Article on ERISA Section 510

Kenni Merritt has written an article for the Oklahoma Bar Journal which is a primer on ERISA Section 510 claims: "Interference with ERISA-Protected Rights: Making a Federal Case Out of a Wrongful Discharge Action." Excerpt: ERISA does not provide a…

Kenni Merritt has written an article for the Oklahoma Bar Journal which is a primer on ERISA Section 510 claims: “Interference with ERISA-Protected Rights: Making a Federal Case Out of a Wrongful Discharge Action.” Excerpt:

ERISA does not provide a statute of limitations for suits under Section 510. Therefore, courts select the most analogous state law limitations period. The courts that have considered ERISA Section 510 claims have almost unanimously concluded that the most analogous state law cause of action under Section 510 is wrongful termination or retaliatory discharge, state law causes of action encompassing an employee’s claim that he was discharged in violation of public policy. . . To reduce exposure to liability, some plan sponsors include a limitations period in their benefit plan documents and summary plan descriptions. A number of courts have recognized such plan-imposed limitation periods as being valid and enforceable under ERISA.

The whole March 11th issue of the Oklahoma Bar Journal is devoted to employment discrimination.

Article on ERISA Section 510

Kenni Merritt has written an article for the Oklahoma Bar Journal which is a primer on ERISA Section 510 claims: "Interference with ERISA-Protected Rights: Making a Federal Case Out of a Wrongful Discharge Action." Excerpt: ERISA does not provide a…

Kenni Merritt has written an article for the Oklahoma Bar Journal which is a primer on ERISA Section 510 claims: “Interference with ERISA-Protected Rights: Making a Federal Case Out of a Wrongful Discharge Action.” Excerpt:

ERISA does not provide a statute of limitations for suits under Section 510. Therefore, courts select the most analogous state law limitations period. The courts that have considered ERISA Section 510 claims have almost unanimously concluded that the most analogous state law cause of action under Section 510 is wrongful termination or retaliatory discharge, state law causes of action encompassing an employee’s claim that he was discharged in violation of public policy. . . To reduce exposure to liability, some plan sponsors include a limitations period in their benefit plan documents and summary plan descriptions. A number of courts have recognized such plan-imposed limitation periods as being valid and enforceable under ERISA.

The whole March 11th issue of the Oklahoma Bar Journal is devoted to employment discrimination.

Article on ERISA Section 510

Kenni Merritt has written an article for the Oklahoma Bar Journal which is a primer on ERISA Section 510 claims: "Interference with ERISA-Protected Rights: Making a Federal Case Out of a Wrongful Discharge Action." Excerpt: ERISA does not provide a…

Kenni Merritt has written an article for the Oklahoma Bar Journal which is a primer on ERISA Section 510 claims: “Interference with ERISA-Protected Rights: Making a Federal Case Out of a Wrongful Discharge Action.” Excerpt:

ERISA does not provide a statute of limitations for suits under Section 510. Therefore, courts select the most analogous state law limitations period. The courts that have considered ERISA Section 510 claims have almost unanimously concluded that the most analogous state law cause of action under Section 510 is wrongful termination or retaliatory discharge, state law causes of action encompassing an employee’s claim that he was discharged in violation of public policy. . . To reduce exposure to liability, some plan sponsors include a limitations period in their benefit plan documents and summary plan descriptions. A number of courts have recognized such plan-imposed limitation periods as being valid and enforceable under ERISA.

The whole March 11th issue of the Oklahoma Bar Journal is devoted to employment discrimination.

Helpful 409A Link

I have added a link in the 409A section on the right to a transcript of a 90-minute webcast posted by Kilpatrick Stockton and sponsored last year by the Corporate and Securities Law Committee Of the Association of Corporate Counsel….

I have added a link in the 409A section on the right to a transcript of a 90-minute webcast posted by Kilpatrick Stockton and sponsored last year by the Corporate and Securities Law Committee Of the Association of Corporate Counsel. While the webcast was presented prior to the issuance of the proposed regulations, it still contains some good information and features Dan Hogans, Attorney Advisor in the Office of Tax Policy, Department of the Treasury.

DOL Announces New Mailing Address for DFVC and Extension of Mental Health Parity Provisions

DOL has announced: A new mailing address for the DFVC Program. Read the News Release here. The new address takes effect April 11, 2006. A technical amendment extending the interim final rules under the Mental Health Parity Act ("MHPA") to…

DOL has announced:

  • A new mailing address for the DFVC Program. Read the News Release here. The new address takes effect April 11, 2006.
  • A technical amendment extending the interim final rules under the Mental Health Parity Act (“MHPA”) to December 31, 2006. Late last year, the Employee Retirement Preservation Act (P.L. 109-151) extended MHPA’s sunset date under ERISA, the Code, and the Public Health Service Act to December 31, 2006. This interim amendment conforms the regulatory sunset date to the new statutory sunset date. Read the News Release here.

(The MHPA requires that annual or lifetime dollar limits for mental heath benefits be no lower than the dollar limits for medical/surgical benefits offered by a group health plan. The act applies to group health plans or health insurance coverage offered by issuers in connection with a group health plan that offers both mental health and medical/surgical benefits. However, it does not require plans to offer mental health benefits.The MHPA provisions in ERISA generally apply to all group health plans other than governmental plans, church plans, and certain other plans.)

DOL Announces New Mailing Address for DFVC and Extension of Mental Health Parity Provisions

DOL has announced: A new mailing address for the DFVC Program. Read the News Release here. The new address takes effect April 11, 2006. A technical amendment extending the interim final rules under the Mental Health Parity Act ("MHPA") to…

DOL has announced:

  • A new mailing address for the DFVC Program. Read the News Release here. The new address takes effect April 11, 2006.
  • A technical amendment extending the interim final rules under the Mental Health Parity Act (“MHPA”) to December 31, 2006. Late last year, the Employee Retirement Preservation Act (P.L. 109-151) extended MHPA’s sunset date under ERISA, the Code, and the Public Health Service Act to December 31, 2006. This interim amendment conforms the regulatory sunset date to the new statutory sunset date.

(The MHPA requires that annual or lifetime dollar limits for mental heath benefits be no lower than the dollar limits for medical/surgical benefits offered by a group health plan. The act applies to group health plans or health insurance coverage offered by issuers in connection with a group health plan that offers both mental health and medical/surgical benefits. However, it does not require plans to offer mental health benefits.The MHPA provisions in ERISA generally apply to all group health plans other than governmental plans, church plans, and certain other plans.)

Ninth Circuit Holds MVRA Creates Statutory Exception to ERISA’s Anti-Alienation Provision

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has issued an opinion overturning a lower court decision and siding with the U.S. attorney in a case involving a writ of garnishment issued against a pension plan. The case is U.S. v. Novak…

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has issued an opinion overturning a lower court decision and siding with the U.S. attorney in a case involving a writ of garnishment issued against a pension plan. The case is U.S. v. Novak and specifically holds that the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act of 1996 (“MVRA”), 18 U.S.C. § 3663A, in conjunction with 18 U.S.C. § 3613, constitutes a statutory exception to ERISA’s anti-alienation provision. The participant in the case had pleaded guilty to certain conspiracy charges and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,360,051.67. Of course, focus turned to a pension plan where the participant had accrued a sizable pension which was, however, a drop in the bucket compared to the total restitution ordered. At the government’s request, the Clerk of the district court issued a post-judgment writ of garnishment to the plan sponsor of the plan for amounts owed to the participant under the pension plan. The writ was issued pursuant to the garnishment provisions of the Federal Debt Collection Procedures Act (“FDCPA”), 28 U.S.C. § 3205. On March 5, 2004, the district court had issued an order quashing the writ of garnishment, which order was overturned by the Ninth Circuit. Excerpt from the opinion:

We determine that with the passage of the MVRA, Congress did what the Supreme Court in Guidry indicated it could do: enact a statutory exception to ERISA’s anti-alienation provision. We find that Congress enacted a statutory exception because (a) the MVRA is a specific collection statute designed to provide victims with restitution, and (b) Congress provided for restitution orders to be enforced like tax liens, which are enforceable against ERISA pension benefits.

Circuit Judge Fletcher issued a dissent in the case, arguing that, for there to be a statutory exception to ERISA’s anti-alienation provisions, Congress must “issue a clear statement of its intent to abrogate ERISA.” Fletcher noted that neither the MVRA nor 18 U.S.C. § 3613 contain such a directive:

This statutory scheme does not evidence a clear statement to abrogate ERISA’s anti-alienation provision. Although the statutory text does mandate restitution, it lacks any express statement (as it does for Social Security, see 18 U.S.C. § 3613(a)) that restitution owed to victims can be collected from ERISA pensions. And, as noted previously, there is nothing within ERISA calling for an exception for orders of restitution. Without an express directive in the restitution statute to seize ERISA pensions or a specific carve-out within ERISA’s anti-alienation provision, we should not create one through judicial fiat.

The majority’s decision is consistent with IRS’s view of the subject which you can read about in two previous posts: U.S. Attorneys Seeking To Levy Against Qualified Plan Assets Under the FDCPA and When the U.S. Attorney Comes Knocking . . . The majority also cites district court cases in Oklahoma, Virginia, Michigan, Louisiana, and North Carolina which are in accord with its decision. The U.S. Attorney, as well as plan sponsors, plan administrators and fiduciaries who would like to comply with such directives, but were concerned about the ERISA anti-alienation provisions, are now armed with this Ninth Circuit opinion as well.

(Query: Can payment be compelled prior to a participant’s right to receive payment under the Plan? The IRS had said in a PLR (as discussed in a previous post) that the U.S. Government cannot garnishee or otherwise collect against a plan participant’s or beneficiary’s benefit until the participant or beneficiary has a right to a distribution under the terms of the plan. The Ninth Circuit doesn’t appear to address the issue in the Novak case.)

Ninth Circuit Holds MVRA Creates Statutory Exception to ERISA’s Anti-Alienation Provision

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has issued an opinion overturning a lower court decision and siding with the U.S. attorney in a case involving a writ of garnishment issued against a pension plan. The case is U.S. v. Novak…

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has issued an opinion overturning a lower court decision and siding with the U.S. attorney in a case involving a writ of garnishment issued against a pension plan. The case is U.S. v. Novak and specifically holds that the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act of 1996 (“MVRA”), 18 U.S.C. § 3663A, in conjunction with 18 U.S.C. § 3613, constitutes a statutory exception to ERISA’s anti-alienation provision. The participant in the case had pleaded guilty to certain conspiracy charges and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,360,051.67. Of course, focus turned to a pension plan where the participant had accrued a sizable pension which was, however, a drop in the bucket compared to the total restitution ordered. At the government’s request, the Clerk of the district court issued a post-judgment writ of garnishment to the plan sponsor of the plan for amounts owed to the participant under the pension plan. The writ was issued pursuant to the garnishment provisions of the Federal Debt Collection Procedures Act (“FDCPA”), 28 U.S.C. § 3205. On March 5, 2004, the district court had issued an order quashing the writ of garnishment, which order was overturned by the Ninth Circuit. Excerpt from the opinion:

We determine that with the passage of the MVRA, Congress did what the Supreme Court in Guidry indicated it could do: enact a statutory exception to ERISA’s anti-alienation provision. We find that Congress enacted a statutory exception because (a) the MVRA is a specific collection statute designed to provide victims with restitution, and (b) Congress provided for restitution orders to be enforced like tax liens, which are enforceable against ERISA pension benefits.

Circuit Judge Fletcher issued a dissent in the case, arguing that, for there to be a statutory exception to ERISA’s anti-alienation provisions, Congress must “issue a clear statement of its intent to abrogate ERISA.” Fletcher noted that neither the MVRA nor 18 U.S.C. § 3613 contain such a directive:

This statutory scheme does not evidence a clear statement to abrogate ERISA’s anti-alienation provision. Although the statutory text does mandate restitution, it lacks any express statement (as it does for Social Security, see 18 U.S.C. § 3613(a)) that restitution owed to victims can be collected from ERISA pensions. And, as noted previously, there is nothing within ERISA calling for an exception for orders of restitution. Without an express directive in the restitution statute to seize ERISA pensions or a specific carve-out within ERISA’s anti-alienation provision, we should not create one through judicial fiat.

The majority’s decision is consistent with IRS’s view of the subject which you can read about in two previous posts: U.S. Attorneys Seeking To Levy Against Qualified Plan Assets Under the FDCPA and When the U.S. Attorney Comes Knocking . . . The majority also cites district court cases in Oklahoma, Virginia, Michigan, Louisiana, and North Carolina which are in accord with its decision. The U.S. Attorney, as well as plan sponsors, plan administrators and fiduciaries who would like to comply with such directives, but were concerned about the ERISA anti-alienation provisions, are now armed with this Ninth Circuit opinion as well.

(Query: Can payment be compelled prior to a participant’s right to receive payment under the plan? The IRS had said in a PLR (as discussed in a previous post) that the U.S. Government cannot garnishee or otherwise collect against a plan participant’s or beneficiary’s benefit until the participant or beneficiary has a right to a distribution under the terms of the plan. The Ninth Circuit doesn’t appear to address the issue in the Novak case.)

Revisions to Those Mind-Numbing Relative Value Regulations

Speaking of "mind-numbing" (in this previous post here), the IRS has issued final regulations concerning disclosure of relative values of optional forms of benefit. The Pension & Benefits Weblog has posted a helpful summary here. The IRS provided some good…

Speaking of “mind-numbing” (in this previous post here), the IRS has issued final regulations concerning disclosure of relative values of optional forms of benefit. The Pension & Benefits Weblog has posted a helpful summary here. The IRS provided some good commentary regarding the regulations here.

Re: Lawyers Who Blog

A quote from this enjoyable WSJ article-After (Billable) Hours-about lawyers who blog: Are all lawyers secret bloggers, frustrated writers or both? More important, should they keep their day jobs? . . . According to a survey conducted by blogads.com, lawyers…

A quote from this enjoyable WSJ article–After (Billable) Hours–about lawyers who blog:

Are all lawyers secret bloggers, frustrated writers or both? More important, should they keep their day jobs?

. . . According to a survey conducted by blogads.com, lawyers ranked fourth among both readers and posters to blogs. Many of the best-known blogs, such as InstaPundit.com, are run by lawyers. It’s easy to understand why blogging attracts the J.D. set: Few professions combine as much creative talent with so much mind-numbing work . . .

In the dark hours, writing seems like a natural escape. It’s what most lawyers do (when they’re not reviewing documents), and though blogging is very different from drafting a prospectus, it’s close enough to fool many lawyers into trading one form of verbiage for another. Writing a blog can also be done in secret, on your own time (or during office hours if you’re careful), and it is potentially lucrative (if you can get some ads or make a name for yourself). For many lawyers, writing is also their true love, a dream they had before financial concerns and parental pressure drove them into drudgery. . .

(Hat Tip: Tax Prof Blog)