Busch class action (E.D. Mo.), 1640
– Education and outreach recommendations, 2425
– Enhanced retirement benefits (M.D. Pa.), 1005
– Equitable estoppel claims against plan administrators and fiduciaries (6th Cir.), 1213
– ER benefits coverage denial (S.D. Tex.), 433
– ESOPs

– – Tharaldson Motels amendment challenge (D.N.D.), 522
– – Trustee sued (E.D. Wis.), 531
– – U.S. Sugar settlement (S.D. Fla.), 58
– – U.S. Trust, inflated stock claims (N.D. N.Y.), 1303

– Express Scripts (E.D. Mo.), 2598
– False advice leading to tax penalties (C.D. Ill.), 226
– Fee disclosure, Labor Dep't proposal, 1513
– Fiduciary duty

– – Actuaries as fiduciaries, 910
– – Bay Environmental settlement (N.D. Cal.), 2552
– – Bechtel, participant investment choices, DOL amicus brief (9th Cir.), 270
– – Beverly Enterprises settlement (D. Mass.), 927
– – Confusion over fiduciary claims, BNA Insights, 647
– – Consolidated Edison reduced retiree benefits (S.D.N.Y.), 256
– – Deere §401(k) plan breach claim (U.S., rev den), 216
– – LaRue legacy, BNA Insight, 586
– – Mellon investment questioned (S.D.N.Y.), 926
– – Misrepresentation, BNA Insights, 1627
– – Psychology firm tax shelter (N.D. Tex.), 852
– – Retroactive recalculation of benefits, anti-cutback violation (E.D. Mich.), 798
– – Surgical assistants firm (S.D. Tex.), 485
– – Updated rules from EBSA, 2305; Labor official comments, 2426; practitioner comments, 2675; BNA Insights, 2716
– – U.S. Steel, claim against time-barred (N.D. Ohio), 719
– – Vick's financial advisor's status (E.D. Va.), 19
– – Wind up of orthopedic practice (D. Minn.), 231

– 401(k) plans, Explore Gen. contributions (E.D. Cal.), 1609
– 403(b) plans

See 403(b) PLANS

– FSLA violation, no ERISA cause of action (W.D. Pa.), 131
– Funding annual notices, 2529
– Funeral expenses assignment suit preempted (N.D. Ill.), 2146
– Ga., prompt pay and third-party administrators, veto, 1353
– GM

– – IRS tax levy (M.D. Fla.), 2199
– – State Street suit (E.D. Mich.), 2237

– HIPAA nondiscrimination, no jurisdiction (D. Mass.), 421
– Hitman hired to kill wife, no pension benefits for husband (D.N.J.), 224
– Idaho Natl. Labs amendment (D. Idaho), 1118
– Identifying proper defendant, cancer benefits denial (S.D. Ohio), 275
– Incentives not paid, breach of contract allegations (S.D.N.Y.), 282
– Information collection, 111
– ING overpayment recovery (N.D. Ill.), 1937
– IRAs, surviving spouse protections and §401(k) rollovers (9th Cir.), 220
– Kraft denial of job elimination pension (3rd Cir.), 1642
– Labor Dep't seminar, 1871
– Layoffs, no pension credit (E.D. Pa.), 1566
– Legal malpractice suit (D. Md.), 1693
– Liabilities and reporting requirement, PBGC rule, 1809; withdrawal sought, 2533
– Life insurance

– – Marriage challenged (E.D. Tex.), 1609
– – Second wife's claim, time limit bars (E.D. Pa.), 334

– Limitations period and non-party knowledge (N.D. Ill.), 1686
– Limited scope audit exemption under review, 1519; review continues, 1959
– “Living benefits” non-disclosure (W.D. Wis.), 1365
– Lump-sum payment (S.D. Ill.), 435
– MA, SNF sues insurer (E.D. Wis.), 2557
– Misuse of plan assets (N.D. Cal.), 1994
– MoneyGram settlement (D. Minn.), 2340
– Mont. premium limits preempted (D. Mont.), 1882
– Nationwide plan fees (D. Conn.), 1683
– NewMarket alleged misrepresentation of health coverage (S.D. Miss.), 61
– N.Y. Gas & Electric liability for ex-worker's health insurance (N.D.N.Y.), 718
– NewPage Wis. benefit changes (W.D. Wis.), 1641
– Out-of-network surgical groups claims against insurer (E.D. Mo.), 528
– Owens Corning workers suit time-barred (6th Cir.), 2189
– PBMs, preemption of D.C. regs (D.C. Cir.), 1599
– Physician suit against HMO (D. Nev.), 641
– Pilgrims Pride, exhaustion of remedies (N.D. W.Va.), 2506
– Plausibility standard, BNA Insights, 1060
– Post-distribution remedies (U.S., rev den), 2647
– Prenup breach alleged (E.D. Ky.), 1648
– Private mediation business (N.D. Cal.), 1167
– Profit-sharing plan loans (E.D. Ky.), 1648
– Proper party defendants, BNA Insights, 1392
– Raytheon structural conflicts, discovery granted (D.N.J.), 277
– Recission of policy, not governed by ERISA (N.D. Cal.), 376
– Regions Bank, preemption of negligence suit (M.D. Tenn.), 713
– Regions Financial supplemental retirement plan, preemption (E.D. La.), 279
– Remedies, BNA Insights, 2846
– Remington Arms (D. Conn.), 1306
– Revised schedule, BNA Insights, 1007
– Rockwell Automation (N.D. Ohio), 2402
– R.T.L. Construction alleged excess contributions (D. Minn.), 1438
– Standing, carjacking injury (N.D. Okla.), 1609
– Statutory penalties (U.S., rev den), 2512
– Stiefel Lab. employer stock, claims over merger (S.D. Fla.), 59
– Structural conflicts of interest and standard of review, BNA Insights, 1555
– Summary plan description

– – Not provided (E.D. Va.), 2038
– – Resolving conflicts, BNA Insights, 2292

– Supreme court outlook 2010, 169
– Top hat plans

See TOP HAT PLANS

– Traps for investment managers, BNA Insights, 235
– Underpayment to provider (D. Colo.), 1837
– Unilateral modifications (E.D. Mo.), 1364
– United Health

– – Certification denied (8th Cir.), 853
– – Contract breach claims (11th Cir.), 1602

– Unpaid meal breaks (W.D. Pa.), 427
– UNUM class certification (D. Mass.), 62
– UPS plan amendments (6th Cir.), 2242
– Verizon ex-worker's severance claim (D.N.H.), 481
– Vesting schedule upheld (W.D. Wash.), 1564
– Voluntary appeals procedure (E.D.N.Y.), 2552
– Waste Management employer stock (D.D.C.), 2554
– Welfare benefit plans, 1043; definition, 1681; withdrawn, 1865
– Wells Fargo, wrongful discharge claim (C.D. Cal.), 280
– Wis. FMLA substation law (S.D. Ohio), 2196
– W.Va. generic drug suit (S.D. W.Va.), 2145
– Xerox “phantom account offset” (U.S., oral arg), 214; deferential review (dec), 994; attorneys react, 1163; BNA Insights, 1229; deference to administrator, BNA Insights, 1567; scope of deference, BNA Insights, 1597

ESOPs

See EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLANS (ESOPs)

ESPPs

See EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLANS (ESPPs)

EUROPEAN UNION (EU)

– Bank bonus limits, 1528; approved, 1591
– Flexibility needed in plans, 2761
– Retirement gap, 2174; grows, 2225

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

– AFL-CIO PayWatch, 900
– Backdating of option grants

See STOCK OPTIONS

– BCBS overpayment of CEO, settlement, 1343
– Bonus pay

– – Excise tax

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, S 2994

– – Finance and insurance industries, bonus pay, 1033
– – Higher than earlier estimates, survey, 606
– – N.Y. Atty. Gen., information request, 111
– – Tribune plan dismissed (Bankr. D. Del.), 854
– – Wall Street bonuses, N.Y. comptroller report, 459

– Caps on CEO pay, 1092
– CEO-employee pay ratios, BNA Insights, 2411
– College football BCS exec pay questions, 2163
– Compensation committees, BNA Insights, 949
– Derivative suit settlement (2nd Cir.), 2201
– Diebold SPD (N.D. Ohio), 2559
– Disclosure

– – Amended filings possible, 1267
– – Challenges for upcoming proxy season, 2679
– – Federal contractors, 1542
– – Interpretations from SEC, 605
– – Japanese discussions, 407
– – Top concerns of firms preparing proxy disclosures, 397

– Dodd-Frank Act

See WALL STREET REFORM AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT

– Efficiency of linking exec pay to debt, 1585
– Equitable estoppel for Acuity Brands (11th Cir.), 1546
– Examination Mgmt., denial of additional benefits (N.D. Tex.), 1740
– Excess CEO pay and shareholder actions, 2067
– Excessive pay

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 3269

– Exempt organizations and SERPs, 2319
– Federal agency subawards reporting rule, 2074
– Financial industry

– – Base Comm., new guidelines, 257
– – Effect of pay guidelines, 2318
– – EU bonus limits, 1528; approved, 1591
– – Focus of federal regulation, 678
– – Higher deposit insurance premiums, FDIC proposal, 106
– – Incentive compensation, BNA Insights, 1621

– Financial reform, agency efforts, 819
– §409A

See DEFERRED COMPENSATION

– Frank plans hearing, 1966
– “Golden handshake” payoffs, 2270
– “Golden parachutes”

– – Credit unions, 1718
– – Expected SEC proposal, 2268
– – 2009 survey, 351

– “Group of 20” report on guideline implementation, 772
– Health care reform, BNA Insights, 1367
– Health insurance, pay for 2011, 1868
– InfoUSA CEO perks (D. Neb.), 2510
– Morgan Stanley shareholder (N.Y. Sup. Ct.), 2793
– Natl. Research Project at IRS, employment tax issues, 393
– Nonprofit hospitals, BNA Insights, 1065
– Overhaul of regulatory system

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 4173

– Perks for CEOs at Fortune 500, 2014
– Proxy filings, pay and wealth reported, 1195
– Regulatory requirements and practical applications, BNA Insights, 961
– Restricted stock units valuation (11th Cir.), 2550
– Risk assessment in proxies, 1461
– Risky pay practices at banks, guidance, 1458
– Say-on-pay

– – Institutional investors letter, 255
– – Proxy access, SEC proposal, 352; compliance, 1267; attorneys comment, 2532
– – Rattner settlement (S.D.N.Y.), 2555
– – Trends in shareholder voting behavior, survey, 350
– – Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act

See WALL STREET REFORM AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT

– Social networks and restrictive covenants, 1413
– Supplemental insurance retirement plan, ex-CFO benefits denial (S.D.N.Y.), 428
– TARP

– – Conn., TARP bonuses, 1096; veto, 1198
– – Considerations, House hearing, 456
– – Excise tax

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, S Amdt 3736

– – Optimism of TARP special master, 1615

– Top hat plans, Advert Inc. qualification (D. Conn.), 18
– Trends

– – Emerging issues for 2010, report, 199
– – “Golden parachutes,” 2009 survey, 351
– – Market forces, effect on pay hikes, 1412
– – Performance measures, Mercer survey, 400

– Update on pending IRS guidance, 1460
– Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act

See WALL STREET REFORM AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT

EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS

– Charity-owned life insurance contracts, 821
– Colleges and universities, IRS study, 984; questionnaire results, 1087
– Filing deadline, 1087
– Form 990

See FORMS

– FY2011 IRS work plan, 2755
– Tax shelters

– – Corrected rules, 1717
– – Party to a tax shelter, definition, 1580

– Updates from IRS and Treasury, 2073
– Web-based instruction guide on compensation, 1342

EXHAUSTION OF REMEDIES

– COBRA subsidy, administrative remedies not exhausted (D.D.C.), 1052
– Community Natl. Bank stock drop class action (M.D. Fla.), 1307
– FedEx drivers' status, administrative remedies not exhausted (N.D. Ind.), 1543
– Monongahela Power participants exhausted remedies (S.D. W.Va.), 2195