NEDERLAND, Texas — The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Rife Industrial Marine for alleged violations of the overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), after an investigation by the department's Wage and Hour Division found that welders working offshore had been improperly classified as independent contractors.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Atlanta - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued to restore more than $5,200 in assets to the 401(k) plan of Vinson Van Go, a Huntersville, North Carolina, transportation company. The lawsuit charges the company and the trustee of its retirement plan with failing to transmit all employee contributions to the 401 (k) plan and commingling the contributions with the company’s general assets.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), Internal Revenue Service and Department of Health and Human Services today announced the publication of final rules that provide guidance in complying with the nondiscrimination provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The final rules also provide guidance on the implementation of wellness programs.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Atlanta - The former vice president of H&H Doors and Hardware Inc. of Dothan, Alabama pleaded guilty to two counts of embezzling employee benefit plan assets and using the money for his own benefit. The plea agreement states Mark Hartzog is responsible for $524,703 in losses.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor will hold a public forum on Dec. 18, 2006, from 10 a.m. to noon to discuss and seek public input on its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) processes. The meeting will be in the department's auditorium at 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) today announced proposed supplemental revisions to the 2008 Form 5500.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Atlanta - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Chatsworth, Georgia-based Bryant Transportation Inc., and two company officials, seeking payment of more than $85,000 in unpaid employee health benefit claims.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

New York - The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a court order requiring the attorney who represents a Long Island profit sharing trust to provide testimony that will aid in an investigation of the trust. The department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is investigating possible violations of ERISA, the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) will publish a notice in the December 7, 2006, Federal Register announcing the availability of the 2006 Form M-1 annual report for multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs). Plan administrators may use EBSA’s online filing system to expedite processing of the form.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced publication of two “requests for information” (RFI) to assist the department in implementing the investment advice statutory exemption under the Pension Protection Act (PPA) relating to 401(k)-type plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). The RFIs are to be published in the December 4, 2006 Federal Register.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that it is seeking information and comment from the public on the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and its implementing regulations. The request for information (RFI) will be published in the Federal Register on Friday, Dec. 1.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington - The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) today announced publication of a model notice that may be used by employee benefit plans that elect to be treated as a multiemployer plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Des Moines, Iowa - The U.S. Department of Labor filed a lawsuit against the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI), Des Moines, Iowa, for retaining all the proceeds from a stock distribution by Principal Mutual Insurance Co. that was based on employee benefit plan premiums paid to the insurer by employers participating in the association and their employees. Approximately 1,500 employers are members of the trade association.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Providence, Rhode Island - The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a court order appointing two independent fiduciaries to manage the abandoned pension plan originally sponsored by Providence, Rhode Island-based Arnold Kilberg & Company (AK&C) and owner Arnold Kilberg.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Baltimore - The U.S. Labor Department has sued the King Tile Co., Baltimore, Maryland, for failing to administer and terminate the company’s 401(k) plan so that assets could be distributed to plan participants.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Cincinnati - The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a default judgment appointing an independent trustee to manage the 401(k) plan of Cincinnati Armature Works Inc. The trustee will terminate the plan and distribute its assets to eligible plan participants.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

St. George, Utah - The U.S. Department of Labor has reached an agreement with the president of St. George, Utah-based Marketing Solutions International Inc. (MSI) restoring $17,161.76 in assets and interest owed to the company’s 401(k) plan.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Atlanta - The U.S. Department of Labor today announced court orders appointing M. Larry Lefoldt of Ridgeland, Mississippi, to manage and terminate the 401(k) plan of Computer Consulting Services Co. in Atlanta and ordering the plan’s trustee to cooperate in transferring plan management to the independent fiduciary.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Sacramento, California - “Getting It Right – Know Your Fiduciary Responsibilities,” a compliance assistance seminar sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), will take place in Sacramento, December 5 at the Red Lion Hotel Sacramento, 1401 Arden Way.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Denver - A free health law compliance assistance seminar, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) and the Colorado Division of Insurance, will take place December 6-7 in Denver at the Adam’s Mark Hotel, 1550 Court Place.