Advisory Opinions

Requests for interpretations and other rulings under Title 1 of ERISA are handled by the Office of Regulations and Interpretations under the provisions established by ERISA Procedure 76-1.  The office answers inquiries from individuals and organizations in the form of advisory opinions, which apply the law to a specific set of facts, or information letters, which merely call attention to well established principles or interpretations.

Data Dictionary

1989
AO/ Date/ Reference Recipient Description of Request
04/05/1989

Mr. Michael P. Sjogren
Mr. Lawrence J. Shulman
Seward & Kissel
Wall Street Plaza
New York, New York 10005

Whether any of the transactions as described that occur subsequent to the formation of the partnership would constitute an “acquisition” of an equity interest within the meaning of regulation section 2510.3-101(f)(1) and would trigger a determination of significant equity participation by benefit plan investors.

03/30/1989

Ms. Marjorie A. Dolan
Assistant Counsel
John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company
P.O. Box 111
Boston, MA 02117

Whether the fiduciary responsibility provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) would apply to proposed investments by employee benefit plans in Energy Investors Fund (EIF), a limited partnership or would the plan’s assets include only the limited partnership interest in EIF but not any of the underlying assets of the partnership.

03/23/1989

Ms. Maria Stefanis
Arthur Young
3000 K Street, NW
Washington DC 20007

Whether a purchase of stock by an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) from a corporation would violate section 4975(c)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

03/21/1989
514

Mr. Rodney A. Currin
Ward and Smith, P.A.
1001 College Court
P.O. Box 867
New Bern, North Carolina 28560

Whether the denial of a claim for an in-service hardship distribution under the terms of the First Citizens Bank & Trust Company Accumulation Plan be subject to the claims procedures requirements of section 503 of ERISA.

02/10/1989
514

Mr. J. Stephen Mikita
Office of the Attorney General
State of Utah
236 State Capitol
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114

Whether the proposed provisions of Utah Code Ann. §58-17-26 (the proposed Utah Act) are preempted under the general preemption provision of section 514(a) of title I of ERISA if it is applies, directly or indirectly, to employee benefit plans covered by title I of ERISA, and does not qualify for the exception established in section 514(b)(8) of ERISA.

1988
AO/ Date/ Reference Recipient Description of Request
12/23/1988
4975

Mr. Joseph B. Hurst, Jr.
Friday, Eldredge & Clark
2000 First Commercial Building
Little Rock, AR 72201

Whether a $500.000 loan from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) established by Thomas E. Darragh, a current employee, shareholder, and member of the Board of Directors, to Darragh Company would violate section 4975(c)(1)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

12/09/1988

Mr. Edwin J. Guillot, Jr.
McConnell Valdes Kelley Sifre Griggs & Ruiz-Suria
G.P.O. Box 4225
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936

Whether Section 5 of Puerto Rico Act No. 17 of April 17, 1931 is preempted under the preemption provisions of section 514 of title I of ERISA insofar as Section 5 limits or prohibits payroll deductions for the purpose of funding the Employees’ Profit Sharing Plan of The First Boston Corporation, for the benefit of their employees performing services in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

12/19/1988
403( c)
404(a)(1)

Mr. Gregory Ridella
Chrysler Corporation
P.O. Box 1919
Detroit, MI 48288

Whether a certain understanding contained in a Letter Agreement between the Chrysler Corporation and the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, with respect to Chrysler's Pension Fund does not violate the fiduciary responsibility provisions of ERISA. The Letter Agreement is substantially similar to one entered into in 1979 by Chrysler and the UAW.

12/05/1988
3(32)
4(b)(1)

Mr. Timothy A. Bush
Sirote, Permutt, McDermott, Slepian,
Friend, Friedman, Held & Apolinsky, P.C.
2222 Arlington Avenue South
Post Office Box 55727
Birmingham, Alabama 35255

Whether the Shelby County Hospital Board Defined Benefit Pension Plan of the Shelby Medical Center is a governmental plan within the meaning of section 3(32) of title I of ERISA and thus excepted from ERISA title I requirements pursuant to section 4(b)(1) of ERISA.

09/28/1988
403(c )(1)
404(a)

Linda G. O'Brien, Esq.
Xerox Corporation
P.O. Box 1600
Stamford, Connecticut 06904

Whether a proposed merger of the Xerox Corporation’s Long-Term Disability Income Plan and Medical Care Plan would violate sections 403(c)(1), 404(a), 406(a)(1)(D), and 406(b)(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA").