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Access over workers' compensation decisions, including En Banc, Significant Panel Decisions, and writ-denied cases.

Case No. 81 Civ. 3958 (KTD)
Regular Panel Decision
Sep 16, 1982

In Re Pension Plan for Emp. of Broadway Maint.

This case involves a dispute between the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) and the bankrupt Broadway Maintenance Corporation over the termination date of Broadway's employee pension plan. The PBGC initiated the lawsuit to be appointed statutory trustee, declare the plan terminated, and sought a termination date of March 26, 1981, while Broadway argued for a retroactive date prior to December 31, 1979. Judge Kevin Thomas Duffy acknowledged the appointment of the PBGC as trustee and the plan's termination, with the sole issue being the precise termination date. After considering the interests of the participants, the PBGC, and Broadway, and applying legal precedent, the court ultimately set December 5, 1980, as the earliest valid termination date. This date was chosen because it marked when the PBGC filed its original Proofs of Claim, signaling its clear intent to terminate the plan.

ERISAPension Plan TerminationEmployee BenefitsBankruptcyPBGCStatutory TrusteeRetroactive Termination DateJudicial TerminationParticipant InterestsFinancial Distress
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. v. Broadway Maintenance Corp.

This case involves the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) and the bankrupt Broadway Maintenance Corporation (Broadway) disputing the termination date of Broadway's non-union employee pension plan. PBGC initiated the lawsuit to become the statutory trustee and sought to establish March 26, 1981, as the termination date. Broadway argued for an earlier, retroactive date. The court, guided by ERISA and the interests of the plan participants, rejected both parties' proposed dates. The judge formulated a test for involuntary terminations and ultimately established December 5, 1980, as the official termination date, citing the date PBGC first formalized its intent to terminate the plan.

ERISAPension Plan TerminationEmployee Retirement Income Security ActInvoluntary TerminationTermination Date DisputeBankruptcyPlan Participants' InterestsStatutory TrusteeFiduciary DutyPension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
References
2
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
May 13, 2014

Caban v. Employees Security Fund of the Electrical Products Industries Pension Plan

Plaintiff William Caban, an electrician, sued the Employees Security Fund of the Electrical Products Industries Pension Plan (ESF) and the Pension Trust Fund of the Pension, Hospitalization and Benefit Plan of the Electrical Industry (PTF) under ERISA. Caban sought a larger monthly disability pension and an earlier commencement date for payments, challenging the $490.65 monthly benefit starting September 2010. Defendants moved for summary judgment, which the court partially granted, affirming the pension's start date and Caban's classification as an 'M' journeyperson for calculation purposes. However, the court deferred judgment on the precise amount of the pension, allowing Caban to submit further evidence regarding his pension credits by May 13, 2014, failing which summary judgment dismissing the case would be entered.

ERISADisability PensionSummary JudgmentPension Plan AdministrationWorkers' Compensation OffsetEastern District of New YorkPension CreditsBenefit CalculationUnion PensionArbitrary and Capricious Standard
References
23
Case No. No. 14-CV-6449 (E.D.N.Y.)
Regular Panel Decision

AEI Life, LLC v. Lincoln Benefit Life Co.

This memorandum addresses whether a pending appeal in another circuit concerning a jurisdictional dismissal precludes the Eastern District of New York from exercising jurisdiction. The New Jersey District Court had previously dismissed an action by Lincoln Benefit Life Company (LBL) against AEI Life, LLC (AEI) for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, which LBL appealed. Subsequently, AEI initiated the current lawsuit in New York, seeking a declaration of policy validity and damages for alleged breach. The court concluded that the first-to-file rule is inapplicable here because the New Jersey court never secured jurisdiction. Additionally, a balance of convenience analysis favored New York as the appropriate venue, citing AEI's home forum, witness locations, and the locus of operative facts. Consequently, LBL's motion to dismiss or stay the action is denied, allowing the case to proceed in the Eastern District of New York.

JurisdictionSubject Matter JurisdictionPersonal JurisdictionFirst-to-File RuleFinal Judgment RuleChoice of LawVenueDiversity JurisdictionInsurance PolicySTOLI Scheme
References
36
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Seitz ex rel. Pension Plan of the Brewery Workers Pension Fund v. Board of Trustees

Plaintiffs David A Seitz, Thomas Rocco, and Dorothy Casey filed a suit against The Board of Trustees of the Pension Plan of The New York State Teamsters Conference Pension and Retirement Fund. They seek pension benefits, declaratory judgment, and injunctive relief, claiming entitlement under a 1973 Merger Agreement between the Brewery Workers Pension Fund and the Teamsters Plan. The core of their claim revolves around the effective date of the Merger Agreement, arguing for an earlier date to qualify for better benefits. The Defendant moved to dismiss the suit due to improper venue or, alternatively, to transfer it to the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York. The Court, after reviewing ERISA venue provisions and minimum contacts tests, found that the Southern District was not the proper venue and granted the Defendant's motion to transfer the case to the Northern District of New York.

Pension BenefitsERISAVenue TransferMinimum ContactsForum SelectionBrewery Workers Pension FundTeamsters Conference Pension and Retirement FundDeclaratory JudgmentInjunctive ReliefMerger Agreement
References
6
Case No. ADJ4244907
Regular
Dec 13, 2012

MELVIN STEPHENS vs. PATTEN ENERGY ENTERPRISES, INC., STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration to address two issues: the start date for permanent disability payments and the calculation of attorney fees. The Board found that permanent disability payments should have commenced in 2004, not 2009, and that the attorney's fee should be based on the full value of the award, including the life pension. The case was returned to the trial level for recalculation of the life pension and an amended award of attorney fees.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardReconsiderationFindings of Fact and AwardPermanent DisabilityTemporary DisabilityLife PensionAttorney FeesDisability Evaluation UnitVocational Rehabilitation Maintenance AllowanceAgreed Medical Examiner
References
0
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Baumann v. Metropolitan Life Insurance

Plaintiff's decedent, Frederick Baumann, an experienced electrician, was electrocuted on the job in 1999 while working on office space leased by Credit Suisse and owned by Met Life. Plaintiff commenced a wrongful death action against Met Life, Credit Suisse, and Penguin Air Conditioning Corp., alleging liability under Labor Law § 241 (6) for a violation of 12 NYCRR 23-1.13 (b) (4). The trial court granted summary judgment to Credit Suisse and Met Life, concluding that the decedent was the sole proximate cause of his death. The appellate court reversed this decision, finding that the trial court improperly made findings of fact and that there were questions of fact concerning the defendants' liability and the extent of the decedent's responsibility.

Wrongful DeathElectrocutionSummary JudgmentLabor LawProximate CauseSuperseding ActAppellate ReviewConstruction AccidentElectricianOccupational Hazard
References
1
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. v. Pension Committee of Pan American World Airways, Inc.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) petitioned the court to terminate underfunded retirement benefit plans associated with Pan American World Airways, citing an unreasonable increase in potential long-run liability as per 29 U.S.C. § 1342(c). The Pension Committee of Pan American World Airways and several unions intervened, opposing both the termination and the proposed July 24, 1991 termination date. The court reviewed PBGC's termination decision under the Administrative Procedure Act's 'arbitrary and capricious' standard, ultimately finding it justified by substantial evidence of the plans' underfunding and the company's inability to meet its contribution obligations. The court dismissed arguments regarding internal PBGC guidelines, stating they do not have the force of law and were, in any event, adhered to due to 'extraordinary circumstances'. For the termination date, the court applied the Broadway Maintenance test, requiring 'constructive notice' sufficient to extinguish beneficiary reliance, and determined July 31, 1991, as the appropriate date, based on widespread public awareness of PBGC's petition by that time. The court therefore granted the petition for termination.

Pension plan terminationPBGCERISAUnderfunded plansTermination dateConstructive noticeAdministrative Procedure ActArbitrary and capricious standardDistrict CourtPan American World Airways
References
8
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Jeffries v. Pension Trust Fund of the Pension, Hospitalization & Benefit Plan of the Electrical Industry

Plaintiff Claude Jeffries, a retired electrician, sued the Pension Trust Fund of the Electrical Industry under ERISA, seeking to include pension credits from 1969-1975 in his current benefits. He alleged the Plan should have declared a partial termination during a 1975-1979 New York recession, which would have vested his benefits. The defendant moved to dismiss the complaint, arguing lack of standing and statute of limitations, while plaintiff moved for class certification for similarly affected members. The court denied the defendant's motion to dismiss the claim for benefits, finding it timely, but granted dismissal for the breach of fiduciary duty claim as time-barred. The plaintiff's motion for class certification was denied due to insufficient evidence for numerosity, with leave to refile after discovery.

ERISAPension BenefitsClass CertificationMotion to DismissStatute of LimitationsFiduciary DutyPartial TerminationBenefit ForfeitureUnemploymentLabor Union
References
15
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

F.H. Cobb Co. v. New York State Teamsters Conference Pension & Retirement Fund

F.H. Cobb Co., a subsidiary of Super Food Services Inc., filed an action seeking a declaration of non-liability under the Multiemployer Pension Plan Amendments Act of 1980 (MPPAA) concerning withdrawal liability to the New York State Teamsters Conference Pension and Retirement Fund. The MPPAA retroactively imposed liability for employers withdrawing on or after April 29, 1980. F.H. Cobb had ceased its primary wholesale distribution business by March 8, 1980, and retained a minimal workforce for only phase-out activities until May 16, 1980, with final pension contributions in May 1980. The court analyzed whether this constituted a 'complete withdrawal' prior to the MPPAA's effective date, concluding that the phase-out work did not negate the earlier cessation of covered operations. Consequently, the court granted summary judgment for the plaintiffs, declaring F.H. Cobb's non-liability under the MPPAA's withdrawal provisions.

MPPAAwithdrawal liabilitymultiemployer pension plancessation of operationssummary judgmentretroactive legislationpension contributionsphase-out workemployer obligationsplan funding
References
9
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